How Salina Liberty rookie linebacker Tron Folsom rediscovered his love for football
No matter what the future holds for Tron Folsom, his past few months in Salina have given him one thing.
It has rekindled his love for football.
Folsom, the Salina Liberty's rookie linebacker, thought two years ago that he was done with the game. He had completed his college career as a graduate transfer at Colorado State in the fall of 2019 and around the time of his pro day in front of NFL scouts, COVID-19 hit.
The timing could not have been worse. With the country in lockdown, there were no more opportunities to showcase his talent, and when the NFL Draft came and went with no takers — not even a free agency nibble — Folsom decided to move on.
More: Salina Liberty dominate second half on the way to 34-19 come-from-behind win over Billings
"I didn't get any looks in going toward the next level," he said following a practice in preparation for the Liberty's 7 p.m. Champions Indoor Football game Saturday at Omaha. "So, I was ready to flip over a new chapter in my life."
Folsom returned home to Georgia, where he spent a year-plus at a water plant factory job, then briefly put his psychology degree to use, working with kids and adolescents. But something kept nagging at him.
"I was 9 to 5 for about two years," he said. "But I felt something was missing in my life."
So he took a few months off, began training and got an agent. The agent's first call was to Liberty coach Heron O'Neal, with whom he had a previous working relationship. O'Neal, in turn, took one look at Folsom's college film and was sold.
"He was not on our radar until his representative called and showed me the film," O'Neal said. "Within 10 minutes of watching his film, I offered him (a contract). It was very, very obvious that he had the ability and he just needed some exposure."
O'Neal has not been disappointed, and neither has Folsom, who has quickly developed into a force on a veteran Liberty defense.
"This has been a great experience," Folsom said. "After I got done in 2019 and didn't get drafted, I kind of fell out of loving football and started looking for other things to make me happy.
More: New Salina Liberty quarterback Vincent Espinoza determined to make the most of opportunity
"When I first got here, I thought I'd be one of the oldest guys on the team, but I'm one of the youngest. There's a lot of veterans on this team that have played 10-plus years, and I'm learning from them every day."
Folsom had big shoes to fill at linebacker, replacing Naiquan Thomas, who had helped lead the Liberty to two straight Champions Bowl appearances. And while there was an adjustment period, O'Neal couldn't be happier with what is still not a finished product.
"No linebacker in the league is playing better than him right now," O'Neal said. "The amazing thing is he hadn't played a meaningful football game in three years.
"Now that's an excuse to me and I don't like excuses, but in contact sports it takes some time to get into a rhythm. It took him at least three games to figure everything out."
Folsom, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder from Alma, Georgia, has had a major impact the past two games — a 55-7 blowout of Rapid City and a 34-19 come-from-behind victory over Billings that vaulted the Liberty into a third-place tie with the Outlaws. Four of the eight CIF teams advance to the playoffs.
More: Salina Liberty manhandle Rapid City, 55-7, to end two-game Champions Indoor Football skid
In the Rapid City game, Folsom returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown, and against Billings, his 20-yard fumble return in the third quarter helped fuel a 13-point second-half comeback.
"I scored a lot in high school, but only one time in college, so coming up here and scoring more than I ever scored in college was cool," Folsom said.
Folsom said adjusting to indoor football took some time, but credits the Liberty's veteran defensive players, most notably safeties Dontra Matthews and Dewayne Autrey for showing him the ropes.
O'Neal, in turn, likes the fact that Folsom isn't afraid to speak up during meetings, either.
"Any time you can call out Deetray Matthews or Dewayne Autrey or (center) Kelvin McCoy and guys like that in a meeting, you have to have the plays to back it up," O'Neal said. "That's very new to me, to see a rookie do that."
Folsom insists that the give-and-take during film sessions only makes the team better.
"When I first got here I kind of butted heads with a couple of guys because of the way I came off," he said. "But everybody knew I had potential and I've had a great support system.
More: Salina Liberty football welcomes new quarterback with hopes of ending two-game skid
"I feel like I can criticize anybody on the team as much as they criticize me, and it's just about holding everybody accountable. It's not like there's any animosity."
O'Neal agreed.
"He does not lack any confidence," he said of Folsom. "He knows he can play football and play at a high level. I hope like Tyrie (Adams) that he gets a chance to play at higher level."
Earlier this season, quarterback Tyrie Adams signed a contract with the Canadian Football League, and Folsom said he hopes to get a similar opportunity at some point. But for now, he's happy where he is.
"From day one that I've been here and been around these veteran players and coach O'Neal, they've been teaching me something," Folsom said. "And I've found my love for the game again."
Liberty and Beef to square off in rematch
The Liberty (4-2) beat Omaha (4-3), 36-31, on March 26 at Tony's Pizza Events Center. But both coaches, plus three Liberty players — Matthews, Autrey and offensive lineman Steven Fluker — were suspended for two games following a pregame scuffle between the teams.
Salina and the Beef split last year's regular-season series, both winning at home, but Omaha had the last laugh, beating the Liberty in the Champions Bowl, 40-39, at Tony's Pizza Events Center.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Football is fun again for Salina Liberty linebacker Tron Folsom
