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Tanner Langley is Division 1 bound. The soon-to-be Granger senior is following in his father’s footsteps and has committed to playing baseball at Georgia Southern in 2024. 

“My dad played there, and I can remember watching the team growing up, and I’ve always imagined myself playing there,” Langley said. “[Georgia Southern] has always been a big part of my life.”

Georgia Southern has been a part of his life as far back as he can remember, watching them play growing up and knowing the legacy his father carved out there, he knew that being an Eagle is where he belonged. 

“I was shocked (to get the offer,) and I got a little emotional,” Langley said. “It was such a big moment, it didn’t even feel real at first. It was like a dream. It is still sinking in now.”

Since he has committed to Georgia Southern, the feeling of belonging in Statesboro has only risen.

“It is a big school, but it has a small town feel,” he said. “When I committed, a lot of people reached out from the community in Statesboro and it really made me feel at home and like I made the right choice.”

Langley — originally a Whitewater Wildcat — did not find his way to being a Granger until his family moved to LaGrange before his sophomore season. It was an instant connection between the player, high school and city.

“At first I was nervous, but the leaders, especially the 2023 class, made you feel so at home,” Langley said. “Everybody here was supportive and pushed you to be better.

“It feels like home here. LaGrange is where I would want my kids to go to school someday.”

Langley made an instant impact in Granger blue and white. He started his sophomore season in center field on a team that made it the AAAA state championship. That was just the beginning of a fairytale ride for Langley so far as he once again helped the Grangers make it to the state championship series, a prospect he could never have imagined when he first transferred over.

“I knew we would be good, but I never imagined that,” Langley said. “Not once did I believe it would happen. Of course, I wanted it to but never did it cross my mind.”

Getting a chance to learn under a legendary coach like Donnie Branch and the staff he has assembled at LaGrange was one of the reasons Langley felt most at ease about coming to Troup County.

Langley will be a senior next year and with so many departing leaders from the Grangers 2023 team he will be expected to be a leader for the squad next season, a role he believes he is well suited for.

“I haven’t set any goals in terms of numbers or anything like that, I just want to lead our young guys,” Langley said. “I want to be a guy that the younger guys can look up to and be a really good teammate. I feel like that is the biggest thing and everything else will come along with that.”

One of the reasons he feels so confident is the support he has had from recent LaGrange graduate and former left fielder Seth Stargell, who helped Langley grow and blossom in his first two seasons with LaGrange. 

Langley will likely make another leap in progress in the offseason like he experienced between his sophomore season. 

He came back in year two as a Granger stronger, fitter and sharper as he made an even bigger impact as a junior.

“I think the weight room is what has had the biggest impact,” Langley said. “Working with coach (Tyler) Eady has helped. Where I was before, we didn’t really have weight training, but here we work all year around.”

Langley still has one season left in blue and white and plans to make it a memorable one before he heads off on the next step in his baseball journey.

“All the hard work paid off, but at the same time the hard work has just begun,” Langley said. “The work really starts now as I look to separate myself and standout going into college, so I can get a spot.”