Kam'ryn Webster was a two-sport star at Kinston High School, earning scholarships to play football and baseball at Greensboro College in 2017. Submitted photo

Kam'ryn Webster is taking his opportunities back.

Webster, a stalwart football and baseball player at Kinston High School, received offers to play both sports at Greensboro College in 2017. Webster didn't stay long and left during the 2017-18 school year after being placed on academic probation.

"My mind wasn't on academics," Webster said. "I was dealing with some things and just didn't handle my business. My mom definitely wanted me to go back and we had some conversations, but one really had me ready to fix my mistakes.

“I didn’t want to label players that will come out of Kinston High after me as quitters, so I have to lead courageously, reject passivity, expect a greater reward and accept responsibility."

During his time back in Kinston, Webster's passion for the game was still evident, working with the Vikings' football and baseball teams, along with taking a job with Arendell Parrott Academy's junior varsity team as an assistant coach. 

"I thought he did a good job and the kids responded well to him," Patriots Athletics Director Matt Beaman said of Webster. "He's a good kid, hard worker, was always on time and very dependable."

Webster also kept looking for an opportunity to get back to school, which pleased Kinston baseball coach Ryan Buie. 

"It bothered me a lot (that he left Greensboro) because I knew he had great potential with a high work ethic,” Buie said. “He spent the summer working with local schools and JUCOs before deciding to go back to Greensboro, and I’m excited for him. This is what he wants and I know he’ll put in the time.”

Working with the players also convinced Webster to change his major when he goes back to Greensboro, from criminal justice to sports medicine.

“I like doing things sports-related and just being around the kids, teaching them,” Webster said. "A lot of the kids asked me ‘Are you going back,’ and some of the football players asked me about Greensboro (with me telling them) it was a good school. I was going through some personal things, but I realized I had to do things differently because so many people look up to me.”

Vikings football coach Ryan Gieselman said he applauded his former player's efforts to get back on track.

“I think it’s real big of him to go back,” Gieselman said. “A lot of times, kids get in a bind and try to find an excuse not to correct mistakes. Kam is very well-driven and he knows what a four-year degree can do for him in life. He’s going to put that hard work into the classroom and he realized a lot during his time off in the spring.”

Webster said he learned a lot from the past year and won't make the same mistake twice.

“You can’t get complacent because this can be taken away from you real quick,” Webster said. “It’s not just about playing baseball and football to me — I’ve got to do work off the field.”