Playing for more than himself
- Updated: March 3, 2022
Donoho’s Billings remembers his late teammate during the ceremony to formalize his commitment to Samford; Piedmont trio celebrate signings
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
The day belonged to Judson Billings, but there was a spirit in the room that was unmistakeable.
The Donoho senior was front and center Thursday in a library packed with friends, family, friends from other schools, teammates and coaches as he formalized his commitment to play football at Samford as a preferred walk-on.
The massive offensive lineman was his usual jovial self, sharing funny story after funny story as he recognized the many people in the room who helped make his journey from discouraged eighth-grader who wanted to quit to Division I football player possible.
It was, by all accounts, a celebration of the highest order. But there also was a tinge of solemnness to the festivities.
As Billings signed his Samford papers, he was flanked by two empty chairs. His Donoho football jersey was draped across the back of one of them. Across the other – the one to his left – was the jersey of best friend and former teammate Jase Alderman.
Billings made the day as much a tribute to him as his own future.
The two were as close as teammates could be. They played baseball together. They played alongside each other on the Falcons’ line, Billings at center and left tackle, Alderman at left guard.
Alderman took a young lineman under his wing and was the one who encouraged him to stick it out all the times – and there were many – he wanted to quit.
Their world was shattered last August when Alderman was found dead in his Auburn apartment the weekend of Donoho’s game at White Plains. They had talked on the phone just a few hours earlier.
“He called me that afternoon around 1 o’clock,” Billings recalled. “He was like, what do you think about the season, how’s it going, how do you think it’s going to go, so we just talked.
“Then he said, I can’t wait to see you sign; you’re going to go D-I. The next morning, I found out we lost him. I never said anything to him. I didn’t even say bye. I was like hey, I gotta go; I was going to get lunch, actually. Not saying bye to him, this is kind of my memorial to him, thanking him. He’s the one who pushed me to do this.
“Once he said that (you’re going to go Division I) and that situation happened right after, I was like I’ve got to do it for him. I upped my game. I started working 10 times harder. When I walk into the weight room every day, that’s the first thing I think about.”
Billings checked with the Alderman family earlier in the week before setting up his tribute. If they were uncomfortable with it, he wouldn’t have proceeded. They were on hand for the announcement and honored by his tribute.
Billings drew Alderman’s number “62” on the tape he wore during games this past season. He hopes to wear the number at Samford in honor of his friend.
It will be the memory of his friend that will drive him to work through his walk-on status and earn a scholarship once he gets to Samford. He plans to check into campus May 31.
“There’s a chip on my shoulder,” Billings said. “I’m thinking like I’m the worst there is right now. It’s my mindset that I have to work to get better. I’m going to go in there and do the work, make sure everybody knows I’m there.”
Numbers add up for Piedmont trio
By Shannon Fagan
Special to East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT – Piedmont senior linebacker Landon Smart is a numbers guy. He’s thinking he might want to be a math teacher to get into coaching.
His jersey number while playing football for the Bulldogs was 14, but he never really could explain why he chose that.
“I guess there’s a few different things,” he said. “My sister’s birth date is the 14th, and my daddy’s favorite number is five. Since his favorite number is five, if you add 1 plus 4, it gives you five, so 14 has always been my favorite number.”
By that logic, Smart’s 14 helped the Bulldogs win their fifth state championship back in December with a 35-33 comeback for the ages over Montgomery Academy, capping a 13-2 season.
For the year, Smart led the Bulldog defense with 152 tackles, nine of which went for lost yardage. He also posted five sacks.
He hopes to wear his long-time number at the next level, playing for the Davidson Wildcats. The school offered him a football scholarship, which he signed on National Signing Day last month.
On Thursday, Smart and Piedmont teammates Austin Estes and Omarion Foster celebrated their signings with family and friends in the Piedmont High School gym lobby.
Estes and Foster inked with Delta State. Estes, who played four sports for the Bulldogs, will also play baseball for the Statesmen.
“It really excites me to know it’s not just me going to play at the next level; my brothers are also going to play at the next level,” said Smart, the class salutatorian. “It’s a great feeling knowing they’re going to better themselves just like I’m going to better myself. I’m excited for myself, but I’m really excited for them just because they’re doing the same thing I’m doing. We’re all going to be successful from the opportunities we’ve been given.”
The feeling is mutual for both Estes and Foster.
Estes was the Bulldogs’ top pass catcher. He had 59 catches for 1,148 yards and 19 touchdowns for Piedmont last season.
Foster was primarily a defensive back, where he’ll play for the Statesmen, but he also made big plays for the Bulldogs at wide receiver. He led the team in interceptions (8) and pass breakups (11) and was fourth in tackles (94). He caught 12 passes for 193 yards and six touchdowns.
Estes said he and Foster have been best friends ever since Estes moved to Piedmont.
“Having him down there is going to be so much fun. I just can’t wait,” Estes said.
“You always want to go somewhere with a friend,” Foster added. “You basically dream of growing up and getting these college offers and going to play sports, so it’s always good to go with somebody down there.”
Delta State will certainly get its money’s worth from Estes. He said their football coaches have told him he’ll probably see playing time at slot receiver and on special teams. In baseball, he could see playing time at middle infield and in the outfield.
In fact, he and Foster had to hustle after the festivities to catch the team bus for a baseball game at Ranburne.
“They’re both super-excited having me down there,” Estes said of the two sports. “It’s going to be busy. Academics come first with me. My parents have always told me that, but after you get that done, then you can focus on your sports. I’ve had a bunch of people tell me I can do it. If they believe in me, then all I can do is believe in myself.”
Foster said the Statesmen plan to utilize his talent at free safety and rover.
“As long as I’m playing it really doesn’t matter. It’s a good spot for me,” Foster said. “I’m just ready to go up there and get it done.”
It was almost a three-man Piedmont package for the Statesman. Smart considered Delta State as well, but Davidson, he said, “was a better situation for me.” The Wildcats’ plans for him to play inside linebacker or an edge walk-up on defense.
“I’m just glad to be able to play at the next level,” Smart said. “I’m ready to see how far it can take me and see how much I can develop as a player and as a person.”
Smart accented his part of the festivities by wearing a black shirt and bright red bow tie he just bought for the occasion. It’s a departure from the blue and gold he’s been used to wearing, but certainly it’s something he can get used to.
“I’m used to the blue and gold,” he said. “Blue and red are my two favorite colors, so black and red is good.”
Fagan is the Sports Director for WEIS radio in Centre and a frequent contributor to East Alabama Sports Today.
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