Meyers heads east to Guilford College

"Versatile, persistent, integrity, character," were all words used in abundance on Thursday to describe the Warhorses’ Audun Meyers as he committed to continue his football and academic career at Greensboro’s Guilford College.

Meyers had a key role in the Warhorses returning to the NCHSAA playoffs this fall after a four-year absence.

As a senior he completed 108 of 192 passing attempts and threw for 1,227 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for three scores.

Defensively, Meyers had 48 total tackles as a cornerback, where he projects to play for the Quakers.

Although an impact player on the field, his playmaking wasn't the first thing that came to mind for head coach Nathan Padgett or offensive coordinator Anthony Lee.

“Guilford College is getting a football player but most importantly a young man with character and integrity,” said Padgett. “Playing college football for Audun has been a goal of his since he was a freshman. Audun has worked very hard for this opportunity. His commitment to football and academics is helping to pave the way for his future. Guilford has high academic standards. We’re extremely proud of him.”

Lee echoed the sentiment on Feb. 7 before a large crowd of coaches, family, and fellow students on hand at the Owen High School gym to celebrate the signing.

“Couldn’t happen to a better person. One of the most committed athletes we’ve had at Owen High School in a long time,” Lee said. “When practice was on, Audun Meyers was there, lots of times the first to enter and the last to leave.”

For Meyers, the signing was a long-held dream coming to realization.

“I’ve always wanted to play at the next level ever since I was little. Once I got to high school, I was set on it,” said Meyers, who also considered Brevard, Methodist, and North Carolina Wesleyan. “I never took my mind off of it.” 

His campus visit to Guilford with his father, Rob, who also is an assistant coach on Padgett’s staff at Owen, sold him on the college.

“It was right after we took the visit that I decided. I went on a couple of visits to other places, but right when I left Guilford, me and my dad we were talking about it in the car. I was just set on going there,” said Meyers.

“We were blown away that day because we’d already done a couple of visits and we were at other colleges for 45 minutes to an hour, and we get to Guilford and it was five hours and they really blew us away,” said his father who played safety as an undergraduate at Virginia’s Liberty University. “He felt at home that day, and the search quit that day.”

Meyers’ step-brother, Frankie Walsh, was a receiver for the Warhorses this fall. He has two older sisters, Aubrey and Taylor, who both also attended Owen.

His mom Nikki Miller, and step-mother Michelle Meyers were among the host of family members on hand for the signing.

Meyers, who plans to major in business management at Guilford, played cornerback on defense for the Warhorses and will get his first looks at free safety for the Quakers under head coach, Chris Rusiewicz.

“We are excited for Audun’s commitment with us, Rusiewicz said. "We feel his ability and range on the football field can be developed more here at Guilford College and look forward to him making an impact."

The senior’s mettle was tested regularly under center for the Warhorses, where he manned arguably the toughest position in the huddle during long games, and one turned to by ten other players for leadership. After an offensive series, he would then step across scrimmage to man the corner against opposing quarterbacks, again arguably the toughest position against the pass-heavy aerial attacks that dominate much of Western North Carolina football.

Meyers had praise for all of his coaches, including his head coach, in leading him on the way to college football.

“Coach Padgett, he’s a special coach," Meyers said. "Some coaches don’t push and help kids get to college and play at the next level and he definitely pushes and he’s a huge reason as to why I went to Guilford."