Coming off a banner season and representing Johns Creek’s first full senior class, offensive lineman Sam Arrington will carry the Gladiators’ football torch on to Mercer University.

“It’s really exciting,” said Arrington, who was recruited to play center by Mercer. “I went down to Macon and just really fell in love with everything, the smaller-town feel, the coaches and the opportunity to play early on.”

A starter for Johns Creek at center for three years, the 6-foot-2 240 pound Arrington graded out as a 95 percent blocker according to head coach Mike Cloy. Also starting on the defensive line as a senior, Sam made 57 tackles, had three sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown.

In Macon he will be joining a Bears team in their first season of football, and one coached by legendary coach Bobby Lamb. He’ll also be joining former Johns Creek teammate Kirby Southard, a close friend that he started alongside for three years on the Gladiators’ offensive front.

“Knowing a few guys down there helps and Kirby has been a big role model for me as a player. I got along really well with the team [on a visit] and I’m excited to start playing,” said Arrington.

Joining a first-year school, Arrington will be in a similar situation that he found himself in when he showed up to Johns Creek as a freshman in 2009 — and he’ll surely hope for similar results.

Starting for four-years, he and his 2013 teammates helped build the Gladiators into a power in short time — making the state playoffs in both their second and third years of eligibility. The senior class went 24-15 on the varsity level, including 9-2 in 2011 and 8-3 in their inaugural season of AAAAAA football last fall.

Arrington, who was Johns Creek’s only football signee on National Signing Day, also drew interest from Centre College, Davidson, Rhodes, Birmingham Southern, Berry and a host of other Division II and Division III programs.

He plans to major in a business-related field at Mercer.