Wright City Wildcats head football coach Tyler Rickard had no shortage of praise when reflecting on the growth and leadership of this month’s Athlete of the Month, Dayton Humphreys.
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Wright City Wildcats head football coach Tyler Rickard had no shortage of praise when reflecting on the growth and leadership of this month’s Athlete of the Month, Dayton Humphreys.
Humphreys’ rise began with a commitment he made before his junior season. The commitment set the tone for the quarterback he would become.
“Dayton has made tremendous progress over his three years at Wright City, and especially the last two years as our starting quarterback,” Rickard said. “Leading into his junior year, he made the commitment to earn the starting quarterback job, and his work ethic allowed him to achieve that goal. He didn't miss a practice and took command of the offense from the very beginning. I knew from that point on; he had the chance to be a very good quarterback.”
That foundation only strengthened heading into this past season. Rickard described a player who was “all in” from summer workouts through the final snap of the year.
“Coming into this season, he took his game to another level,” Rickard said. “He didn’t miss a single practice, and he organized throwing sessions with our wide receivers outside of normal practice time. This type of leadership was a big reason he was selected as a team captain by his teammates.”
On the field, the results speak for themselves. Humphreys delivered one of the best seasons ever recorded by a Wright City quarterback:
2025 Season Stats
Those numbers came on the heels of a strong junior season in 2024, when he threw for 835 yards and 7 touchdowns while adding 206 rushing yards and 5 scores.
Beyond the record book, Rickard emphasized Humphreys’ development as a leader and person.
“I'm extremely proud of Dayton for all his on-field accomplishments, but also for his growth as a young man,” Rickard said. “We will miss him next season, but I am excited to see what his future holds.”
With a career defined by strong work ethic, leadership, and production, Dayton Humphreys will depart Wright City as one of the most impactful quarterbacks in the program’s history and a deserving Athlete of the Month.
School: Wright City.
Grade: 12.
Favorite athlete/team: Athlete – Jaxson Dart.
Pregame music: Let It Rock by Lil Wayne.
Favorite celebration after scoring: Backflip.
When did you start playing football?
2nd grade.
What made you join football?
My grandpa introduced me to the St. Louis Rams.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Basketball, baseball, wrestling, golf, and track.
Do you have a certain athlete you aspire to be like or model your game after?
Jaxson Dart and Patrick Mahomes.
What's your favorite memory of your time playing for Wright City?
Throwing the first touchdown on the new field.
What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Coach Rickard always told me to focus on the next play and not live in the past.
Have you always been a quarterback?
No. I played WR, RB, and DB until I moved to Wright City.
What will you miss most about playing football at Wright City?
The family-based team that we built
How has the game helped shape you as a person?
It has made me more mature and taught me how to persevere through hard times.
Do you have a teammate or coach who has been influential throughout your career?
Coach Kyle from Timberland. He passed away last year before my junior year. He always pushed me to be a better player and athlete.
Tell me about a memorable win.
The South Shelby game this season. It was an unfamiliar team, and they were a good team. We came out, played well, and beat them.
What’s one piece of advice you would give the underclassmen?
If you want to be great, you have to do things off the field when no one is watching.
Do you have any pregame superstitions or a pregame routine?
My pregame routine is to pray when I go home and throw the ball with Nate before the game.
Do you want to play in college?
Yes. It has been my dream since I started playing football.
