CENTRAL — Wynton Botchway’s not sure where he’d be without football, but it’s safe to say he wouldn’t have had the kind of autumn he’s enjoyed his senior year.

It took a lot of growing up, he admitted earlier this week. As a freshman, Botchway said he’d talk back to teachers, ignore work, and generally reflect an immature attitude. His parents and coaches offered structure and discipline, but it wasn’t until late in his sophomore football season that things turned.

Realizing the potential of Botchway, who has grown into a 6-foot, 226-pound linebacker, Daniel’s inside linebackers coach Tommy Plumblee pulled Botchway aside at the end of the 2005 season and offered a glimpse of the player’s future.

"He said, ‘You’ve got the ability to be a good ballplayer," Botchway recalled. "That made me want to change my attitude in class so I could go somewhere."

Things didn’t improve until a year later. Before then, Botchway all but dismissed constructive conversations.

"My parents kept getting on me, and you get tired when your parents keep talking to you about messing up stuff," Botchway said. "And then coaches."

With an attitude adjustment, Botchway took matters into his own hands.

"Straighten up in class and get to work," he said.

Without those talks, he said change wouldn’t have come. Football proved to be the only motivation for him to get back on track.

"Probably yeah," he said. "If I didn’t have football, I probably would have been doing the same thing."

With his final high school season winding down, Botchway has blossomed into college prospect and North All-Star. He leads the Lions’ top-ranked scoring defense with 117 tackles despite missing the season opener with a shoulder injury. Daniel coach Randy Robinson expects him to pass through the NCAA Clearinghouse soon, and the coaching staffs at Newberry and Coastal Carolina have visited Central recently.

"Football gave him some structure to help keep him out of trouble, as it does a lot of kids in school," Plumblee said. "Something to use as a tool to get his education. He’s got the ability. He’s a hard worker, he’s grown up a lot since his freshman year. Football, and the whole coaching staff have helped him learn a lot of lessons about commitment, integrity, honesty, and consequences with his decisions."

Botchway was introduced to Daniel football as a freshman punter after winning a three-man tryout. Realizing he wouldn’t play linebacker as a freshman, he figured punting was an avenue to see the field.

As a sophomore, Botchway blossomed the last three games of the season and grew into the tackle machine he is today.

"Wherever the ball was," Robinson said, "that’s where he was."

No. 52 took another step last year when the Lions went 11-2, and he realized he could be a part of something much bigger, like a playoff run or state championship.

"He takes the game more seriously, it ain’t a joke to him anymore," senior defensive tackle Michael Stone said. "When it comes time to get the job done, he gets the job done. When he realized he could be good, he stepped up."