Cris, Landon Flockhart headed for next chapter at VUL

NEWPORT — On July 25, Scotty Dykes was leaving Cocke County’s practice when he got a call from a coach at Virginia University of Lynchburg.

The coach had seen Cris Flockhart’s tape from the East Tennessee All-Star Game, and he wanted to know more.

Within 30 minutes of that call, Flockhart had a visit set up.

That visit wound up leading the staff not just to Cris, but to his brother Landon since they were looking for more linemen.

Now they will be going to school and playing football together for the Dragons, whose program is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Last season the team competed against schools such as Carson-Newman, Lane College and Fort Lauderdale.

“They watched the All-Star game footage and a little bit of my senior and junior year,” said Cris Flockhart. “They like that I’m big, but they also like that I’m a nice person and a good kid.

“I really liked it, because they said before anything else, I would be coming for school, that football was secondary.”

The path marks quite a change for Cris Flockhart, who thought he might have a shot to wrestle in college after reaching the state finals as a senior.

But it also brings a new venture for Landon, who had previously considered entering the National Guard, according to his brother.

“It’s been pretty good,” said CCHS assistant coach Fransisco Garcia, who has coached both Flockhart brothers in football and wrestling. “Landon’s path has been a little rockier than Cris, because he didn’t play his sophomore year, but for him to come out his last two years and continue it in college is huge.”

The campus stood out to Cris Flockhart on his first visit, one that Landon took on Friday.

“It’s a really small campus, where you can see everything,” said Cris Flockhart. “It’s all a two-minute walk from each other, which I really like.”

He also noted that the head coach and athletic director, Tim Newman, mentioned that they have been looking to start a wrestling program.

“That would be awesome because those are my two favorite sports,” said Flockhart. “It would be the dream, honestly.”

“It was a great surprise,” added Dykes. “After wrestling season, we thought he might sign a wrestling scholarship. But to get a full football scholarship, it’s a blessing for him and his family.”