Rei Talley might be the quietest person on his team.
But everything he does for his squad speaks volumes.
Talley is a senior on the Abraham Lincoln High School football team, and his job isn’t to be a rah rah-type player. Instead, he lets his game do the talking and because of the way he plays, he sets a perfect example for his Railsplitter teammates.
“I’m a captain and I’m a leader on this team, but you wouldn’t really know that because I’m quiet,” Talley said with a laugh. “I make sure I’m a quiet guy, but I’m more vocal telling them what I see, making sure we all talk. Communication is key. Junior year I started. Last year I had a lot of veterans, a lot of help. A lot of people on the team who were there for four years helped me slow the game down for me. Overall, they just really helped me on my backends and things I couldn’t see, they brought it to light for me.
“And I got a few who are still there and we focus on the same stuff we learned last year, we’re doing the same for the other guys just starting to be on the field full time. I make sure and pass my knowledge and wisdom down so they can slow the game down. By the time they are the older guys, they can pass the knowledge down. Watching film, whatever. It’s a loop and it’s just a great loop.”
Talley is quick to point out previous Lincoln teams have been very good at doing this.
The recent teams built a culture of winning.
Talley wants to leave a culture of winning. That’s something that started last year, when after having to forfeit games, Lincoln needed to, and did, beat Imhotep Charter to make the playoffs.
That situation that originally saw the Railsplitters forfeit their entire season before the decision was reversed was a tough pill to swallow before the team was reinstated.
That’s why when four players from the Cheltenham football team who saw their season canceled because of a vile hazing situation transferred to Lincoln, they were welcomed with open arms.
Talley said those players deserve a chance to play and the four of them – Kendall Jackson, Mason Jones, Kaiden Rogers and Andre Jones – have been welcomed into the mix. Talley wants them to know this is where they belong.
“Lincoln is their home,” Talley said. “For sure. The guys we got, they’re great people, great football players. They’ve shown a lot since they got here. Ever since we got together, this is a brotherhood, something that you can take stuff off your shoulders. It’s a great place. Deeper than football. If you need something by your side, we’ll be there.
“We are telling them, they had a hard time losing their season and fulfilling what they did last year. Everything happens for a reason, we won’t let them lose sight of that. I love to bet the house on my guys. They’ll do what they do, 100 percent.”
So does Talley.
While he’s at home on defense, he’s having a good time this season playing receiver. While he hopes his future is at corner or safety, he is learning to love playing wideout, and he’s willing to do anything to help the Railsplitters.
“Honestly, I think I’m more of a defensive player, but I love all of them equally, I just like being on the field,” Talley said. “I usually cover wide receivers, but there are sometimes when someone is in the box, then I’m covering that guy, like a tight end. It doesn’t matter.
“In my high school experience, last year was my first time being on the field with competition like that. My junior year, that was an exciting moment, but this year, we want to go forward. We celebrate when we win and keep going.”
Someday, Talley would like to play on Sundays. But for now, he stays plenty busy on Sunday.
When he’s not playing football or hanging out with his family, Talley is a man of faith, and he spends plenty of time getting closer to Jesus.
“I’m a believer in Christ, I go to church, I make sure me and my relationship with Jesus Christ is there because in my beliefs and not just what I know, he’s been there for me my entire life,” Talley said. “He isn’t a big reason, he’s the full reason of why I am who I am. Outside the field, I’m a chill, cool person. You won’t hear me talk too much outside the field. But I love to show my love for Jesus.”
He also credits his coaches and parents with taking him the rest of the way.
“I got my parents, they’re a big why for me,” said Talley, who plans on going to college and will likely go in undecided. “They help me get to where I am. When I said I wanted to do this, they supported me full time. And my coaches. I have a great relationship with them. Since I got to Lincoln, they’ve been nothing but helpful. No shortcuts. I appreciate a lot of that. I love everything about that. They’ve all helped me.”
He’s quick to talk about those who help him, but he’s not too quick to talk about himself. Instead, he hopes the season does all the talking.
“Outside, even my coaches will tell you, I’m not a big speaker,” Talley said. “Not much of a talker. Even on the field last year, the guys we had passing stuff down, they were doing the talking. I’d repeat it, just talking. I talk when needed to. Now I talk to make sure that people get knowledge out of my voice. They know that I’m there. I’m getting better at being loud. I’m trying.” ••
