Boys Track & Field: Football recruitment, title chase come into focus for Devils’ Galloway
Monday, April 15, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Marion-Franklin’s Dawayne Galloway, who is a much sought-after football recruit, is one of the area’s top sprinters this season. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Based on what’s transpired over the past 10 months, a future filled with big events seems inevitable for Marion-Franklin junior Dawayne Galloway.
The moments of maturity Galloway has experienced along the way has helped set his path forward.
One of Ohio’s top recruits in the 2025 football class and with state championship aspirations in multiple events this spring for the Red Devils’ boys track and field team, Galloway’s future might not be so bright if he’d not changed course.
Although he stands 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, he weighed less than 140 pounds as a freshman before his body experienced an important growth spurt.
“I gained a lot of weight, my legs got bigger, my arms got bigger and I got way faster,” Galloway said. “Last year was my first year running track, so it was very fun to make it all the way to state. My team wasn’t there, but I just enjoyed it and enjoyed the people I ran against.”
Considered a four-star recruit in football by 247sports.com, Galloway projects as a college cornerback.
He holds 27 offers, from a list of schools that includes defending national champion Michigan, as well as Georgia, Penn State, Syracuse, Purdue, and Kentucky.
After picking up many of those offers last summer following off a breakthrough sophomore season in track, Galloway earned first-team all-district honors last fall in Division IV as the football team went 6-5 and won the City League-South Division at 6-1. Marion-Franklin was the 11th seed for the Division IV, Region 15 playoffs and lost to sixth-seeded St. Clairsville 44-12 in a first-round game.
Marion Franklin’s Dawayne Galloway takes the baton as the anchor of the Devils’ 4×100 team at East High School’s Harley Field April 5. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Last fall, Galloway finished with five interceptions which he returned for 278 yards and added 712 yards and five touchdowns in receptions and 612 yards in combined kickoff and punt return yardage. He earned first-team all-district and first-team all-state honors.
Dawayne has been playing football since he was 6 years old and has been living in the Marion-Franklin area since he began high school.
“I used to play quarterback, and you might see a little bit of quarterback from me (this coming fall),” Galloway said. “I’m just aware of the field. I know everything that’s going on in the game and can tell every play that’s going on. My college visits have been great and I’m really getting to know the coaches.”
Galloway showed his speed last spring by earning Division II state runner-up finishes in the 100 meters (10.42) behind Toledo Central Catholic graduate Solomon King (10.5) and in the 200 (21.18) behind Bexley graduate Mason Louis (21.32).
“He came out last year as a sophomore and was naturally fast, and we had to fix a few minor things related and it got better from there,” said Floyd Cisco, who is in his 10th season as coach and also heads the Red Devils’ wrestling program while also serving as wrestling coach. “He’s a hard worker who pushes himself when he needs to be pushed, and he’s a happy kid who’s always in a good mood.”
Marion Franklin’s Dawayne Galloway sprints to the win in the 100m race at East High School’s Harley Field April 5. Photo: Kevin Rouch
One thing that should help Galloway’s pursuit of track success this spring is that he’s got a better group of runners around him.
Seniors Terry Black and Naszir Jackson and juniors Aaris Billingsley and Taliq Black give Marion-Franklin a group of sprinters whose eye is on having relay success at the City League and postseason meets.
Galloway’s older brother, 2019 graduate Deonte Wade, played football for the Devils and at Notre Dame College and his younger brother, Daiquan Galloway, is a freshman at Walnut Ridge.
If everything goes as Galloway hopes, he should be the favorite to win titles in both the 100 and 200 at the state meet scheduled for May 31 and June 1 at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.
He’s continued working on the technicalities of his races in pursuit of track success.
“My team’s way faster this year, and we’ve added two new guys (in Taliq and Terry Black) who are very fast,” Galloway said. “You’ve got to be in shape. My block starts at first were very bad. I would always start off in last place when the gun would shoot and I’d catch up. I’ve really gotten my block starts better.”
Marion Franklin’s Dawayne Galloway anchors the Devils’ 4×200 team at East High School’s Harley Field April 5. Photo: Kevin Rouch