STARKVILLE – Trent Singleton had a sense when he entered the room it was possible, but the Mississippi State football signee hadn’t known for sure. Entering an office filled with Raymond High School’s counselors and principal, Singleton just awaited the official word.

His expectations were always high and his confidence even moreso. He had these aspirations internally. He wrote them down. Eventually, he put them out for the public to see.

“I will be valedictorian of my class,” Singleton wrote on Twitter two years ago.

He got the confirmation he sought in that office. Singleton will graduate this month as valedictorian, they told him. A sense of relief came across Singleton but doubt rarely did.

Singleton immediately thought back to his faith and where his path brought him. He thought back to all he has overcome and the promises he made after losing his grandmother a couple years before losing much of his senior season due to a knee injury.

Raymond athletes rarely make it to the Division I level — let alone earn this academic distinction at the same time. Singleton is living that reality he predicted.

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Trent Singleton learned football from his grandmother

The memories of learning how to first throw a football in the backyard, those came with his grandmother Vera Singleton. She was the one who taught him how to become the star quarterback he was before he eventually switched to defensive back.

Trent remembers those first lessons on throwing a spiral. He remembers seeing her in the stands for every game.

“She was his mother. She raised him,” Singleton’s mom Tanaucha Lewis said.

Singleton told Vera his goals. She believed in him as much as anyone.

On May 23, 2020, she died suddenly.

"The connection and bond that he had with his grandmother, it was amazing," Singleton's high school coach Robert Jacobs said. "That took a lot out of him when she passed."

Will Gray saw the heartbreak the loss had on Singleton. As his trainer, Gray saw the extra hours Singleton put in. But Gray also got a look at Singleton's human side.

The two had long talks where tears were shed. They discussed the significance of Vera in his life. They found ways to turn the devastation into motivation.

“When I saw her die, I saw that you can be here one day and you can be gone tomorrow just like that,” Singleton said. “Nothing is guaranteed.”

He made a promise to his grandmother when she was alive and reminded himself of it while seeing her on her deathbed. He told her he’d continue the mission – the desire to fulfil his goals “and give 100%.”

It was only fitting that on the one-year mark of her death, he announced his commitment to Mississippi State.

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Jacobs approached Lewis when Singleton was still in middle school. He told her that her son would be his starting varsity quarterback.

Lewis was taken aback. She knew her son was good, but she didn’t know he was that good.

"I saw a kid that had drive," Jacobs said I saw a kid that was more mature than his age stated."

In his first workout with Gray his freshman year, Singleton asked the trainer to stay afterward a touch longer – or so Gray thought. It was a blazing Mississippi day. Gray estimated the temperature on the turf was well over 100 degrees. But Singleton kept going for three more three hours before Gray called it off.

“You probably want to go get some rest, go get some food,” Gray said. “We'll come back tomorrow. The guys knew that the kid didn't want to quit.”

Singleton’s work translated to the field and later onto the track. He was a four-time all-district selection in football. In a limited senior season, he completed 42 of 69 passes, threw for 537 yards and recorded four passing touchdowns with 16 total.

He resurrected his school’s football program from 0-10 the season before he came to 7-4 last season – a record Gray says could have been better had it not been for Singleton's injury.

Like all but one member in State’s 2022 signing class, Singleton is a three-star prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite. Gray grew up near Mississippi State and has always been a fan. He knows about underrated players who have come to Starkville and turned into successful college football players.

Singleton could be the next example.

“Great development by State,” Gray said, “but those kids had the tools before they showed up. They just needed time to get comfortable. That’s really all it is. He has the talent.”

Taking center stage

Balancing football with academics left little time for a social life at times, and Singleton was fine with that.

“It’s very hard, but there comes a time where you have to prioritize,” he said. “You have to realize you have goals to achieve.”

Trent is graduating with a 4.17 GPA. He got straight As, and the dual enrollment classes allowed him to get above a 4.0.

At Mississippi State, academics will remain a priority.

He is majoring in kinesiology with a minor in communication. If football doesn’t work out, Singleton said, he wants to have a backup plan. He saw the people who helped him through his injuries and hopes to give aid to others who need it.

Singleton has played in front of hundreds of spectators and that won’t change in Starkville – now just add in the tune of cowbells in the background.

He’ll take the stage in front of another crowd on May 24. This time, he’ll be speaking after finishing at the top of his class.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Trent Singleton: Mississippi State signee keeps promise to grandma