ALLEN GREGORY
Bristol Herald Courier
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
EMORY, Va. - Cam Peoples has a basic goal for each football game.
"I want to make plays," Peoples said. To the delight of Emory & Henry fans, People has made all sorts of plays the past three years for the Wasps.
"When I first came to Emory on a recruiting visit, I could tell that the coaches wanted me and the football program had what I was looking for," Peoples said.
The 5-foot-7 and 175-pound Peoples has been a high performer since his days as a three-time state champion with the Reidsville High School Rams in North Carolina.
"My size is a motivator," Peoples said. "Opposing teams think they can get the best of me, but I believe in heart over height."
Peoples has commanded respect for the Wasps by returning punts and kickoffs, catching passes, and zooming past defenders on jet sweeps.
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"Cam helps us a lot of ways. He's fun to watch," interim E&H head coach Quintin Hunter said.
Last season, Peoples was named to the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division team as both a receiver and return specialist. He led the conference with a 28.6 kickoff return average and paced the team with 44 receptions for 438 yards and three scores.
"I credit that to the belief my coaches have shown in me," Peoples said. "They've been willing to put the ball in my hands and that gives me confidence to go out there and do my thing."
Entering Saturday's homecoming game sixth-ranked SAC favorite Lenoir-Rhyne, Peoples has generated 391 all-purpose yards with five touchdowns in four games.
Peoples knows about the rich tradition of the Hickory, North Carolina, based Lenoir-Rhyne Bears.
"I actually had an invite to the Lenoir-Rhyne campus coming out of high school, but I visited Emory first and just felt the love," Peoples said.
According to Peoples, his list of college suitors included most of the schools in the SAC along with Winston-Salem State in the CIAA, North Carolina Central in the MEAC, and North Carolina A&T in the Coastal Athletic Association.
The extra work of former E&H head coach Curt Newsome helped Peoples make the 171-mile journey from Reidsville down Interstate 81 to far Southwest Virginia.
"Coach Newsome actually came to my high school," Peoples said. "That's rare for a head coach at the college level. It impressed me and showed me how much Emory wanted me."
Reidsville High School football is serious business. Regarded as the football capital of North Carolina, the Rams have won a record of 19 state titles with countless blue-chip athletes and consistent leadership from legendary coach Jimmy Teague and his son Erik.
Former Reidsville standout Donovan Pinnix was an all-conference defensive lineman for E&H from 201822.
The 2024 E&H roster includes freshman defensive back Queshyne Flippen, who amassed over 1,000 yards receiving as a senior for the Rams.
"Reidsville is a small city and football is the main activity," Peoples said. "The youth program is large and kids start playing football around age three. There is a lot of pride for the program in the school and community."
Peoples paid his dues en route to Reidsville stardom.
As a sophomore, Peoples saw time at quarterback even though he was just 5-6 and 155 pounds at the time.
"I was tiny, but we didn't have a lot of quarterbacks that season," Peoples said. "I spent most of my time in the secondary during my first two years, and I didn't start playing receiver until I was a junior."
Competing in state title games at Wake Forest, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina, Peoples became accustomed to big game atmospheres.
"I led the state in kick and punt return yardage in my junior year, but I really broke out as a senior with 1,300 yards receiving," Peoples said.
Those numbers earned Peoples an invite to play in the East-West All-Star game in Greensboro.
Does ever Peoples ever flash his state championship bling to his E&H teammates?
"I thought about bringing the rings down here, but my parents were afraid I might lose them. Those rings mean a lot to me," Peoples said.
Before the start of the 2024 season, Peoples received All-SAC Mountain Division honors as a return specialist and wide receiver.
"I'm getting a lot more attention from defenses now," said Peoples, who has two more years of college eligibility. "Every time I lineup, the safeties are watching me. Last season gave me confidence. I just want to get my name out more and really set things off."
People has contributed 927 total yards and nine touchdowns the past three years for the Wasps.
According to Peoples, the best part of his college experience goes far beyond stats.
"This team is like a family," Peoples said. "After practices and games, guys will gather at my house to watch college and pro football. We're like a bunch of brothers.
"And if we can put everything together, this team has the potential to be the best I've been around."
Look for Peoples to work overtime to attain his big-play goal against Lenoir-Rhyne.
"I don't have the size and physical gifts that other guys have, but I'm willing to go harder. I try to put on a show for everybody, especially athletes my size."
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