Get to Know ’19 Target: Ivory Winters

Image: Twitter.com

Written By: Kris Shankle (@Hoosierkris)

It all started when Ivory Winters was just a kid trying to have fun with his friends in the Clevelands apartment complex. They created a game called “killer”, where someone would take the football and throw it up as high as they could. Now whoever caught the ball was by himself against all the other kids, which at times ended up being as many as fifteen kids. The object then was to take on all these kids and find a way to score a touchdown before the other kids tackled you and had to start all over. “Killer” became the reason he fell in love with the game of football. It also taught him life lessons he never knew would end up helping him in the moment.

Growing up, Ivory didn’t have it easy. To say things were challenging for him and his family may even be under selling it. Ivory had to watch his mom find a way, any way, to take care of him and his three siblings. That meant sometimes there was no food on the table. It also meant that most of time growing up there wasn’t anywhere to sleep, but on the floor. We always hear these kinds of stories through the media, but to hear it firsthand is something different. I can’t help but think what kind of athlete let alone person, Ivory could be today if he just has the same advantages of most division one prospects. The thing is, he didn’t and for that, it has made him a better person. I can’t speak to the athlete part, because a kid as talented as Winters is, usually ends up being found. It just takes longer than others.

Living in a town as small as the one he lives in could also be seen as another disadvantage. Hayti, Missouri if Wikipedia is correct isn’t even able to claim 3,000 as it’s population. Being from a small town myself, I can argue the disadvantages it creates for athletes wanting to play sports at the next level.

That hasn’t stopped schools from noticing the talent Ivory possesses though. Just the other day Purdue reached out and offered him. They are the fourth school to do so. Kentucky, Southeast Missouri St as well as Indiana have also made offers and that list will no doubt continue to grow. Last month he attended Junior Day at Nebraska, but they have not offered yet. 247 Sports has Ivory ranked as the 928th best prospect in the nation. They also have him as the 21st best player in the state of Missouri and the 95th best ATH in the country.

Though he is listed as an athlete and did play both sides of the ball last year, Ivory is seen mainly as a running back prospect to the IU staff, which has led to running backs coach Mike Hart creating a great relationship so far with him. Hart is just one of the things that he has liked when it comes to Indiana. The staff has made him feel special and the training staff made quite an impression on him. Memorial Stadium, though going through renovations still, has begun making an impact of recruits as well as Ivory said it was one of the best parts about Indiana. In the future, the plan is for this relationship to continue to grow and another visit is being talked about, but nothing is set in stone at the moment.

As far as on the field goes, Winters and his Hayti teammates had a fairly successful year going 9-3 on the season. They finished 5-0 at home on the year. Winters was a huge part of their success as he ran for 37 touchdowns on the year along with over a thousand yards.  They ended up making it to the Sectionals Championship game against Valle Catholic, but ended up losing 42-18. Valle Catholic was a very good team and actually ended up in the state title game, so expectations are high going into next season for the Indians of Hayti.  Last years success has made Winters as confident as ever and for good reason. The plan for his Senior year is to finish 1st team All-State on both sides of the ball. Rushing for 2,000 yards is also a huge goal he has set for himself. Knowing that Valle Catholic made it to state this year after beating Hayti, has also made the biggest goal for Winter’s senior season winning a state title before he heads off to college.

 After hearing his story and getting to know him though, all these goals sound silly. Obviously not silly in the sense of not important or not being worthwhile achievements, but in the sense that with everything he has overcome to this point in life, any goal that he sets will be a walk in the park. The truth is, Winters football career may just be getting started, but he has already become a person off the field that can accomplish anything. I wouldn’t expect that to change anytime soon and one day, Winters will achieve his ultimate goal of making sure his mom along with the rest of his family are taken care of.