Division I ready: Malachi Kemp is fully moved in and ready for fall Saturday nights – LaGrange Daily News

Playing Division I football is the dream of almost every kid who puts on the pads and hits the gridiron. It’s no longer a dream for LaGrange High graduate Malachi Kemp, it’s a reality. The elder Granger has already moved in and is preparing for his first season as a member of the University of West Georgia football team.

“I’ve loved it since I got on campus, we’ve already started working and working every day to get ready for the season,” Kemp said. “The food has been great, I’ve eaten and I like being close to home so I can’t complain.”

Kemp walks through the door at West Georgia at an exciting time. The Wolves are moving from Division II to the FCS and will play their first season of Division I football in the fall.

“There are a lot of new players here with Georgia. There’s a lot of transfers, there weren’t a lot of freshmen, so it was kind of like a blessing in disguise to get that chance,” Kemp said. “There are guys coming from all over to take part in this. It’s going to be special.

No matter where Kemp lined up in high school, he always found a way to impact the game. Kemp started at outside linebacker at Carrollton before moving to a full-time starter at tight end for the Grangers and to a part-time linebacker. Kemp was happy to do whatever it took to win.

“Honestly, I think it helped me get recruited,” Kemp said. “It put me in two different positions for recruiting and it showed that I was willing to adapt.”

In college, Kemp will find himself as a full-time outside linebacker. The return to linebacker was well-received because new coach Brandon Taylor has a connection to LaGrange High head coach Matt Napier.

“Coach Napier has been there for me from day one and helped me through the recruiting process,” Kemp said. “Before my outside linebacker coach came to Carrollton, he spent two years in Florida with coach Napier’s brother (Billy), so we kind of talked about that connection.”

Napier has been in Kemp’s corner since the latter arrived in LaGrange. They formed a strong bond that allowed him to play at the collegiate level.

“I’m glad I got the chance to play here at LaGrange,” Kemp said. “It was kind of a game changer and got me to where I am now.”

The opportunity to play at LaGrange High was special. Kemp was given the chance to start on offense alongside his twin brother Malik, who was the team’s starting quarterback.

“All those guys were special and I love them, but it’s hard to put into words what it was like starting last year with my brother,” Kemp said. “I wouldn’t change a thing, I loved every moment.”

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Kemp. Carrollton was home before transferring to LaGrange during his junior year. The freshman is already looking forward to the opportunity to hit the gridiron again.

“It’s been pretty cool coming back to Carrollton,” Kemp said. “Some of the older guys were surprised that I knew places in town that they didn’t, which was pretty funny.

“I’m ready for Saturday nights in the fall. That’s all I was thinking about.