Corbin’s Harley Lambert signs with University of the Cumberlands

On Thursday morning inside the gymnasium at Corbin High School, senior Redhound Harley Lambert officially signed on to play football for the University of the Cumberlands.

Lambert, who has earned several honors and awards for his outstanding play on the defensive line, was one of the senior leaders that helped the 2015 football Hounds win district and regional championships. He also recently competed in the annual Kentucky-Tennessee Border Bowl All-Star Game at UC.

When asked about getting to continue his education and athletic career as a Patriot, he said, “Cumberlands is a great school, and this a great opportunity for me to start a new chapter in my life. I’m really glad to have the opportunity to do this. I think Cumberlands has a great football program, and a great educational system as well. I plan on majoring in education myself, and I know people who go there that have told me about their great experiences. I’m just really excited.”

As for getting to once again play for former CHS football head coach and current UC defensive coordinator Steve Jewell, Lambert said, “Coach Jewell coached me my freshman and sophomore years, and I really enjoyed playing for him a lot. I feel like I really thrived under him. He didn’t really know me, and I didn’t really know him, but he took me under his wing, and I always really enjoyed his coaching style. We had a great defense, everyone was in great shape, and there was just a lot of really good vibes when he was coaching us.”

Lambert also wanted to thank his mother, Amy, and his father, Tim, for their continued support throughout his years at Corbin. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

Redhounds defensive coach Jody Mouser said of his outgoing star lineman, “Harley is a three-year starter who has enjoyed a great career here. He has grown a lot, is a great individual, and I’m just really happy for him. He is a hard worker, and I believe that he will do well at Cumberlands.”

Coach Jewell added, “The good thing about Harley is that he just fits the mold for everything that we look for at the University of the Cumberlands. Coach [Matt] Rhymer looks first for kids that have great character, and then you can start looking at what kind of an athlete he is. He has great lateral speed, and is very quick for a big lineman. If he can put on some more weight on and get even bigger while keeping that same speed, then we feel like he could fit right in to our defensive line.”

Lambert will finish out his senior year at CHS, and will join the football Patriots later this year as they begin preparations for the 2016 fall season.