Fayetteville’s Zimmerman gets to play close to home

FLORENCE — Tymere Zimmerman might not reach his dream of playing in the NFL but that doesn’t mean he will stop playing football.

After playing last year with the AF2’s Louisville Fire, Zimmerman continues his gridiron career and is in his first season with the Fayetteville Guard, who will face the Florence Phantoms tonight.

“My plan since high school was always to play in the NFL, Zimmerman said this week. “But that wasn’t God’s plan and I have no problems with it.

“I love playing in Fayetteville and still am having fun doing something I love.”

Zimmerman says he would like to get into coaching eventually but for right now he wants to make a difference playing the game.

“If there’s someone who has never seen me play before, I want to make sure I give it my best every time out there,” Zimmerman said.

Tonight’s game will be Zimmerman’s first in the Pee Dee since he was a senior at Marlboro County. He said several family members, friends and Marlboro County coaches and players will be in attendance.

Zimmerman was a standout at Newberry and set several receiving records, including receptions (250), yards (3,051) and touchdowns (40), in three seasons after transferring from Clemson.

Zimmerman graduated from Newberry in 2007 and had a tryout with the Carolina Panthers but didn’t make the team.

Zimmerman, played with the Fire last season and caught 67 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns. He also had two interceptions on defense.

But the Fire folded after the season, leaving Zimmerman to look elsewhere.

Zimmerman, who works at the Walker and Morgan Law Firm in the offseason, said he thought about trying to catch on with another AF2 team in Boise, Idaho, or Spokane, Wash., but wanted to stay closer to home.

His closest choices were in the AIFA with Fayetteville, Florence or Greenville.

Zimmerman said he considered the Phantoms but Florence vice president of operations Bennie King said there were never any discussions with Zimmerman.

Zimmerman was drawn to Fayetteville because of Mitchell Galloway, a former Guard player, and coach and Quincy Malloy, a former Marlboro County teammate.

“Playing in Fayetteville is only 45 minutes away from home and my friends and family can come and watch me,” Zimmerman said. “Last year, my mom only made it to two games because it was a 10-hour drive, so this way she will get to come and see me play.”

Zimmerman said it has been a smooth transition and he has clicked with quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, who backed up Timmy Chang at Hawaii.

Through two games, Zimmerman is the Guard’s top receiver with 11 catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns. He had seven catches for 117 yards and two scores in last week’s win over Greenville.

“He’s a winner and knows how to play the game,” Florence coach Mike Watson said. “He’s got a big, fast body and that is a plus in this league.”

Notes
Watson said DL Leonard Moore (groin) is out for tonight’s game. Chris Carrothers will take Moore’s spot, while Ray Johnson will fill in for Carrothers. ... Former Phantoms coach Carlos Clayton is an assistant for the Guard. ... Tonight’s game is the first of the I-95 challenge between the two teams. The squads meet again June 6 in Fayetteville. ... Florence leads the AIFA in total offense at 260.7 yards a game. ... The Phantoms’ A.J. Bennett is tops in the league in receiving yards per game with 87.7.