Carrollton, GA – Every so often, a young athlete steps onto the field with a presence that makes you look twice. Last year, that athlete was Dash Myton. This freshman wide receiver has already made a name for himself before his first official snap at Carrollton High School. Standing 5’9, Myton may not yet be the biggest player on the field, but he more than makes up for it with his agility, and ability to make plays in traffic. During offseason workouts, he consistently stood out creating separation, making clutch grabs, and showing a calm confidence rarely seen in first year high school players. Expectations are high, but with Myton’s talent, poise, and a hunger to succeed, this freshman phenom is ready for the spotlight.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dash Myton.

Dash, how do you balance training with academics and personal life?
School always comes first, but because I don’t receive homework from my teachers anymore (our only homework is missing work), I have some time to myself for a few hours in the afternoon. When I train, up to this point in my life I’ve always focused more on technique and mental training instead of lifting weights or doing more physical workouts. I mostly practice running routes and watching film so that I’m able to read defenses and find open areas before the play even starts. One thing I’ve always said about myself is that I play more with my mind than my body. I’ve started to incorporate workouts that are more physically taxing if you will, but my main focus is still technique and intelligence. Whenever I’m not training, what I do with my personal time really depends on how I’m feeling that day. I like playing video games, but sometimes I might ride my bike for a few miles. Other times I might read, or even write my own narrative stories or make my own personal slideshows just for the fun of it. I enjoy lots of things and like I said, what I do really depends on my mood. I will say I’m more of an indoor person though.

Are you attending any camps or combines to gain exposure?
I will most likely be attending The Show during June, but otherwise I’m always on the lookout for camps that I can attend to get coaches’ eyes on me.

Who do you train with during the off-season? Do you have a mentor or trainer?
I mostly just train by myself or with my dad. The trainer that I work with the most is Coach Oliver Davis (@i_am_od3 on Instagram), but I also frequent Coach Hilton Alexander (@routeking_1), Coach Quay Mack (@routemaster2), and my own high school coaches Josh and AJ Barge (@joshbarge12 and @_coachbarge). If there’s anybody that I train with the most during the offseason, it’s Jenorie Braynen II (@2.manychiefs).

How are you staying in shape during the off-season?
I usually work out in my own garage or living room, or take runs around my neighborhood. I also have workouts with my high school during the offseason that help to keep me in shape if I start to slack off.

What specific goals have you set for yourself before next season?
My main goal is to get bigger. I’d like to be about 5’10 and 170 pounds before the season starts. I also want to learn other positions in our offensive playbook, and start to focus on studying the defensive playbook more often.

Are you working on any particular skills or techniques right now?
Nothing in particular, just perfecting the techniques that I already know. I don’t like to focus too much on one technique or facet of my game.

What part of your game do you think improved most last season?
I think I got much better at using my field vision to my advantage to make pre-snap adjustments to my benefit, and to turn minor gains into big gains or even long touchdowns. I also think I improved greatly at using my size to my advantage.

What lessons did you take away from last season?
I realized that I always have to be perfecting my craft, no matter what. Playing with lesser competition made me lackadaisical, and when I got back to playing against my usual competition during the offseason, that first day was kind of a wake up call that I needed to be working at all times.

Is there a moment from last season that stands out to you?
The two moments that stood out to me the most last year were our last two playoff games against Lassiter and McEachern. During my football career I’d always felt like I’d have a drop off in my performance when it mattered most, but during those two games I stepped up in a big way. In those two games I recorded 5 catches, 2 touchdowns, and multiple key blocks that led to touchdowns. But more importantly I put my team on my back whenever our starters on defense were worn out. I forced the game-winning fumble against Lassiter and forced another fumble against McEachern to begin shifting the tone of the game in our favor. I proved to myself that I could step up my performances when it mattered most, which was a massive confidence booster.

What motivates you to keep pushing during the off-season?
My family has always been my biggest motivation. My little sister is my biggest fan and I’m her biggest inspiration, so I always make sure that I play my hardest for her. Most of my games I also played with a bracelet that I received from her so that I had a reminder of her with me at all times. Also, from a young age my great-grandmother has always dreamed of me buying her a house whenever I make it big, so that’s also always in the back of my mind. Both sides of my family carry themselves with their own sense of pride, and that sense of pride has been instilled in me and the way that I play. They all put their faith in me, and it feels almost disrespectful to not pay them back.

How do you stay mentally sharp and focused when games aren’t being played?
I’m always watching films of myself or other perfectionists of my craft. Also, like I said earlier a huge part of my training is technique and mental preparation so that even with a physical hindrance, I can still play to my own strengths to manipulate defenses to my will.

What kind of diet or nutrition plan are you following now?
I’ve started taking creatine, and my diet consists mostly of chicken and rice meals with vegetables on the side.

Have you taken on a leadership role with your team during the break?
I’ve taken on the best leadership role that I possibly can. I always try to make sure that my fellow freshmen are locked in while we’re practicing and training with varsity because it’s a new experience for us. I also always try to make sure that I correct my teammates when I see them doing wrong whether on the field or off of it.

Are you watching or studying any pro or college players for inspiration?
I watch a lot of Keenan Allen, Ja’Marr Chase, Jerry Jeudy, Jerry Rice, and Chad Johnson. I feel like they play with their mind and technique just as much as their body, which I think is similar to my style.

What’s your favorite part about football that keeps you coming back?
The thrill of competition and wanting to be the absolute best. There’s nothing better than going against the best of the best and beating them.

How do you deal with pressure and expectations from coaches or peers?
I don’t really feel pressure from anybody. Whenever I feel pressured, I just remind myself that if I keep a calm head and play my way, everything will fall into place.

Are there any teammates you think will have a breakout season next year?
I have a few in mind, but if I had to choose one I’d say Keaires Miller. I believe he’s in the perfect position to have a massive breakout season.

What college or post-high school football goals do you have?
My dream is to play at the University of Alabama, but of course any D1 team is a great place to be. My top 3 teams would be Alabama, OSU, or LSU considering their success at producing pro receivers. Afterwards, I dream of being drafted, winning a Super Bowl ring, and retiring as a Hall of Fame football player.

What are you most excited about for the upcoming season?
I’m excited about finally playing on the high school level and proving myself as one of the top dogs of the next wave of great football players.

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