Josh (left) and Jordan Fleenor will take to the grid iron this fall as members of the Emory & Henry College football team.
Josh and Jordan have always played football together. That desire took a different path when one suited up for James Madison and the other headed to Emory & Henry College. But that’s all changed as they prepare for the second year together at the Southwest Virginia school. Josh has transferred and is listed on the school’s roster along with his brother.
The two started playing together in the Mite Youth Recreation League in Riner, and it was always competitive in their household. The key, according to Jordan, was the fact he was playing with his brother.
“We have always been supportive of each other. We want to see each other succeed on the field,” he said.
Josh said his brother has always pushed him to play well. In high school, he wanted to run the ball but instead he played offensive line and his brother ran behind him.
“I made the holes for him to run through,” he said with a chuckle.
In many ways, the brothers are bookends—Jordan (Soph. 6-1, 235) and Josh (Jr., 6-3, 250). Instead of Josh blocking for his brother like in high school, they now are competing for the same spot on the defensive line.
Again, Josh was not originally at Emory & Henry. Instead he took a path to James Madison where he saw limited playing time.
“It was incredible to walk into a stadium and play in front of 30,000 people against Richmond, but Emory feels like home,” he said.
Josh started last year, and Jordan saw time on special teams. Both have put a lot of time in the weight room this summer and feel it will help going into this season, and both admit it’s great to be playing with each other once again.
Josh is a history major and would like to coach after he graduates. Jordan is still undecided in his major, but both are looking forward to another chance to play alongside brothers.
With five of the seven first-place votes, the Emory & Henry College Football Team is this year’s favorite to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Emory & Henry will kick off the 2017 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 2, hosting Ferrum College.
The team also includes former Christiansburg players, Brodyn Huddleston and Mitchell Walters.
