Born For The Game: Jameson Dearybury

In the modern sports world, the days of the feel-good homegrown high school football player that grew up around the team and become the star quarterback are rare. Fortunately, since we live in a smaller southern town like Spartanburg, we still get classic Hallmark movie or country song kind of stories. 

While Broome senior Quarterback Jameson Dearybury would say his tale is far from that grandiose, it is nonetheless a heartwarming and inspiring one of determination to make a name for himself both on and off the field. 

The last name Dearybury is one that most people in the corner of Spartanburg county between Pacolet and Cowpens should know. Jameson is the son of Spencer Dearybury – who was the starting quarterback for the Centurions in the early 90s. After attending and playing football for Newberry College, Spencer came back home where he has served as a teacher and an assistant football coach since before Jameson was born in September of 2007 – when he was both offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under then-head coach Todd Staley. 

Naturally, that means Jameson can say he was born to be a Centurion. 

Jameson, who wears his dad’s number 5, has enjoyed growing up wearing the royal blue and gold, but his love for the game started long before he decided to follow in his dad’s footsteps as a QB. 

“I have been playing and watching sports for as long as I can remember”, said Dearybury. “I am a huge Clemson fan, and I loved watching Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson. It was one of my favorite things to do when I was growing up.” 

It is safe to say that with watching those two Tiger quarterback legends, Jameson drew some inspiration in developing his own game. But, he also gives a ton of credit to his father, who has coached him his entire life dating back to when he was playing youth league ball and serving as a ball boy on Friday nights all the way up to the present as the senior leader of the Centurions. 

“My dad being my coach has come with its ups and downs”, Jameson said. “But, for sure there is a lot more upside to it. He has been a huge help in teaching me progressions and reads on the field. But more importantly, he has helped me with the mental side of things.” 

While his father has been deeply involved in every aspect of his life since he was the size of a football, Jameson is quick to point out that his whole family has played a part in making him the well-rounded young man that he is today. 

“The thing that drives me most is my family. I am always trying to make them proud – both on and off the field”, said Dearybury. “I can’t say who I feel closest to out of my family because I feel like I am equally close to all of them and we all connect with one another in different ways. My biggest influencers in life have definitely been my parents. I cannot narrow it down to just one of them because I have picked up things from both of them that are very different. But, something they both have taught me is to always be kind to everyone because extending kindness makes the day better for both you and everyone else around you. It is not just my parents, though. I feel like my strongest character trait is my toughness – which I feel comes from my grandfather, who is the strongest person I know.” 

Jameson does come from a well-known family – with his mother Brooke being the daughter of  local farmer James Cooley . So it is no wonder it is hard for him to pinpoint just one person that he feels closest to. 

“If there is one thing that I have been surrounded by just as much as if not more than football growing up, it’s a lot of peach orchards, strawberry fields, and tractors”, said Dearybury of growing up around his grandpa’s Strawberry Hill USA farm near Chesnee – which has been in the family since the 1930s. 

Apart from his family and his dad, Jameson has also had the opportunity to be mentored by a good head coach in Lynn Fleming, which further contributed to how strongly grounded he is. 

“Coach Fleming is a great football coach”, Dearybury said. “But, he has always reminded us that this high school football team and our experience is much more than just winning a game. He genuinely cares about us and our future. He wants us to be a better man everyday and persevere in everything we face in life.” 

It is not a secret to anyone that has lived it, but life as a student and an athlete is tough to balance. Contrary to a lot of others, that heavily-structured life is something Jameson says he relishes in, believing it is helping him to develop his character. 

“My favorite part of being a student athlete is the challenge that comes with it”, said Dearybury. “People that don’t play sports don’t really understand how much time and effort goes into them. When you also have to manage school, it can be twice as challenging. But, I know that keeping to my grades and working through it will help me as I start the next chapter of my life. I fully believe that working towards balancing both has helped me become a more well-rounded individual.” 

Jameson, who is currently undecided on his collegiate destination once he graduates from Broome but wants to go into the medical field, does know one thing – that he wants his legacy to be more than football. He does not want to be known for being the coach’s kid or a quarterback, but rather for who he is off the field. 

“Of course I want to be remembered as a great athlete”, Dearybury said. “But, more importantly I want to be known as an all-around good person that was always kind to people – friends, family, and strangers alike.” 

Dearybury also has some solid advice for aspiring athletes that may be looking up to him, as one might expect from a man who has soaked in so much wisdom from so many people in his life up to this point

“Always give your best, even when you feel like times are getting tough or that the workouts are getting too long”, said Dearybury. “Always keep pushing yourself and trust that your coaches always have a plan because in the end it is all going to be worth it.” 

Unfortunately for Jameson, he broke his right arm this past Friday night against Mountain View Prep and had to have surgery this past Saturday. But, you can bet that he will still be on the sidelines 100% behind his team mates this week as they close out their regular season on the road at Chapman. 

“I love playing for Broome”, he said with pride. “I have loved my whole time here and being able to go out and lead my team on Friday nights. I have grown up here and played with all my friends from when we were in Little League all the way through varsity.” 

You can catch Jameson’s Centurions in action in Inman Friday night with kickoff set for 7:30 as they battle for a possible home playoff game.