MACON, Ga. — The Central Georgia Tech Titans have started their first season in Division 1 Junior College Football.
The Titans finished a perfect season with the NCFA in 2023, earning the championship title. Now, they’re taking it up a notch in Warner Robins.
The program is still in its infancy. The Titans first started as a team in 2022 playing club football. The team jumped into this season playing for the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Head Coach Kato Hitson has coached on staff since the team was founded, but this is his first year leading the Titans. He said the new league brings fresh eyes and recognition for the players.
“Longevity ... Longevity for guys to come here, you know, get the offer that they deserve, and just hard work," Hitson said. "That's what we're doing."
The fourth week of college football is here. So, Central Georgia Tech is starting to get an idea of what the recent change really means.
“Seeing a lot of more competition. I'm saying [that] teams gonna come out and try to give you their best game,” Aki Harvey, a cornerback out of Baltimore, Maryland, said. “They're not gonna lay down. I'm saying they gonna always come out and fight, and they gonna come out and they gonna play they hardest.”
He said going to a Juco school teaches him a lot more than just how to perform on the turf.
“Teach you a lot about being a man and being a football player and really knowing like who you are, and becoming your own person, becoming your own player,” Harvey said.
“That's our motto. You know, it's never stop grinding right here. So it's what we love, what we said. That's what we're gonna do,” Hitson said.
“Never forget where you’re from” is the motto of Macon native and Rutland High School grad, Neico Sandifer. He is a wide receiver for the Titans.
“These boys out here - these my brothers. I consider this as my family. You know, every day I come, come ready to work, ready to get better,” Sandifer said.
A unique part of being a student athlete at Central Georgia Tech is the community according to players.
“They take everybody in with welcome arms, you know, I'm saying southern hospitality. You know, I'm saying that's a real thing. Everybody say good morning to you when you walk by. Everybody say hi. You know, it means a lot because it's real welcoming,” Harvey said.
The Titans won their first two games at home this season, before falling 65-0 to the No. 7 GMC Bulldogs.
Their next game will be back in Warner Robins against Daytona Elite Academy at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.