WS Chronicle

In above photo: (left) Tyree Massey, Tyree Massey will handle a heavy rushing load for WSSU this season (right). (Photo by Winston-State University Athletics) 

A year ago, Tyree Massey was not an every-down running back at Winston-Salem State. Instead, he was a key element in a three-player rotation which totaled 1,555 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

Although Massey was third on the depth chart, he made the most of his opportunities – 402 yards, six touchdowns and he averaged 5.4 yards per carry. With the departure of seniors Maurice Lewis and Mustafa Greene, Massey figures to be the featured Rams runner coming out of the backfield this season.

“I’m ready for the challenge,” said Massey, a senior from Bunnlevel. “Things went real well during the off-season. I stayed here all summer and worked out. As a result, I came to this year’s training camp in real good shape and I’m ready to go.”

Look for the Rams to give opponents a healthy dose of Massey at tailback all season long. And for good reason. At 5-feet-11, 240 pounds, he’s a punishing runner between the tackles. But that’s just one aspect of his game. Massey said his best time in the 40-yard dash is 4.7 seconds. Yet, he looks much faster under game conditions. Aside from that, he’s agile, elusive and rarely goes down after initial contact.

Realizing that his work load will increase substantially this fall, Massey was fully engaged in off-season training. Being in peak condition, he explained, will pay off handsomely as the season progresses. Given his training regimen, he’s confident that he’ll have the strength and stamina to perform well in the fourth quarter.

Massey didn’t always have a fullback’s body. At Overhills High School in Harnett County, he was “a small guy” at 185 pounds. As a senior, he rushed for over 1,100 yards. During his time as a JUCO at Louisburg College, he gained weight, but it never had a negative impact on his speed and quickness. When he arrived at WSSU last year, it was his first time getting fully involved in a weight lifting program.

“Two summers ago, I wasn’t able to stay here [Winston-Salem], so my conditioning wasn’t what it needed to be,” he said. “This past summer, I followed through on everything my strength and conditioning coach [Marc Heinecke] asked me to do.

“In the weight room, it was important for me to use the proper technique and do it the right way to gain the most benefit. On the field, there was a constant emphasis to sprint all-out from start to finish on every rep. When you get in the habit of doing things the right way, it carries over to practice and it carries over to games.”

Massey believes that serving as a back-up in 2014 will help him in his final college season. He wanted to be in the starting lineup then, but understood he would have to bide his time. As a result, he learned to value every minute of playing time.

“You wait your turn and be ready when the time comes to show what you can do,” he said. “Every play could be your last. So when you’re out there, you want to give 100 percent every time because you never know what might happen.”