West Noble senior Seth Pruitt continues family tradition

There is an unwritten rule in life that children follow in the footsteps and career of whatever their parents did. 

If your parent was a teacher, odds are good you will be a teacher. 

If your parent served in the military, odds are good you will serve in the military.

For Seth Pruitt, the family business has been football and the West Noble standout fully embraces continuing the family tradition. 

“I was born into a football family,” Pruitt said. “All of my brothers played and loved it. My dad and my uncle were coaches. It was just another way to connect with my family.”

Pruitt said it makes him happy to know he is following in the footsteps of his family. His brothers, Jason, Brandon and Braxton, all played, and he admits they played a huge role in his development. 

“It is very special,” Pruitt said. “I am just happy God has let me be healthy enough throughout my years to be able to continue it.

“All of my brothers played a huge part in the way I am today. Jason, Brandon and Braxton all pushed me to get into the gym at a young age, and they’ve been to all my games, cheering me on and that’s really pushed me to try harder. I have always wanted my family to be proud of me.”

Pruitt recently broke Brandon’s program record for rushing yards in a season, a feat he admits was “cool.”

“It was really awesome to break his record,” Pruitt said. “Breaking a record is cool by itself, and it just made it a lot cooler that it was his record I was beating. I do feel pressure. I feel that if I don’t do good in a game then I will be letting a lot of people down.”

The senior said he deals with that pressure by using it as motivation. 

“I think the pressure is what helps me try harder to be better,” he said. 

Pruitt will look to use that pressure for good when West Noble opens the state tournament against Angola in Sectional 26 of Class 3A. The Chargers are 8-1, averaging just under 41 points and allowing just over four points per game. 

“I think we have a good shot at winning the whole thing, but it won’t be easy and it will take everyone on the team to want it,” Pruitt said. “Bringing a title home would mean everything. The team has been working really hard and we need something to show for it. That would be perfect.”