Q&A with Springfield Central CB Keshaun Dancy Jr.

HOLYOKE — On Monday, MassVarsity caught up with Springfield Central cornerback Keshaun Dancy Jr. at the Excel Sports Academy 7-on-7 finals, which the Golden Eagles won with a 36-30 overtime victory over Westfield.

Dancy, a senior, is one of the best cornerbacks in the state from a program that traditionally produces plenty of quality defensive backs.

Here's an edited version of our conversation.

MV: When did you get started at Central?

KD: Yeah, I started here as a freshman. I just, throughout the year, just worked, bought into the program, and that's where I'm at.

MV: Who were the guys at Central you looked up to growing up?

KD: When I was a freshman, probably Tank Walker, dudes like Joe Luna. Just workhorses.

MV: When did you move into a starting role?
KD: Sophomore year I started getting reps. Sophomore offseason I just worked hard. I had a good junior year, had a good junior season going into my senior year now.

MV: How many scholarship offers do you have right now?
KD: I have nine.

MV: Do you know them off the top of your head?
KD: Yeah, I have Holy Cross. I have Bryant. I have Sacred Heart. I have the University of New Hampshire. I have Colgate. I have Fordham, Lafayette. A couple more I'm missing.

MV: (Things are going pretty well) if you can't remember them all, though, right?
KD: Yeah.

MV: Are there any other schools that are (waiting to see how you do) your senior season?
KD: UConn and Syracuse are both waiting for my second game.

MV: What are some of the things you want to work on to get better?
KD: Probably just being able to read offenses faster, just studying film to put myself in better positions on the field.

MV: I'm from Eastern Mass., so I don't know Springfield very well. What's your situation here?
KD: I grew up in Forest Park. It isn't really the best area. It's kind of like, low-poverty area, so I kind of just worked through it, got myself away from it with the football.

MV: How were you able to do that?  Is it just sort of concentrating, staying focused? 
KD: Concentrating, and being surrounded by people who have the same goals. It makes it a lot easier. My parents (help me), too. A big help.

MV: Who were some of the other role models you had growing up other than the players in the program?
KD: Probably coach (Vlad) Brower, coach (Bill) Watson, coach (Julius) Walker, coach Chris (Ferreira), too. The whole coaching staff.

MV: Do the older players from Central come back and stay involved with the program?
KD: Usually in the summertime is when the guys come back, work out, help us out, the older dudes help us get better.

MV: How much are your looking forward to the season? I know (7-on-7) is fun, but this isn't the real deal.
KD: It's not at all. I'm looking forward to it a lot. Winning that first state title. That's what I'm really looking forward to.

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