The Madison Cubs football team is saying goodbye to several key players, including Tatum Anderson, Jake Dyer, Jason Cosby, and more. Anderson is the only player who has committed to playing college football, choosing Campbellsville University. The others remain undecided about their future on the field, but they have left their jerseys in a place in Madison history.
Seniors Moving On
Tatum Anderson, the most recent Madison player to commit, signed with Campbellsville University. He was a star linebacker and running back during his four years at Madison and was named an all-state outside linebacker. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Anderson has recorded a 4.61-second 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical jump. Anderson was fourth in the team in tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, and he also had over 200 all-purpose yards and 4 touchdowns.
Anderson explained what led to his commitment to Campbellsville. “What mainly convinced me to go there was their coaching staff; they are all really nice and would go out of their way to talk to me and their players, and it felt overall like a family,” he said. Anderson also had interest from other programs. “I had a couple more offers and was talking to the Kentucky coach for a while, but they convinced me to go to Campbellsville instead.”
Senior James Schafer has battled knee injuries throughout his football career. “I am actually done with playing football due to injuries I’ve had over the past years with my knee,” Schafer said. “I’m just going to attend USI and get a further education.” Schafer was a standout player for Madison and leaves behind a strong legacy. Schafer finished his senior season as the team’s leading tackler in 2024 while also compiling over 450 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
Dyer was a key playmaker for Madison, known for his ability to make deep catches and use his speed to stretch the field. “I don’t get much going on right now with recruiting, but it will pick up in April,” Dyer said. Dyer, a dynamic player who showed great ball skills in just about every facet of the game was chosen as the Madison Courier Area Football Player of the Year and had nearly 2,000 yards of total offense and seven interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.
Senior Payton Stewart has also received collegiate attention snagging four interceptions and forcing a fumble in 2024. Originally a quarterback, Stewart recently transitioned to the defensive side of the ball. “The school I am looking at now is Trine University in Angola, about four hours north,” Stewart said. “Other than that, I’m not looking at many schools. But, if I don’t play football at the next level, I will probably take online classes and stay in town.”
Another key loss who was not interviewed for this story is Cosby (third in tackles, first in tackles for loss and sacks).
Rising Talent
Though he is only a junior, Joseph Stanley has already drawn interest from colleges due to his strong performance in the backfield. During his junior year, he recorded 794 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. Stanley has received interest from Taylor University, Davidson and Carroll, with his recruitment expected to grow during his senior season.
Looking Ahead
As the Madison Cubs close out another season, these players leave their mark on the program. Whether continuing their football careers or focusing on academics, they have earned a place in Madison Consolidated High School history. Yet, the Cubs do return some key contributors including Stanley, junior quarterback Matt McCarty, and defensive standouts Izik Roberts, Ayden Waggoner, Seeger Ralston, and Garrett Dueser.
