Dexter Fulton, son of Jason and Michelle Fulton, will be attending Knox College in Galesburg, IL as a member of the football team. During his time at NCHS, Dexter was also an active participant in football (captain), baseball (captain), track, BETA Club, and FCA.
What made you decide this school was the best fit for you?
I visited a number of schools, but Knox College was the one that truly stood out. It’s a place where I can see myself growing not only as an athlete, but as a person. NCHS alum Peyton Doughty, now coaching at Knox College, never gave up on me throughout the recruiting process. I grew up watching him play for Newton, and now I’ll have the opportunity to play for him.
How do you feel NCHS has prepared you for this next step in life?
My teachers at NCHS have always held me to a high standard. As a student, I’m expected to work hard in every class and give my best effort every day. The strong academic foundation at Newton Community High School played a major role in earning my scholarship to Knox College.
What are at least two life lessons you have learned from sports?
Two life lessons I’ve learned:
Never give up on a goal you set for yourself.
Be persistent, and take every opportunity to work hard and improve.
How have your coaches (and assistant coaches) helped prepare you to play at a collegiate level?
Coach Fulton—my dad—always made sure I was giving everything I had and never settling for less.
Coach B. Tarr consistently found ways to help me adjust and succeed against different types of defenses.
Coach Short has helped me get faster year after year and continues to push me to improve.
Coach Anthony Richards never failed to motivate me. He always helped me find the positive in any situation. Outside of my parents, he’s the one who pushed me the hardest to believe I can play at the next level.
What will you miss the most next year about not being at NCHS?
I will miss competing alongside the teammates I grew up with—the same group of kids who became like family through countless practices, games, and shared memories over the years. Those moments, both on and off the field, are something I’ll always carry with me.
I will also deeply miss playing for my dad. Having the opportunity to be coached by him has meant more than I can put into words. It’s something not many people get to experience, and it’s been a special part of my journey that I’ll always be grateful for.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I want to thank my dad for everything he’s done for me. It’s hard to think about Newton Football without thinking of him—he’s been such a big part of it for so long, and an even bigger part of my life.
I truly grew up on Chivesky Field, watching my older brother play and spending countless hours there long before I ever put on a uniform myself. Getting the chance to follow in his footsteps—and then to play for my dad and alongside my brother—is something I’ll never take for granted. Having my little sister there as a manager my senior year made it even more special. Those are memories that mean more than any win or stat ever could.
Four years of Newton Eagle football went by way too fast, but I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way—not just my family, who lives and breathes Newton Eagle Football, but also my friends and the entire Jasper County community. The support I’ve felt from all of you means more than I can fully express.
Once an Eagle, always an Eagle—and I am forever proud to be a Newton Eagle.
