MS Sports Magzine 2013 Football Issue by Mississippi Sports Magazine

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2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 1

STATE WIDE

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LOUNGING AROUND... >>>>>>>>> Fans packed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Left Field Loungeâ&#x20AC;? during the Bulldogs opening game against Central Arkansas on May 31 at the Starkville Regional. The crowd of 11,102 enjoyed a great game and atmosphere as MSU took the opener 5-3 over the Bears. State won the Regional in a Game 7 rematch with UCA by beating the Bears 6-1 on June 3 and advanced to play host Virginia in the Virginia Super Regional. The total attendance for the four-day event at Dudy-Noble Field was 61,433. Photo by Greg Pevey, Mississippi Sports Magazine

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 3

STATE WIDE

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JUST OUT OF REACH... >>>>>>>>> Ole Miss SS Austin Anderson dives for this line drive during the Rebels 4-1 win over Kentucky in the opening game of the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, AL. Photo by Bobby McDuffie, Ocean Springs, MS

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 5

BE THERE For Him

www.mssportsmagazine.com Volume 6, Issue 1 2013 FOOTBALL ISSUE July/August 2013 Published by Pevey Publishing, LLC Publishers Greg & Mendy Pevey Featured Columnists Jake Adams, Rick Cleveland, Steven Godfrey, Derrick Guin, Jake Wimberly Contributing Writers John Davis, Paul Jones, Lanny Mixon Mark Stowers, Jon Wiener Contributing Photographers Lee Adams, Bobby McDuffie, Greg Pevey, James Pugh, Media Relations Offices at Ole Miss, Miss. State, Southern Miss, Jackson State, Alcorn State, Miss. Valley State, Delta State, Miss. College, Belhaven, Millsaps, Rivals.com Advertising Sales Greg Pevey publisher@mssportsmagazine.com

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Mississippi Sports Magazine™ is published bimonthly by Pevey Publishing, LLC to promote Mississippi’s sportsmen and women, colleges, universities, high schools, communities and citizens in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all labeled materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Mississippi Sports Magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Pevey Publishing, LLC is not affiliated with any institution, college, university, or other academic or athletic organization. Subscriptions are $24 (1 year, 6 issues) or $40 (2 years - 12 issues). Make checks payable to Pevey Publishing, LLC and mail to: 405 Knights Cove West, Brandon, MS 39047 or subscribe online at www.mssportsmagazine.com.

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Starkville High School celebrates their 2012 5A State Championship. Photo by Lee Adams

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F O O T B A L L

P R E V I E W

THE ACTION STARTS ON PAGE

CONTENTS...

COMMENTARY

FEATURES

12 ON CAMPUS

FEEDING TIME: Rebel students Blake Pruett and Patrick Haadsma are making popular anthems for Ole Miss athletics.

16 SPORTS BIZ

MORE COWBELL: Clang go the bells and OH! the stories they tell. Ed Vlietstra’s Custom Cowbells and Leslie Petro’s Cowbell Tales.

SPECIAL SECTION

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 24 BEHIND THE SCENES A look inside the “Big 3’s” Media Relations Departments

28 COLLEGE PREVIEWS Our writers take you inside each Mississippi program to fill you in on what to expect from your favorite team in 2013

70 HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW 72 74 78 80 84

Mississippi high school football hits the ‘Silver Screen’ The Contenders and Pretenders of 2013 Oxford’s Johnny Hill North Panola’s Derrick King Callaway’s Fantastic Four

To Contact MSM > LETTERS, STORY IDEAS AND PHOTO SUBMISSIONS • Email MSM at publisher@ mssportsmagazine.com or mail to Mississippi Sports Magazine, 405 Knights Cove West, Brandon, Mississippi 39047. Letters should include writer’s full name, address and home phone number and may be edited for clarity and space.

REBEL NATION: JAKE ADAMS The Journey Continues

THE DAWGHOUSE: JAKE WIMBERLY Running backs are the key for Dawgs in 2013

10 TO THE TOP: DERRICK GUIN Closing the book on 2012-13 22 STEVEN GODFREY Proving Mississippi’s worth on the Gridiron 88 RICK CLEVELAND What makes Mississippi so Special?

WHAT’S NEXT... SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER JUCO Football Preview Mississippi JUCO football is tops in the United States. We’ll take an in-depth look at each summer camp and let you know what to expect this fall around the State....and more! 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 7

REBEL NATION

Follow Jake Adams on Twitter® @OMRebelNation

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The Journey Continues

JAKE ADAMS

h what a difference a year makes. A mere 365 days ago Ole Miss was preparing to enter the 2012 season with a new, unproven head coach and a squad full of young, untested players, many of which were deemed as “not SEC material”. Academic and depth problems remaining from a regime that posted a 2-10 record on its way out the door had coach Hugh Freeze traveling the state preaching to downtrodden Rebels about the wilderness, and brightening their faces with promises of fielding a team that would play hard for 60 minutes. Needless to say, Ole Miss was just about everybody’s favorite to win the SEC cellar all to itself. And we were all wrong. The Rebels won six regular season games, and should’ve won at least two more, losing in the final minutes to Texas A&M and LSU and just letting always menacing Vanderbilt get away. But the Rebels ended the SEC losing streak against Auburn, took down Arkansas and finally shook the Dan Mullen hex bringing the Golden Egg home to Oxford before capping a somewhat shocking first season under Freeze with a triumphant win over Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The excitement for the future was palpable on that rainy January afternoon in Birmingham. If the anticipation of 2013 wasn’t already starting to bubble over, it grew even more when Freeze and his staff landed an historical Top 5 recruiting class on National Signing Day that included the country’s top recruit defensive end Robert Nkemdiche - and several others considered the best at their position, including receiver Laquon Treadwell and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.

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Add that much-celebrated signing class to the fact that the Rebels return 19 of 22 starters, including stars like wide receiver Donte Moncrief and fiery linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche, and optimism in Oxford is as high as it’s been since 2009 when Ole Miss was a popular preseason Top 10 selection. In one short year head coach Hugh Freeze has changed the mind-set of Rebel Nation from one that thought making a bowl game would be a minor miracle to one expecting a bowl game in 2013. The excitement level is so high that Freeze spent Rebel Road Trip 2013 trying to apply the brakes to those high expectations. “It’s a journey,” Freeze warned. “That’s one of our messages as we travel around. Everyone is very excited. We are glad they have great expectations, but we’ve got to keep them reasonable. It is a journey. It won’t happen overnight. We’ve got to continue to build.” At the root of Freeze’s concern is the fact that his team faces an extraordinarily tough first half of its 12-game schedule. Of course, as a member of the SEC, the Rebels play a difficult schedule every year, but this season is different than most in that Ole Miss will play four of its first five games on the road, including a Thursday night opener at Vanderbilt, at Big 12 favorite Texas, at two-time defending BCS Champion Alabama and at Auburn before finally returning home to face Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and popular Top 5 pick Texas A&M followed a week later by LSU. Ole Miss will likely be an underdog in six of its first seven games depending on how good Auburn looks early on. “We could be a better team and finish with the same record,” has been Freeze’s mantra this off season. And he’s right. Time has proven that Vanderbilt is a difficult win for Ole Miss. We all remember what happened against Texas last year. Alabama is favored to win a national title. Texas A&M is nipping at Nick Saban’s heels. LSU is always tough. Auburn and Arkansas were sinking ships when the Rebels played them last year. Each is under a new coach

and will be much-improved. Ole Miss lost each of the last two times it faced Missouri, and must play Mississippi State in Starkville where the Rebels haven’t won since Eli Manning was the quarterback. I’m not saying Ole Miss is going to lose all those games. Heck, I think the Rebels will probably make it to another bowl game. But Ole Miss won’t win them all. And as many reasons as there are for optimism there’s also plenty enough to cause a head coach some heartburn. For starters, the Rebels are still a young football team. One year isn’t long enough to change that. One year didn’t change depth issues either. The Grove Bowl, which was relegated to a practice when a few starters got injured, proved just how lucky the Rebels were last season. “We have to be realists,” Freeze told reporters in the spring. “We’re still a ways away from having good depth in this league. We were so fortunate last year. We played three receivers pretty much the whole year, five offensive linemen pretty much the whole year. That’s rare when that happens, and we’re seeing it now that when you get a few injuries it changes your team.” Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack cautioned that his defense still has a long way to go at the corner position. He seemed genuinely concerned at the conclusion of spring that Ole Miss would continue to struggle defending the pass. Quarterback Bo Wallace has yet to prove his shoulder is completely healed. Things sound good, sure, and he proved last year he’s a tough kid, but will he be able to make all the throws when he steps on that field on August 29? Will his surgically repaired shoulder withstand the brutal hits he will take in the first half of game one? If not, then what happens? Ole Miss will probably be a better football team in 2013, but remember, the only thing certain in life are death and taxes. Oh, and one more - the SEC will always be tough as hell. See you in the Grove. - MSM

THE DAWGHOUSE

Follow Jake Wimberly on Twitter® @jakewim

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Running backs are the key for Dawgs in 2013

JAKE WIMBERLY

ince the clock struck zero at the 2013 Gator Bowl, Mississippi State fans and media alike have discussed just how good fifth year senior quarterback Tyler Russell will be and how his success will determine if the Bulldogs will get to their fourth straight bowl game under fifth year head coach Dan Mullen. While all the speculation about Russell is fun – and he very well could leave Mississippi State with almost all the school’s passing records, history shows us if you want to make your reservations for a fourth straight bowl game you better be cheering for the running backs on campus to have a big year. Mississippi State, unlike some of its conference brethren, does not have the lofty football history but on the year’s State has done well – that success can be tied to a solid running game. Since the inception of the East-West format in the SEC the Bulldogs have had eleven winning seasons and made it to ten bowl games and every time there is a common theme; a running back or combination of backs went beyond the thousand yard mark on the season. This trend started in 1991 when Jackie Sherrills’ Bulldogs made it to the Liberty Bowl on the heels of Willie Harris, Tony James, Kenny Roberts, William Prince and Michael Davis. The stable of backs used by the Bulldogs that year produced 1,041 yards helping State to a 7-5 record. This trend continued throughout the nineties with notables like J.J. Johnson’s 1,383 yards in Mississippi State’s 1998 run to the Southeastern Conference Championship.

There have been years where the Bulldogs have produced good running backs that had very good years on the ground like a Jerious Norwood but other elements of those teams or that particular season where reasons why the Bulldogs did not produce in the win column. But – history shows that as the running backs goes, typically is how the Bulldogs go. In former head coach Sylvester Croom’s five seasons I do not think it is any coincidence that his only year to go bowling and go 8-5 that year, Anthony Dixon and Christian Ducre combined for almost 1,500 yards on the ground. Many would argue that the Bulldogs despite some very down years in the early twothousands have seen more success since the SEC east-west format than any other era of Bulldog football. Again it comes “back” to the running backs. Of the top running backs in Mississippi State’s history it is no surprise to see that eight of the top twelve all time backs have played in the era of the east-west merger. Their success goes hand in hand with what the Bulldogs have been able to do on the field since 1991. Meanwhile if you look deeper into the record books – while passing the football has been an ever evolving process in football, you will see that during the same time period of successful running backs there are also a group of successful quarterbacks. Seven of the top ten passers in Mississippi State history also played alongside many of these running backs. Alabama, LSU and more have shown that anytime you can complement the run with the pass it helps both aspects of a team’s offense and that is exactly what you are seeing here with the Bulldogs. Now back to Dan Mullen and his 2013 Bulldogs. Mullen has shown through time he loves to run the football and the first four seasons in Starkville he produced a thousand yard rusher in each of those seasons. Yes he went 5-7 in year one in Starkville but Anthony Dixon rushed for over thirteen hundred yards and all Bulldog fans remember games with Houston, LSU and Georgia Tech – games the Bulldogs had every chance

to win or take control of. Vick Ballard, Chris Relf and Ladarius Perkins combined for over fifteen hundred yards on the ground in 2010 to help the Bulldogs win the Gator Bowl and nine wins. That tandem teamed up again in 2011 to again eclipse the fifteen hundred yard mark and win the Music City Bowl. And just last year even though the Bulldogs lost five of their final six games the Bulldogs produced another thousand yard rusher in Ladarius Perkins and went over the fifteen hundred yard mark on the ground for the third straight year. Any time you can have success running the football you give your team a better chance to win and you help your quarterback out immensely. If Ladarius Perkins, Josh Robinson, Derek Milton and others can replicate production anywhere close to the first four years of Mullen’s offense it means big things for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs return most of their offensive line experience as well from last year which is a big thing for both the running and passing games of Mississippi State. Ladarius Perkins solidified himself as an every down back in the SEC in 2012 and many feel he can be the third running back in as many years under Dan Mullen to reach the NFL ranks. I, for one fully expect Perkins to have another solid season and the young running backs are going to be much better in 2013. History has proven that when those running backs in maroon produce, those wins are produced as well. I would pay close attention to the numbered jersey’s 27, 34, 28, and 15. That’s Ladarius Perkins, Josh Robinson Derek Milton and backup quarterback Dak Prescott. Their production on the ground is going to go a long way in deciding the fate of Mississippi State’s season. If they have the type of year many feel they can have, then that will enable Russell to have the year so many hope he has. If this group follows suit, that means you will probably have the option to spend New Year’s away from home for the fourth straight year. - MSM

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 9

to the TOP

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Follow Derrick Guin on Twitter® @DerrickGuin

Golden Eagles close the book on 2012-13

DERRICK GUIN

inally we can close the books on Southern Miss athletics for the year 2012-13. It has been a heartwrenching season in all sports. The highlight for the season would be the USM basketball team that over-achieved all season and almost got in the NCAA Tourney. But a lose to Marshall on the road late in the season and not being able to beat Memphis in three attempts will not get you a lot of support from the NCAA panel. Maybe next year. Baseball was ranked #23 in the preseason in most polls. Some had the Eagles even higher. I believed this team was going to break a lot of records and really make some noise in the NCAA Regionals. I was thinking that a host spot was in the future for Southern Miss, but the clouds didn’t come together for Head Coach Scott Berry and the Eagles. Losing to Rice in the C-USA tournament championship game in 11 innings 5-4 closed the doors on any regional hopes. What was the problem this season with the Eagles baseball team? Southern Miss was near the bottom in the nation in home runs. Southern Miss was in the tops in leaving runners in scoring position and not getting the runners across the plate. Southern Miss along with Mississippi State led the nation in double plays turned with over 70. The team said they would be back in the regionals in 2013 after failing in 2012. USM has now gone back to back seasons without making the NCAA regionals after going to the regionals nine seasons in a row. Maybe next year. Other sports also not making any noise, women’s basketball was very mediocre along with USM ladies softball and volleyball. We didn’t hear much out of golf or tennis. Same with track and field. There are some athletes 10 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

in track and field doing well in individual events. So, just where is USM athletics heading. You tell me. Certainly as of this year its not “To The Top.” Oh, did I mention football – that’s what I thought. I am not sure if Athletic Director Jeff Hammond is aware of the downward spiral that USM athletics is heading. I am for all kinds of change not only in the coaching of the sports at USM but in the Athletic Department as well. Let me know what you think if you agree or disagree. A new chapter is about to open with new Head Football Coach Todd Monken. So much pressure is on this new coach. Taking over one of the most dominant C-USA programs before 2012. But in last year, USM did what I never want to be part of again. A win less season. Monken’s job is to get USM back in championship games and WIN. Can Monken Do it? You Bet. Monken has put together an impressive staff and the coaches have been working extremely hard to get ready for the season opener in Hattiesburg versus Texas State. Have you seen the USM new uniforms for the 2013 season? If you haven’t you should go to the USM website and check it out. Some fans I have talked to seem to like them and then there are the others who just don’t like change and don’t like the design. The student athletes voted on the uniforms and once they are out in competition for the fans to see, I think it will grow on them. I don’t think Iowa can challenge these uniforms or logos. TV Schedule for 2013: As of today, there are eight USM games scheduled for TV. The latest addition is USM’s trip to Boise State. The Mountain West Conference announced that the ESPN family of network stations will televise the Boise State-Southern Miss game on September 28. Kick-Off is still TBA. The Nebraska game will be a 5 PM kick-off in Lincoln, Nebraska on the Big Ten Network. Arkansas should get picked up by either by CBS for the SEC game of the Week or ESPN family of networks. This will bring the total to nine games. CSS and CBS Sports Network will show the Eagles five times and FOX in a C-USA contract will show USM once. For

a school that went 0-12, eight or nine TV games is not too shabby. Early Preseason Honors: Five Golden Eagles football players have been named to Phil Steele’s Pre-Season Conference USA Team. First-team honorees include defensive back Deron Wilson and Defensive tackle Khyri Thornton. Senior Linebackers Alan Howze and Dylan Reda were named to the third and fourth teams with senior safety Jacorius Cotton also making the fourth team. I’m not al all surprised by the selections. Deron Wilson has NFL potential and has started all 38 games dating back to 2010. Wilson has eight interceptions with three being returned for touchdowns. Thorton was second on the team in tackles for loss in 2012 with 9.5 behind Jamie Collins who is now a member of the New England Patriots. Howze and Reda return to the linebacking core position and hope to get the “Nasty Bunch” back in action. Cotton has started 36 games and has recorded 151 total tackles. Defensively the Eagles are in good shape but it was the same scenario as last year with Jamie Collins returning. Monken and staff will have to find a QB and this is not going be easy. Monken will want to spread the field and use a one back set with many formations. Once a QB is found, one who can run the spread OSU offense with some Monken tweaks, look out. USM will be putting up a lot of points and should be a very fun and exciting team to watch. And with some defensive experience, I look for a winning season. I look for USM to win every home game and possibly two or three on the road. Giving the Eagles and Monken a 7-5 or 8-4 record. Could there be an upset or two along the way? The big three teams that USM is playing could overlook an Eagle team that went 0-12 in 2013. In the next edition I will break down the schedule and look at the new C-USA. Be sure to join the “Rise To The Top” Campaign and support the Eagles. See you at the Fan-fares this summer. And until next time — “Southern Miss To The Top!” - MSM

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2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 11

ONCAMPUS

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“FEEDING TIME” WITH KING KOBRAZ

From “Rebelz” (Feed Moncrief) to “TSUN’s of Guns,” Rebel students Blake Pruett and Patrick Haadsma are making popular anthems for Ole Miss athletics By JOHN DAVIS Contributing Writer

le Miss’ football program has never been as hip and engaged with the younger members of its fan base than it is currently. A big reason for that is due to the success of the King Kobraz. The rap duo of Patrick Haadsma and Blake Pruett, two Ole Miss students from Tupelo, made a splash with fans last fall with their “Rebelz” video that featured the now famous catchphrase “Feed Moncrief ” in the lyrics. What started out as a fun video originally released on YouTube became an anthem, for Moncrief and the rest of the Rebels. The song, recorded just before the Rebels played at LSU and less than a week before last year’s Egg Bowl, later turned into a video shoot at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium sponsored by Ole Miss. It featured the Rebelettes, players and a number of students who wanted to join in the re-creation. “We wanted it to be free for the Rebels right before the Egg Bowl,” Pruett said in an interview with the Oxford Eagle on Dec. 6, 2012 about why the duo came up with the song. “We shot (the original video) the week right before LSU and we were thinking we were going to have to release it LSU night because Donte had an awesome game that night, but we lost so we figured that wasn’t really the time to put that 12 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Patrick Haadsma and Blake Pruett of King Kobraz

“One of my favorite MSU tweets post Egg Bowl was something like “Not only did we lose but I can’t get that stupid song out of my head,” Haadsma said. “That made it worth it.” out there.” In the same interview with the Eagle, Haadsma had this to say about the scene gathered for the shoot. “That’s the only word to really use, surreal,” said Haadsma, a junior studying English and Political Science. Of course Moncrief catching three touchdown passes made the song go over that

much better. “I got wind in The Grove that it was going to get played before the game. That’s all I thought was going to happen,” Pruett said last December. “They didn’t tell us Donte was going to catch three touchdown passes. He really hooked us up for sure.” Since the song got played at the stadium during the game and the subsequent video

(Above) Ole Miss Sports Marketing got into the act with the Kobraz as they produced a music video for their second hit “TSUN’s of Guns” a song dedicated to the Rebel basketball team. (Left) The buzz took off during Donte Moncrief’s 3-touchdown performance against Miss. State in the 2012 Egg Bowl as “Rebelz (Feed Moncrief)” was played over the PA system after each score.

was shot, the duo has found themselves signing autographs and posing for pictures with Ole Miss fans. “It’s been crazy,” Pruett said. “It just doesn’t seem like we deserve that kind of attention. I wonder if recruits feel the same.” Haadsma said nothing has really changed for him although performing at the famous Shark Tank party prior to the BBVA Compass Bowl was a thrill. The negative, the duo said, was not being able to regulate who made money off the song. “It’s been cool. In a sense nothing’s really changed, I’m still taking class and working minimum wage jobs. But the connections we’ve made from the video have been pretty fantastic,” Haadsma said. “The coolest thing

was probably playing all the shows we got to do because of the success of the song.” Ole Miss went on to defeat Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl of course and the two heard about it from the Bulldog faithful, to a degree. “There hasn’t been much contact from other schools apart from some folks I already knew. They said they liked it, though they could just be polite people. One of my favorite MSU tweets post Egg Bowl was something like “Not only did we lose but I can’t get that stupid song out of my head,” Haadsma said. “That made it worth it. But I think most negative feedback has been

from Ole Miss fans who’ve gotten tired of us. There was a guy I happened to see tweeting about how he was annoyed by us basically and then the next day asked for an interview. I did the whole thing and at the very end wrote something along the lines of “I saw that tweet, maybe we’re not that horrible after all.” He felt awful, we started talking about music and now he records with us sometimes. He’s one of my really good friends now. Strange how things work.” Pruett said he hasn’t heard much from fans from other schools about the music. “I know if I was from another school I’d hate it though,” Pruett said. “But the friends I have at other schools have been really positive about it.” The duo definitely get noticed more now when they go out in Oxford, although being modest about their musical talents, they said that evolved more because of their respective hair styles. “I have red curly hair so I’m pretty noticeable, so now people say something,” Pruett said. “We get noticed more. It’s pretty cool I guess, but I never really know what to say,” Haadsma added. “Like Blake said we’re pretty weird looking so we’re easy to pick out. I have a nasty mullet and he has red hair.” Rapping about Ole Miss didn’t just happen as a lark, the two have backgrounds in music even if it’s not their major. Haadsma said he grew up playing the guitar and dabbled with the piano, while Pruett played the piano for a year and a half in eighth and ninth grade and did some singing in a choir. “I was always freestyling with my friends or in the lunchroom or wherever,” Haadsma said. “Obviously I’d love to just make songs and play shows forever but that’s a bit of a long shot. We’ll see what happens. I want to stay in the entertainment industry regardless though.” So what’s next for Kobraz as we get closer to football season? It depends on who you ask. Pruett’s answer to the question was vague. Haadsma offered a little more without getting too specific when it came to sports songs for Ole Miss. “We’re coming out with a mixtape where there’s a music video for each song,” Haadsma said. “It’ll come out at the beginning of the school year. As far as sports songs go, we’ll have to see.” The players — both in football and basketball — have been at the center of the Kobraz’s raps which has led to some collaboration. We talked to Murphy (Holloway) before TSUNs of Gunz,” Haadsma said. “If Denzel (Nkemdiche) or Robert (Nkemdiche) wanted a song called like ‘Nkarate’, or ‘Nkoala Bears’, or ‘Nkeg Stands” then we’d do it.” MSM 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 13

2012 MACJC STATE CHAMPIONS

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2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 15

SPORTSBIZ

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MORE COWBELL:

Clang go the bells and Oh! the stories they tell By PAUL JONES Contributing Writer

ou hear that distinctive sound on a Saturday - or a Thursday night - inside Davis Wade Stadium and that sound has long been a symbol of tradition at Mississippi State University. That sound is that of a cowbell and they are quite numerous on any MSU game day and make quite the impression when thousands of Bulldogs fans ring their coveted cowbells. But over a decade ago, MSU alumnus Eric Vlietstra discovered something about the cowbell that eventually led to his business today Cowbell Central (www.mycowbell.com) – and producing cowbells. After graduating from MSU in 1995, Vlietstra worked in the Magnolia State for a couple of years before moving to Dayton, Tenn. After his relocation to the Smokey Mountains, he saw that his cowbell didn’t make the trip with him and was lost in the move. So he started the process of purchasing a new cowbell but wasn’t pleased with the end result. “My cowbells weren’t exactly handled with care when they were shipped,” said Vlietstra. “I got maroon paint on my white bell and white paint on my maroon bell. It was just a bad experience but that’s what led to my current profession. I thought to myself ‘I can do better than that’ so I did. “In 1999 I taught myself how to build a website and accept payments. I built a prototype cowbell and went live with the website. At first orders were few and far between but I was only doing it to make a little extra income. I already had a job as an Industrial Engineer in Dayton. But then each year the cowbell sales got stronger and stronger. So I started putting all my cowbell income into my son’s college savings account. His college fund continues to be funded by cowbell income but it’s also support16 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

(L to R) Ed’s wife Cameille, and kids Conner (14) and Julia (23).

ing me now!” It was that summer of 2010 that Vlietstra decided to make Cowbell Central his fulltime job and give his one-time side job his entire focus. “I found that my engineering job was getting less and less satisfying and my cowbell job was more fulfilling,” said Vlietstra. “I made some changes to cut costs and stepped up the website and marketing (with Cowbell Central). I turned in my notice and officially became ‘Eric Vlietstra, Cowbell Salesman on July 31st, 2010.

“My cowbells weren’t exactly handled with care when they were shipped,” said Vlietstra. “I got maroon paint on my white bell and white paint on my maroon bell. It was just a bad experience but that’s what led to my current profession. I thought to myself ‘I can do better than that’ so I did. - Ed Vliestra

“As most business owners can attest, you can’t count the hours spent on your business. It is very time-consuming and you find yourself overwhelmed at times. But the more you work at it the better the product you can offer.” And while the sound from most cowbells is similar, their are different types that Vlietstra produces. “I offer three sizes and 15 different colors,” said Vlietstra. “From the top of the handle to the bottom of the handle, I provide one that is 8.5 inches for the kids and one that is 10 inches for just about anybody and I brought back an 11-inch cowbell this year for the guys who really want to make some noise. “I offer so many different colors because there are a lot of high schools that have started the cowbell tradition and like showing off their colors. And the tone of each bell has improved over the years and they’re more durable now and make a great sound.” And with each passing year, Cowbell Central expands and Vlietstra is looking to expand his customer base even more so. “I would like to establish distributors in foreign countries like Canada, Australia and Great Britain,” said Vlietstra. “I get a handful of hockey business in Canada and also from soccer fans from the other two countries. I think I could do a lot more business if I could reduce the shipping costs by finding a way to distribute from within those countries.”

est, Leslie Petro had that same thought and wondered about the stories behind the cowbells she saw that day. That original thought eventually turned into Petro’s book titled ‘Cowbell Tales’. “I saw a small child with a cowbell that must have been at least a few decades old,” recalled Petro of that day in Nashville, Tenn., at the Music City Bowl. “Then I looked around and I saw that almost every State fan had a cowbell. Like snowflakes, each one was completely different. I wondered where they came from and if they had a story behind them. “I turned to a friend that was sitting beside me and asked him if anyone had ever done a book on the cowbell. When he said that he didn’t think there was one, I decided right then and there it was time for someone to write about our grandest and greatest tradition.” Petro’s main job is at HORNE LLP where

“I turned to a friend that was sitting beside me and asked him if anyone had ever done a book on the cowbell. When he said that he didn’t think there was one, I decided right then and there it was time for someone to write about our grandest and greatest tradition.” - Leslie Petro

Naturally, with Vlietstra’s passion of the cowbell transpiring into his own business, he has his share of cowbell experiences and cowbell stories. One in particular stands out to him and it occurred during MSU’s magical season of 1999 where the Bulldogs opened with an 8-0 record that shot MSU up the national rankings. In the final regular-season game that year, the Bulldogs pulled off another remarkable victory in the Egg Bowl - one of several come-from-behind wins that year. “I think the cowbells could be heard clanging all the way to Tupelo,” said Vlietstra of that post-game memory. “I sprinted down the Scott Field steps and hurdled the fence to join the celebrating Bulldog fans at midfield. “Then I was helping to carry one of the uprights from the torn-down goal post while ringing my cowbell with my free hand. Then

this drunken guy lunged at my cowbell trying to take it from me and did it three more times. Each time I simply yanked my cowbell to the side and he nearly fell down trying to swipe at it.” As the Bulldogs gear up for another football campaign and more Saturdays with cowbells clanging in Davis Wade Stadium, Vlietstra will be there and continue his business of providing those cowbells to MSU fans and for them to ring proudly. “I have absolutely no regrets,” said Vlietstra of starting his business. “The fears I had from making that decision went away after I survived the first year. There will always be fears but I’ve learned to not be overwhelmed by them. “It’s a unique tradition that we Bulldog fans have embraced to its fullest. If you were to ask a casual football fan from anywhere in the country to name one word they think of when they think of Mississippi State, that word would be ‘cowbells’.” COWBELL TALES With thousands and thousands of MSU fans owning at least one cowbell if not multiple cowbells, many of those cowbells have a story behind them much like the one Vlietstra described. At the 2011 Music City Bowl and while watching MSU’s bowl win over Wake For-

she has been a learning and development supervisor since 2004. When her idea turned into ‘Cowbell Tales’ (www.cowbelltales. com), her new “hobby” and idea surpassed what she first envisioned. “I wasn’t really surprised by the number of stories people gave me because on any given gameday there must be at least 20,000 cowbells in the stadium,” said Petro. “I was surprised by the wide variety of the stories so that was a bit challenging coming up with an outline for the book. But once the stories started rolling in the chapters came together. “I knew that moment in the stadium at the bowl game that this book would be a success. How big? That, I had no idea. I started the book on April 26 of 2012 and submitted the first proof to my publisher on August 25th. I received the books on November 2nd and was solid out by the end of December. A couple of places in Starkville still have a few copies but I only have two copies myself and my publisher has zero.” Going through hundreds and hundreds of personal cowbell stories, Petro said it is obviously hard to pick one or two favorites. But there is one individual story that sticks in her mind. “The one that sticks out the most to me is a gentleman by the name of Paul Perry of Flowood,” said Petro. “At print time last fall, he had 118 cowbells and all were unique. A 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 17

very small collection of his cowbells is actually the cover picture of my book. His passion for collecting cowbells started at a very young age and continues today. It would be hard to categorize any story as my favorite but Paul’s story certainly stuck out to me.” And yes, Petro herself has her own collection of cowbells. “I currently have seven cowbells, each very distinct with its own story,” said Petro. “My

“Later that season I had the opportunity to have it signed by (former MSU radio broadcaster) Jack Cristil and (former MSU head coach) Jackie Sherrill. That cowbell is now retired for obvious reasons. most recent addition feels like a trophy of sorts, too. It is white in color and signed in maroon and was given to me by (MSU President) Dr. Mark Keenum when I visited him this past fall and presented him with a copy of the book. I knew that day that my book was a success.” Also, like the stories in ‘Cowbell Tales’, Petro also has her on story. “Another favorite (cowbell) I have was sort of an accident but turned out to be a prelude to the book,” Petro noted. “At the 2011 Ladies Football Clinic (at MSU), I didn’t have anything for the players and coaches to autograph. So I bought a maroon cowbell and grabbed a Sharpie. That day it was signed by almost the entire 2011 football team along with Coach Dan Mullen and athletic director Scott Stricklin. “Later that season I had the opportunity to have it signed by (former MSU radio broadcaster) Jack Cristil and (former MSU head coach) Jackie Sherrill. That cowbell is now retired for obvious reasons. “People laugh when I say that if my house caught on fire I would save my cowbell collection before my photo albums. But the truth is that each cowbell has more memories attached to it than any number of photo albums. Besides the (cowbells) mentioned above, I also have my grandfather’s (cowbell), my mothers, my father in laws and my son’s first ‘adult’ cowbell as he calls it.” The success of the book, said Petro, is also largely due to the support she received from the Mississippi State administration. “Without the support of Mississippi State University this book would have never happened,” said Petro. “From the President’s office, the athletic department to the licensing division, each and every person that I came in contact with could not have been more gracious 18 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Leslie Petro

and courteous. They love the cowbell, it’s tradition and were so happy to have someone documenting its history.” In the near future, Petro said there are plans for more ‘Cowbell Tales’ as well. “If you had asked me five years ago or 15 years ago if I wanted to be a writer I would have laughed at the question,” said Petro. “I

have always loved to read and loved storytelling. So to me, this book is more about telling a story or several stories, for that matter. “I have several more ideas for future books, most of them having to do with the cowbell. Right now I am working with my publisher on a second printing of ‘Cowbell Tales’, hopefully due out this July.” - MSM

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MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

2013 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 21

>>> STEVEN godfrey

Follow Steven Godfrey on Twitter® @38Godfrey

>>>>>

Proving Mississippi’s worth on the Gridiron

t should’ve been the night they drove the billboards down: Hugh Freeze’s rookie Ole Miss Rebels, scant on depth and short on talent, threw a late-round knockout punch to end a three-year run of pure domination from Dan Mullen’s Mississippi State Bulldogs. Videos were played, chants reinvented, Twitter hashtags mocked and blood of both teams boiled fresh again. Mullen never flinched, vowing to never lose to Ole Miss – again. Freeze took the holy route, claiming the nasty rivalry was won out of love from and for Rebel teammates, not hate for the opponent. Whatever. Truth be told, the best part of the 2012 Egg Bowl was that it momentarily stifled insufferable levels of petty rhetoric from both sides. That’s a good thing, because as 2013 season dawns from Oxford to Starkville to Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s mantra should be less about in-state squabbling and more about proving the worth – and might – of the Magnolia State to the rest of the nation. Mississippi fans have a bad habit of overinflating even the smallest of victories. Sure, there’s optimism in the fact that for the first time since 2000, both the Rebels and Bulldogs played in a bowl game in Steven Godfrey Guest Columnist the same season. There’s plenty of good reason for hope this year, but Mississippi fans would do well to understand reality, too. As the SEC has grown to monolithic proportions in both on-field prowess and off-field worth, the state has hung on for dear life and counted its blessings to be grandfathered into the most powerful entity in collegiate sports today. Dan Mullen is a saint in Starkville, and he should be: Regardless of their problems down the stretch last season, MSU is still the program to emulate in the state of solely because of Mullen’s consistency (four seasons, three bowl games). For the first time in the modern era of SEC football, MSU can honestly be considered a perennial winning program. But how good can things get under Mullen? That’s what MSU fans can’t answer definitively. Years of across-the-board failures in program management and coaching pre-Mullen make it hard for many MSU diehards to criticize Dan The Man, especially with a 3-1 record vs. Ole Miss. But the “What have you done for me lately?” attitude of the SEC has a grumbling minority pointing to Mullen’s 2-15 record against the rest of the SEC West over four seasons. Just who are these 2013 Bulldogs, and which part of 2012 are they bringing with them – the season-opening seven game win streak, or the late-year skid ending with a loss to Northwestern in the Gator Bowl? MSU’s two non-Ole Miss SEC West wins came against Arkansas and Auburn in 2013, when both schools were experiencing their worst season in decades (over 60 years in the Tigers’ case). The Rebels also beat both the Hogs and Tigers in 2012, but that’s only 22 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

C.J. Johnson, Philadelphia, MS

>>> Tyler Russell Meridian, MS

the second time Ole Miss has beaten Arkansas and Auburn in the same season since Eli was in school (2008 was the other). Ole Miss fans already have astronomically high expectations for 2013 even though it’s against the publicly stated wishes of Freeze. After earning a bowl bid with five wins over five inferior teams plus the euphoric removal of the Mullen Monkey off their backs, the Rebels trounced a bad Pitt team in Birmingham. Consider those late season victories a double-edged sword, because Freeze can’t seem to do enough to remind fans that the program is only a season removed from a 6-17 decimation of talent and pride in Houston Nutt’s last two campaigns. Down in Hattiesburg, there’s no false modesty. Southern Miss simply disappeared when Larry Eustachy left town, and the Golden Eagles put up a buckshot 0-12 record under career coordinator Ellis Johnson. To call last season disastrous would do a disservice to disasters. Compounding matters is the ever-shifting landscape of Conference USA, which has lost top-tier members to the former Big East, now the American Athletic Conference. The old C-USA has become the new AAC – just look at Cincinnati, South Florida, SMU, Houston, ECU and others – while USM hasn’t moved. What happened to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime? The defiant and admirable bully-the-bullies mentality built under alumnus Jeff Bower is all but gone. Fedora used USM as a stepping stone, and clearly the program wasn’t prepared to adjust. But there is hope. In Oxford, a Top 5 signing class is coming to campus to help boost the rebuilding effort. Their effect might not be felt immediately, but their impact will eventually be undeniable. At State, a focused Tyler Russell is looking for redemption and breakthrough success in his senior season behind center despite losing most of his receiving corps. In Hattiesburg, there’s only one direction to go, and the frenetic energy of former Oklahoma State OC Todd Monken mirrors that of Fedora, who held the same position before coming to USM. There are also chances to prove Mississippi’s worth, and in a big way. Both of the SEC schools open the season in spotlight games: MSU will travel to Houston to play the OSU Cowboys, a preseason pick to win the Big 12, while Ole Miss will play at Vanderbilt in primetime. Wins for both schools would be monumental. Yes, monumental: Ole Miss has lost five of their last seven to the Commodores and is 0-2 vs. James Franklin. MSU will be playing in its first-ever neutral site opener with a national audience and the chance to upset a Top 25 team. Just a few weeks later USM will travel to Boise State to play the perpetually upstart Broncos. In you’re too young or too ignorant, USM used to be Boise State, before there was a Boise State to even talk about. While a win on the Smurf Turf in his first month might too tall an order for Monken, the mindset of returning to USM’s vaunted past as fearless giant-killers can and should be instilled early. Never mind the upcoming USM/MSU series starting in 2014, and stop nitpicking the Egg Bowl. While I’m certainly not advocating some kind of statewide unity or cross-rival hand holding, it would do Mississippi’s college football worth a great amount of good if the focus shifted away from the in-state matters. This is one of the most consistent producers of top-level college and NFL talent, yet true championD.J. Thompson, ships are scant to come by when Pearl, MS you look around the stadiums. The 2013 probably won’t change that fact, but it could be the start of a return to glory: In case you forgot, it’s possible for all three teams to rise up. Remember 1999? For the better part of the year, all three schools were in the AP and Coaches polls each week. All three. In a sport and country where this state is on the never ending defensive, that’s something worth striving for. That’s something really worth putting on a billboard. MSM 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 23

GAMEDAY

>>>>>

Making it happen behind the scenes The Media Relations Directors and staff at Mississippi’s “Big 3” universities choreograph the behind the scenes action making sure every aspect of their athletic department runs as seamless as possible By JON WIENER Contributing Writer

Photos by Greg Pevey and courtesy of the Media Relations Departments at Southern Miss, Miss. State and Ole Miss.

Jack Duggan, Southern Miss - Assistant ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / Media Relations

Joe Galbraith, MISS. STATE - Assistant ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / Media Relations

Kyle Campbell, OLE MISS - ASSISTANT ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

ou see them alongside the head coach before and after games, at the podium to open and close press conferences. You read their news releases and download their game notes. You hear your favorite player in an interview after they coordinate it with the media. Those are just a few of the traditional media relations duties for Kyle Campbell, Joe Galbraith and Jack Duggan. The day-to-day operations and behind the scenes responsibilities show a much bigger, more important picture. As directors of media relations in the big business of college football, an industry shaped

more than ever by media dollars, the three men are at the managing epicenter of their respective operations. It’s one of the most crucial, multi-faceted and all-consuming positions in a major college football program. Think CFO. Assistant director. Operations manager. “My title is media relations, but I think it’s more public relations and people relations. It’s a communications job is the way I look at it,” Galbraith said. “All year round, it’s wearing a lot of hats and juggling a lot of different areas. I prob-

ably spend thirty to forty percent of my time just doing football media relations, and then spend the rest of the time doing general athletic communications,” Campbell said. “Its funny, you go over in your head what you want to get accomplished that day, but very seldom does that ever happen,” Duggan said. “Just because of the so many different things that need to be done, it’s a very fluid business.” It’s true, formal titles and job descriptions are tough for the three. Campbell says he oversees the Ole Miss media relations department keeping two over arching goals

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Whether it’s dealing with print, TV, radio or internet media, like Miss. State beat writer Paul Jones of 247Sports above, the Media Relations office plays a major role in making sure each game goes off without a hitch. in mind: 1) celebrating the student athlete, and 2) building the fanbase. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze puts it best with an informal tag. He calls Campbell the “brand manager” for Ole Miss football. “(Kyle) is very important. Everything that comes through our campus should be filtered by him,” Freeze said plainly. “I see him as a gatekeeper and protector of our message and our brand and what we wanna put out….certainly he’s become very familiar with our staff and the message and brand, and we have great trust in that he’s going to be a great gatekeeper for that. Campbell calls it “managing the message.” One of the biggest challenges of being the gatekeeper for the program is that while the brand stays more or less the same, the ways of communication evolve rapidly. The days of a single televised SEC game on Saturdays is gone. Obsolete is the time where unfiltered access to players and coaches was only a dream to college football fans. The set-up where media relation directors and the school’s athletics website act as the control source of football information is fleeting. The television dollar remains the major player in the game, but the recent social media explosion has drastically altered the playing field for everyone: communications, 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 25

Determing which players to make avaialble to the media for post game interviews is tough after a loss.

Monitoring and maintaining social media, such as player and coach Twitter accounts, is a never ending duty for the media relations department at all three schools. marketing, publicity, and of course, media relations. Fans and media today enjoy more unfiltered access than ever before to players, coaches and games through mediums like Twitter, online streaming and 24/7 subscription networks. At the same time, there are more fans, media and game interplay than ever before. “Managing the message” has become a full-scale, fulltime, but highly nuanced endeavor. “In this state because there’s so many options for the entertainment dollar, and so many ways for your message to be sent out and received, you have to be active in every place so that your message is received,” Galbraith 26 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

said. “Some people get it from Twitter, some might get it online, others watch the six o’clock news or read the paper the next morning…you need to be in all of those places to make sure you’re capturing all of your audience, so that’s become a priority of ours.” “The last four or five years…a real goal of ours has been to really merge our marketing, media relations and video wings so that they’re all very cohesive and we’re all achieving that one goal of building our fanbase,” Campbell said. “So, ten years ago I wasn’t involved in ticket campaigns; now I’m in those meetings every week.” Campbell says he does try to monitor every bit of information put out there about his program (“You’re not doing your job if you’re not,” he says), but all three agree that the worry over monitoring player tweets and potential NCAA violations in social media interaction is overblown. But as exposure has increased, the traditional duty of accommodating media requests, especially throughout the work week, has become more of a challenge. “It’s important to help everybody do their jobs, but the second part of that sentence is that they have to understand that there’s limits to what they’re gonna get…. that’s why it’s a people business, not a stat business,” Galbraith said. “It’s determining what each side needs and is trying to get accomplished, and finding that balance. So that’s why I think (the job) is all relationships, and I’m sure Jack & Kyle feel the same way.

Galbraith calls it “the eternal struggle.” For all three men, the most difficult and delicate part of striking that balances comes after games, especially losses. Twenty year old kids in a locker room, physically spent and emotionally crushed. The recorders, cameras, and lights of the hoard of needy reporters waiting outside. It’s the media relations director’s job to bring them together. “There’s no more difficult thing that I do than going into the locker room after a loss,” Galbraith said. “I have to have that conversation with a kid that just threw four interceptions in the Gator Bowl, that’s going to have to sit with that for eight months, and I have to explain to him why it’s important to his team that he comes out there. Or Coach Croom after the (2008) Egg Bowl (a game MSU lost 45-0)…it’s just difficult.” Campbell: “I think the thing is you just gotta talk to them and just be sensitive to their feelings. Let them know that someone needs to represent our team right now, that this is a tough time and tough guys gotta stand up and be strong….” (Campbell pauses, exhales and shakes his head) “That locker room is extremely emotional after a loss,” he finished. That’s where the “relations” part of the job title becomes pivotal. It’s the deep familiarity, the long hours spent with players, the team goals and failures that a media relations director usually shares with the players that helps them to have that conversation successfully.

Coach interviews are always in high demand during the season. An even harder task is maintaining some sense of order with the coaching staff and media during a season when things just aren’t going their way. As was the case with USM’s Ellis Johnson in 2012.

“That’s why I work so hard to have the relationship with the players and the coaches, is for those moments. I hope they never happen. But when they do, and you have to go to the well, and you have to be able to do it, that’s why the relationships are there,” Galbraith said. “I think a lot of it is about trust. You want them to trust you and respect you,” Duggan said. “Because (to talk) after a hard loss – that’s a tough thing to ask. I know it is. But I think if I can go up to a guy and say, ‘Hey,

I know you’re not feeling good but can you just come talk to me?’ More often than not, they’ll do it. To me, working with kids probably is the best part of it.” And yet the most important relationship isn’t with the players. Or the media. It’s with the head coach. He is always the man most sought after by the media, and nearly as often the one least interested in talking to them. It’s another difficult and pivotal balance Duggan, Galbraith and Campbell all must strike. Each stresses “efficiency” as the

key. “It’s all about time management and managing expectations,” Campbell said, slipping in a Freeze buzz phrase now clearly wellengrained into the program mantra. “I have 20 or 30 standing interview requests at all times for Coach Freeze; unfortunately, we have to (decline a lot of requests), because there are just not enough hours in the day for him to do all that.” “I think the key is, if I can minimize what I need for Coach to do, while maximizing that effort, I think we’re doing a good job,” Duggan said. That was especially key for Duggan this winter, when Southern Miss hired new head football coach Todd Monken. Monken needed to be seen, needed to be heard. Golden Eagle fans needed to see proof of the departure from the Ellis Johnson disaster. Yet Monken needed to spend every waking minute he could working to rebuild the rubble of the team. The initial months were crucial; Monken says Duggan’s veteran knowledge and expertise were instrumental in making sure they went smoothly. Monken: “The role he provided was, ‘Hey, here are the people that are gonna be around you on a daily basis, here’s what your dayto-day looks like post practice,” just keeping you informed of the expectations for you. (Jack) did a great job of that early on. His organization has been great. He’s able to understand that our schedule is always in flux.” Just like Duggan’s own job. The time commitment it takes for him, Campbell and Galbraith to manage the head coach and oversee the entire communications operation of a major college football program is almost as uncompromising as the head coach’s. Similarly, it leaves one relationship that the three can’t cultivate as well as they’d like. Quality time with the wife and kids is always at a premium, especially for Duggan, who doubles as the baseball media relations director for Southern Miss in the spring. “When you practice ‘til 6:30, and you’ve got responsibilities after, when you get home it’s 8 o’clock and some nights you’re lucky if you see your kids,” Duggan said. “That’s probably the hardest thing for me is trying to balance being a father and trying to be as good a sports information person as I can for this athletic department.” “Last fall, I had three days outside of the office over a five, six month span…but it’s not hard labor. I’m not digging ditches here, I’m talking to people,” Galbraith said. “This isn’t the most difficult job in the world to get excited about, especially when it’s something that you care about like I do: the people and the teams around here.” - MSM

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 27

OLE MISS REBELS 2012 RESULTS: 7-6 Overall; 3-5 SEC; 4-3 Home; 2-3 Away; 1-0 Neutral Bowl Game: 2012 BBVA Champions (Ole Miss 38 - Pitt 17)

SCHEDULE Aug. 29................. at Vanderbilt Sept. 7....................SE Missouri Sept. 14........................ at Texas Sept. 21.............................OPEN Sept. 28...................at Alabama Oct. 5......................... at Auburn Oct. 12.................. TEXAS A&M Oct. 19..................................LSU Oct. 26.............................IDAHO Nov. 2................................OPEN Nov. 9.....................ARKANSAS Nov. 16.............................. TROY Nov. 23.....................MISSOURI Nov. 28............... at Miss. State

BOWL PROJECTION: Music City Bowl Nashville, TN GAME TO WATCH: August 29 at Vanderbilt

BO WALLACE

By JOHN DAVIS Contributing Writer

eading into the second year of the Hugh Freeze Era at Ole Miss the big question is what can this team accomplish? A year after winning seven games, including the BBVA Compass Bowl, Ole Miss fans want to know what’s next in the form of improvement. The national media believes the Rebels should be better than they were in 2012. Some prognosticators have Ole Miss ranked in the Top 25 entering the year, another has them pegged to play in the Gator Bowl, a bowl they have not appeared in since 1991. In short, the Rebels’ stock under Freeze is still on the rise after a solid first season. The next big step, according to the Rebels, is not getting caught up in the hype. “You don’t listen to it. You just let it go in

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one ear and out the other because those are the same people that told us we weren’t winning any games last year,” senior linebacker D.T. Shackelford said about the preseason expectations tagged by the media. “You like that you’re getting noticed but you take it with a grain of salt. You continue to work. It’s all on us and I when I say that I mean the team. I don’t necessarily think the coaches. I feel like it’s the players team and whatever way we want it to go it will go.” Junior quarterback Bo Wallace, who missed spring drills because of shoulder surgery to repair his AC joint, said he can’t go anywhere in Oxford without the topic of the 2013 season coming up. “We hear it everyday from fans and being out and people stopping and talking to us. Nobody gave us hope last year and you see what we did. Everybody is giving us hope this year and you see what happened in the

Coming off a huge victory over Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl, expectations are beginning to rise in Oxford. The Rebels play a huge game right off the bat as they open the season, and conference play, on the road on a Thursday night ESPN showdown against Vandy. Ole Miss has struggled against the Dores who have beaten the Rebs three years in a row and five of the last six meetings. Ole Miss fans will get an early look to see if Bo Wallace is back to his regular form after undergoing shoulder surgery in the Spring. Vandy kicks off 2013 trying to replace star QB Jordan Rogers and RB Zac Stacy. If the Rebs can break the Vandy hex, it could mean good things to come the rest of the season for Rebel Nation.

2012 team statistics ............................UM.........OPP SCORING............................ 409................ 359 Points Per Game...............31.5...............27.6 FIRST DOWNS................... 291................ 251 Rushing............................ 138................. 97 Passing............................. 134................ 138 Penalty.............................. 19.................. 16 RUSHING YARDAGE......... 2260.............. 1681 Yards gained rushing...... 2644.............. 2149 Yards lost rushing............ 384................ 468 Rushing Attempts............ 551................ 483 Average Per Rush..............4.1.................3.5 Average Per Game..........173.8.............129.3 TDs Rushing...................... 25.................. 17 PASSING YARDAGE.......... 3249.............. 3205 Comp-Att-Int..............261-411-18....268-427-15 Average Per Pass..............7.9.................7.5 Average Per Catch............12.4...............12.0 Average Per Game..........249.9.............246.5 TDs Passing....................... 24.................. 22 TOTAL OFFENSE................ 5509.............. 4886 Total Plays........................ 962................ 910 Average Per Play...............5.7.................5.4 Average Per Game..........423.8.............375.8 KICK RETURNS: #-Yrds... 43-861......... 42-1030 PUNT RETURNS: #-Yrds.. 24-134.......... 24-189 INT RETURNS: #-Yrds..... 15-199.......... 18-135 KICK RETURN AVG.............20.0...............24.5 PUNT RETURN AVG............5.6.................7.9 INT RETURN AVG...............13.3................7.5 FUMBLES-LOST................ 22-11............ 20-13 PENALTIES-Yards............ 62-480.......... 69-543 Average Per Game.............36.9..............41.8 PUNTS-Yards....................58-2350....... 70-2970 Average Per Punt..............40.5...............42.4 Net punt average.............36.6...............39.1 KICKOFFS-Yards.................80-5007...... 72-4403 Average Per Kick..............62.6...............61.2 Net kick average..............49.3...............39.8 TIME OF POSS./Game........28:04.............31:56 3RD-DOWN Conv............89/201.......... 76/199 3rd-Down Pct.................. 44%.............. 38% 4TH-DOWN Conv............. 13/18............. 8/20 4th-Down Pct.................. 72%.............. 40% SACKS BY-Yards............. 38-268.......... 34-222 MISC YARDS........................ 0.................... 0 TOUCHDOWNS SCORED.... 51.................. 44 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS.18-28............ 17-22 ON-SIDE KICKS.................. 0-0................ 1-1 RED-ZONE SCORES..... (41-45) 91%.. (36-46) 78% RED-ZONE TD.............. (30-45) 67%.. (23-46) 50% PAT-ATTEMPTS........... (49-49) 100%.(40-42) 95% ATTENDANCE.................. 458597.......... 371730 Games/Avg Per Game.. 8/57325........ 5/74346 SCORING......1st....2nd....3rd....4th... Total Ole Miss........ 116.... 105.....96.....92...... 409 Opponents...... 64..... 129.....67.....99...... 359

C.J. JOHNSON

past when people have given people hope and they haven’t lived up to it,” Wallace said. “In that locker room, we stay in there with our expectations. We know we control how hard we work and nobody else, whether it’s negative or positive, really influences how we go about our day.” Offseason workouts, coupled with the influx of a talented freshman class, will really determine how good the Rebels can be. They return 58 lettermen from last year’s team but the depth that was lacking last year will come from newcomers such as defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, safety Tony Conner and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. All three were five-star recruits and all three, along with offensive linemen such as Laremy Tunsil and Austin Golson, will compete for playing time from the beginning. “I’m positive we’ll be better especially with the recruiting class we’ve got coming

in and us being in this system for another year. There are going to be fewer mistakes and we’re going to be able to play faster,” junior free safety Cody Prewitt said about the upcoming year. “You definitely have to stay humble. I’ve tried to make myself stay humble because of all the stuff I’ve been exposed to. We just really can’t be complacent and lose our drive. We do want to take the next step and we know it’s going to take more than it did last year. We’re going to have to stay humble and not be complacent and just keep going forward.” Ole Miss opens spring drills Aug. 3. The season opener is Aug. 29 at Vanderbilt, a game that will be broadcast on national TV on ESPN. The Commodores defeated Ole Miss 27-26 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium last year and in 2011, the Commodores embarrassed the Rebels 30-7 signifying the end for former head coach Houston Nutt. Vanderbilt has actually won four of the last 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 29

DENZEL NKEMDICHE (4) AND MIKE MARRY

five meetings with the Rebels, a stat that has to be changed if the Rebels are realistically going to be better than 3-5 in the Southeastern Conference. “We have to win the Vanderbilt game. If we lose that game, all the hype that we built up is going to go down the drain. Texas, you can ask anybody on the team, we don’t know what happened that game (last year). Texas, they’re going to have to beat our tail in that game,” Prewitt said about the two most important games to him before adding his thoughts on last year’s losses to LSU and Texas A&M. “In my mind, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt and even LSU, they didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves. We had blown coverages, we had too many big plays that we gave up and in my mind, those games are on us, we beat ourselves. I’m not taking any credit away from them but I know what we’re capable of and I we’re capable of a lot more than what we did. Those were just mistakes ... we were still learning the defense at that point. This next fall we’re going to be knowing the defense for a year and a half and those mistakes aren’t going to be there anymore.” Of the 58 lettermen that return, 25 are on defense and 30 are on offense. DefenSE Prewitt is one of the headliners on the defensive side of the ball. He started all 13 games last season and finished second on the team 30 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

“You don’t listen to it. You just let it go in one ear and out the other because those are the same people that told us we weren’t winning any games last year,” senior linebacker D.T. Shackelford said about the preseason expectations tagged by the media. “You like that you’re getting noticed but you take it with a grain of salt. You continue to work. It’s all on us and I when I say that I mean the team. I don’t necessarily think the coaches. I feel like it’s the players team and whatever way we want it to go it will go.” in tackles (80). He also defended six passes, forced two fumbles and recovered two. Sophomore Denzel Nkemdiche is back to lead the linebackers. He led the Rebels with 82 stops, including 13 for a loss, a number that ranked eight best in the SEC last year. He also had three interceptions and forced four fumbles on his way to being named to the All-SEC second team and Freshman AllAmerica. Another experienced linebacker who returns and is coming off a great showing in the Compass Bowl is senior Mike Marry, this year’s Chucky Mullins Award winner. The 6-foot-3, 256-pound Marry is the starter at middle linebacker when the Rebels are

in a 4-3 formation. Nkemdiche is a starter at the Stinger linebacker position, while junior Keith Lewis was penciled in as the starter at the Wolf spot coming out of the spring. Serderius Bryant and Temario Strong, who redshirted last year, add depth across the board, as does senior D.T. Shackelford, who is second on the depth chart behind Marry in the middle. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack felt like he was deepest at linebacker coming out of the spring and that the extra depth would allow him to use more formations such a 4-3. “I’m excited about Denzel because his motor runs so well. Serderius (Bryant) is a solid

Woodrow Hamilton (6-3, 292). Freeze was also able to sign one of the nation’s top defensive tackle prospects in junior Lavon Hooks (6-4, 290), who starred as sophomore at Northeast Mississippi Community College. Freeze raved about Hooks’ athleticism during the spring and felt like he would make an impact on the field this year, especially as he learned the playbook and gained experience. Secondary Prewitt calls all the plays for the back five, while senior cornerback Charles Sawyer, the eldest member of the secondary, is back to man the boundary. Sawyer has to be steady for the Rebels if they are going to continue to improve on defense while another corner — junior Senquez Golson, senior Dehendret Collins or junior Nick Brassell — have to step up and help Sawyer lock down opposing wideouts. Sophomore Trae Elston, who burst on the scene last year with his hard hitting ways, is back to start at the Rover position, while sophomore Mike Hilton returns as the Huskie or Nickel.

JA-MES LOGAN (85) AND JEFF SCOTT

“I’m positive we’ll be better especially with the recruiting class we’ve got coming in and us being in this system for another year. There are going to be fewer mistakes and we’re going to be able to play faster,” - junior free safety Cody Prewit linebacker and I think Temario (Strong) made a big improvement as we went on and Keith (Lewis) did too. That’s five or six guys out there to play in games and it makes it easier for us to go into a 4-3,” Wommack said. “We spent three or four days on 4-3 which we didn’t do last spring. We got ahead on some of that stuff and I think with the nucleus and the leadership, it’s the strength of our defense.” Depth up Front Junior C.J. Johnson, who was injured early in the spring and did not take part in the annual Grove Bowl, is back at one of the end

spots as is senior Cameron Whigham, who really emerged as a junior last year. Johnson finished sixth on the team in tackles (55) while his 6.5 sacks led the team. Whigham, meanwhile, finished with 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Both Johnson and Whigham were listed as the starters coming out of the spring but Robert Nkemdiche is expected to be in the mix and should play significant minutes due to his size (6-4, 275). On the interior of the defensive line, Ole Miss returns junior Bryon Bennett (62, 294), junior Carlton Martin (6-2, 288) and sophomores Issac Gross (6-1, 254) and

offense The health of Wallace is the real key to how good this offense can be. A year after winning the Conerly Trophy, given annually to the top player from the state of Mississippi, the key for Wallace was cutting down on his 17 interceptions thrown in 2012. He said “three or four” were tipped but the majority of the throws were on him, either because he couldn’t get the ball down the field due to his injury or bad decision making. Wallace’s ultimate goal is to produce more wins while throwing fewer picks. “It’s all about wins but you do have individual goals too. I’ve always set individual goals on touchdowns and yards and things like that. Going in to this season, my goal is to throw less than seven interceptions. You’re going to throw interceptions in a season but if I can keep it down to six we’ll win a lot of football games and our numbers are going to look OK,” Wallace said. “I’m not worried about the passing yards. I’m worried about one number and that’s the interception number. Everything is going to come along with it. I think we’re as talented as anybody in the conference skill position wise. Now it’s on me.” Wallace finished the year with 2,994 yards and 22 touchdowns while accounting for 30 touchdowns overall. Senior Barry Brunetti and freshman Maikhail Miller went through spring drills and showed improvement. The duo enter fall camp as two and three on the depth chart, but freshmen Ryan Buchanan of Jackson Prep and Devante Kincade of 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 31

HUGH FREEZE

Dallas, will push for playing time. Wide Receivers Arguably one of the best wide receivers more and more people are getting to know — Donte Moncrief — is Wallace’s top target. Last year the Raleigh native caught 66 passes for 979 yards and 10 touchdowns, very good numbers for anybody let alone a sophomore who should only be better this year. Senior JaMes Logan had a solid 2012 — 43 catches, 490 yards, one TD — but he was the most consistent player in the spring and an much better leader, according to Freeze, so big things are expected from him. Other returners at wideout include junior Vince Sanders, who finished with 39 catches for 504 yards, and senior Korvic Neat, who caught 25 balls for 257 yards. Treadwell and Quincy Adeboyejo are expected to see early playing time. Treadwell was a five-star recruit and rated as the nation’s top wide receiver and if he’s as good as his billing, may end up pushing Moncrief for the most catches on the team. Running Backs A bevy of talent runners is what Freeze and offensive coordinator Dan Werner have to work with. Led by senior Jeff Scott, who rushed for 846 yards and six scores last year, the Rebels have three backs returning who have all played some and another in freshman Mark Dodson who definitely turned heads in the spring. On top of that, freshman Kailo Moore looks to be the fastest of the group and is expected to be used in some packages. Werner thought this was his deepest group coming out of the spring and the running game should be another focal point when it comes to move the ball. Offensive Line Four starters return up front while Tunsil and Golson are expected to add instant depth. Senior center Evan Swindall was recently 32 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

DONTE MONCRIEF

named to the Rimington Award Watch List and his experience in the middle gives Wallace a secure feeling heading into the fall. Seniors Pierce Burton and Emmanuel McCray are reliable at both tackle spots while junior Aaron Morris, despite being injured in the spring, is also very reliable at left guard. Senior Patrick Junen is penciled in as the starter at right guard and he has experience to continue to hold down that starting spot. special teams Freeze’s gamble of redshirting punter Ryan Campbell and kicker Andrew Ritter give the Rebels a solid tandem to lead the special teams unit. Long snapper Will Denny is also back while Jaylen Walton is back to return kicks. Scott can also return punts so the specialists have as much experience as any Ole Miss team in recent memory. MSM

2012 RESULTS Sep. 1......... Central Ark (W, 49-27) Sept. 8...................UTEP (W, 28-10) Sept. 15..................Texas (L, 66-31) Sept. 22.............@Tulane (W, 39-0) Sept. 29.........@Alabama (L, 33-14) Oct. 6........... Texas A&M (L, 30-27) Oct. 13............... Auburn (W, 41-20) Oct. 27........@Arkansas (W, 30-27) Nov. 3............. @Georgia (L, 37-10) Nov. 10...........Vanderbilt (L, 27-26) Nov. 17.................. @LSU (L, 41-35) Nov. 24....... Miss. State (W, 41-24) Jan. 5...................... Pitt (W, 38-17)* BBVA Compass Bowl

2013 ROSTER NO NAME................................... POS.......HT/WT..... YR-EXP....................HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE 1 Dehendret Collins...................DB.......5-10/185.......SR-1L................Meadville, Miss./Franklin County/Copiah-Lincoln CC 2 Quintavius Burdette................DB.......5-11/189...... SO-1L....................................................... Senatobia, Miss./Senatobia 3 Jeff Scott................................RB.........5-7/170........SR-3L...................................................Miami, Fla./Archbishop Carroll 3 Charles Sawyer.......................DB.......5-11/181.......SR-3L................................................................Miami, Fla./Coral Reef 4 Nicholas Parker.......................RB.........6-0/225........JR-1L...................................................Batesville, Miss./South Panola 4 Denzel Nkemdiche.................. LB........5-11/203...... SO-1L..............................................................Loganville, Ga./Grayson 5 Nick Brassell..........................ATH........6-1/180....... JR-JC....................... Batesville, Miss./South Panola/Ole Miss/EMCC 5 I’Tavius Mathers......................RB........5-11/196...... SO-1L...................................................Murfreesboro, Tenn./Blackman 6 Quadarias Mireles.................ATH.......5-11/185...... JR-JC.........................................Delray Beach, Fla./Atlantic/Hinds CC 6 Jaylen Walton.........................RB.........5-8/167....... SO-1L......................................................... Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway 7 Mark Dodson...........................RB........5-10/193...... FR-HS......................................................Memphis, Tenn./Whitehaven 7 Jordan Holder........................ WR.......5-11/177.......SR-2L..................................... Bay Springs, Miss./Sylva Bay Academy 7 Trae Elston...............................DB........6-0/190....... SO-1L..................................................................... Oxford, Ala./Oxford 8 Terrell Grant........................... WR........6-3/208........SR-3L........................................................ Cleveland, Miss./Cleveland 8 Chief Brown............................DB........6-1/202....... SO-1L...............................................................Winona, Miss./Winona 9 D.T. Shackelford...................... LB.........6-1/250........SR-2L....................................................................Decatur, Ala./Austin 9 Maikhail Miller.......................QB........6-2/240....... SO-1L..........................................Fulton, Miss./Itawamba Agricultural 10 C.J. Johnson...........................DE.........6-3/233........JR-2L................................................ Philadelphia, Miss./Philadelphia 10 Vince Sanders........................ WR........6-1/190........JR-2L.................................................. Macon, Miss./Noxubee County 11 Channing Ward.......................DE.........6-4/256....... SO-1L.........................................................Aberdeen, Miss./Aberdeen 11 Barry Brunetti..........................QB........6-0/212........SR-2L....................Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School/WVa 12 Cliff Coleman..........................DB.......5-10/181.......JR-2L.................................... Lauderale Lakes, Fla./Boyd H. Anderson 12 Donte Moncrief...................... WR........6-3/216........JR-2L................................................................Raleigh, Miss./Raleigh 13 Robert Ratliff...........................QB........6-2/217.......SR-Sq..............................Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan Catholic/Sewanee 13 Brishen Mathews....................DB........6-0/200........SR-2L........................................................Monticello, Ark./Monticello 14 Bo Wallace..............................QB........6-4/204........JR-1L...................Pulaski, Tenn./Giles County/Arkansas State/EMCC 14 Serderius Bryant..................... LB.........5-9/223........JR-2L................................................................Sanford, Fla./Seminole 15 Christian Morgan.................... TE.........6-4/255....... FR-HS.......................... Plano, Texas/Prestonwood Christian Academy 16 Anthony Alford........................DB........6-0/210.......SO-TR...............................................Petal, Miss./Petal/Southern Miss 16 Collins Moore......................... WR........6-1/196........JR-2L............................................................Madison, Ala./Bob Jones 19 Louis Covington.......................DB........5-9/162........SR-1L...............................Baton Rouge, La./Central/Fullerton College 19 Justin Watts.............................K.........5-11/185......SO-Sq..................................................Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge 19 Andy Pappanastos...................K.........5-11/180...... FR-HS.......................................Montgomery, Ala./Trinity Presbyterian 20 Jeremy Reed.......................... WR........5-6/150....... JR-RS.................... Southaven, Miss./Southaven/East Mississippi CC 21 Senquez Golson......................DB........5-9/188........JR-2L................................................... Pascagoula, Miss./Pascagoula 22 Philander Moore.................... WR........5-9/188........SR-2L....................................................Austin, Texas/Bowie/Blinn CC 22 Tyriek Gracia............................DB........6-2/206.......JR-Sq................................................................Hialeah, Fla./American 23 Anthony Standifer...................DB........6-0/182....... SO-1L...............................................................Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee 24 Keith Lewis............................. LB.........6-1/235........JR-2L...................................................................Tampa, Fla./Freedom 25 Cody Prewitt............................DB........6-2/214........JR-2L..................................... Bay Springs, Miss./Sylva Bay Academy 25 Darryan Ragsdale....................RB........5-10/183......SO-TR..................................Pelahatchie, Miss./Pelahatchie/Hinds CC 26 Andrew Fletcher.......................K..........5-9/167....... JR-TR.............Nashville, Tenn./Montgomery Bell Academy/Louisville 26 Jimmy Potepa.........................RB.........5-8/204.......SO-Sq............................................Monrovia, Liberia/Campus Magnet 26 Will Martin.............................. LB.........6-1/210........SR-1L......................Madison, Miss./Madison Central/Southern Miss 27 Josh Richardson......................DB.......5-10/180...... JR-RS........ Moss Point. Miss./Moss Point/Mississippi Gulf Coast CC 28 Mike Hilton.............................DB........5-8/182....... SO-1L.....................................................Fayetteville, Ga./Sandy Creek 28 LaKedrick King........................DB........5-8/181.......JR-Sq..................................................Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville 28 Korvic Neat............................ WR........5-9/164........SR-3L.........................................................Hallandale, Fla./Hallandale 29 Abdul Bangura........................DB.......5-10/176...... SO-1L.........................................Takoma Park, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt 32 Temario Strong........................ LB.........6-0/240....... FR-RS...................................................Batesville, Miss./South Panola 34 Carlos Davis............................RB.........5-9/163....... SO-1L......................................................... Birmingham, Ala./Huffman 35 Ontario Berry...........................DB.......5-10/196.......JR-1L..............................Mendenhall. Miss./Mendenhall/SW MS CC 36 Kameron Wood.......................DE.........6-3/258....... FR-RS....................................................Birmingham, Ala./John Carroll 40 Josh Gregory...........................DB........6-2/208.......SO-TR..............Alpharetta, Ga./Chattahoochee/S. Alabama/Alabama 41 Billy Busch...............................RB........5-11/235......JR-Sq............................................ St. Louis, Mo./Priory School/Butler 44 Charlie Scott...........................RB........5-11/200...... SO-1L......................................Jackson, Miss./St. Andrew’s Episcopal 45 Lavon Hooks............................DL.........6-4/290....... JR-JC..............Atlanta, Ga./Meadowcreek/Northeast Mississippi CC 46 Colton Walls............................ LB........5-11/207......SO-TR....................................Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Latin/Clemson 47 John Youngblood.................... TE.........6-3/237....... FR-RS................................................Trussville, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville 48 Justin Bigham.........................RB.........6-1/232........SR-2L..........................................................West Helena, Ark./DeWitt 50 Ethan Hutson...........................OL.........6-4/306....... SO-1L...........................................................Destrehan, La./Destrehan 51 Walker Sturgeon.....................DE.........6-2/254.......JR-Sq............................................... Horn Lake, Miss./DeSoto Central 52 Mike Marry............................. LB.........6-3/256........SR-3L.................................................................Clearwater, Fla./Largo 52 Will Few.................................. LS.........6-3/245....... FR-RS.................................................................Augusta, Ga./Aquinas 53 Tyler Gray................................DL.........6-3/245....... FR-RS.................................. Pelahatchie, Miss./East Rankin Academy 54 Carlos Thompson....................DE.........6-4/243........JR-2L........................................................Hollandale, Miss./Simmons 54 Austin Douglas........................OL.........6-2/320....... JR-JC...............................Batesville, Miss./South Panola/NW MS CC

55 56 56 59 60 61 64 65 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 80 82 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 91 92 94 94 95 96 97

Cameron Whigham.................DE.........6-3/255........SR-3L...................................................................Snellville, Ga./Shiloh Evan Swindall..........................C..........6-4/295........SR-3L............................................................ LaFayette, Ga./LaFayette Woodrow Hamilton.................DT.........6-3/292....... SO-1L................................................................Raleigh, Miss./Raleigh Will Denny.............................. LS........5-11/230.......JR-2L..............................................Jackson, Miss./Jackson Academy Derrick Wilson........................OL.........6-2/326........SR-1L......................Greenville, Miss./Horn Lake/East Mississippi CC Ben Still...................................OL.........6-2/280....... SO-1L.............................Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School Tyler Mt. Joy...........................OL.........6-1/261.......SO-TR.......The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands/Allan Hancock CC Chase Hughes.........................OL.........6-3/292........JR-2L........................................................ Springville, Ala./Springville Justin Bell...............................OL.........6-3/335....... SO-1L............................................................Jackson, Miss./Callaway Emmanuel McCray..................OL.........6-5/316........SR-2L...........................................................Jackson, Miss./Forest Hill Pierce Burton...........................OL.........6-6/289........SR-1L..................Sacramento, Calif./Rio Americano/San Jose State/ .................................................................................................................................................City College of San Francisco Aaron Morris...........................OL.........6-5/330........JR-2L............................................................Jackson, Miss./Callaway Darone Bailey..........................OL.........6-5/316....... JR-RS...................................Cleveland, Miss./East Side/Coahoma CC Jared Duke..............................OL.........6-7/354........SR-3L..................................................Cleveland, Tenn./Walker Valley Park Stevens...........................OL.........6-6/351.......SO-TR............................ Columbus, Miss./New Hope/East Central CC Patrick Junen..........................OL.........6-3/314........SR-3L.......................................................... Huntsville, Ala./Huntsville Robert Conyers........................OL.........6-3/277....... FR-RS..................................................................Miami, Fla./Braddock Josh Pinkston......................... WR........6-1/195.......JR-Sq.................................................................... Forest, Miss./Forest Dylan Dyer............................... TE.........6-6/240.......SR-Sq..................................Flora, Miss./Madison Central/Holmes CC Jack Nuismer.......................... TE.........6-3/237........SR-1L..........................................................Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth Ja-Mes Logan........................ WR........6-3/195........SR-3L...........................................................Houston, Texas/Westfield Jordan Gallegos..................... WR........5-9/164....... FR-RS...................New Albany, Ohio/New Albany/Bridgton Academy Matt Brown............................. TE.........6-3/226....... FR-RS...............................................Cordova, Tenn./Harding Academy Cody Core............................... WR........6-3/191....... SO-1L................................................................... Auburn, Ala./Auburn John Ratliff............................ WR........6-0/181.......SO-Sq...............................................Fort Worth, Texas/Nolan Catholic Taz Zettergren......................... TE.........6-4/225....... FR-RS...............................Senatobia, Miss./Magnolia Heights School Nathan Noble...........................K..........6-4/211....... SO-1L........................................Greenville, Miss./Washington School Carlton Martin.........................DT.........6-2/288........JR-2L...............................................Madison, Miss./Madison Central Issac Gross..............................DL.........6-1/254....... SO-1L...................................................Batesville, Miss./South Panola Chris Conley............................. P..........5-8/197........SR-2L............................................................Bradenton, Fla./Manatee Bryon Bennett.........................DT.........6-2/294........JR-2L...............................................Madison, Miss./Madison Central Andrew Ritter......................... K/P........6-3/220........SR-3L..............................................Jackson, Miss./Jackson Academy Tyler Campbell.......................... P..........6-2/235........SR-3L.............................................................Little Rock, Ark./Catholic

2013 signeEs NAME..............................POS.....HT/WT...............................................HOMETOWN/SCHOOL Quincy Adeboyejo............. WR......6-3/180...................................Cedar Hill HS | Cedar Hill, Texas Trey Bledsoe......................ATH......6-2/90........................................ Grenada HS | Grenada, Miss. Daronte Bouldin................. OL.......6-6/310............................................Canton HS | Canton, Miss. Nick Brassell.....................ATH.....6-1/180.........................East Mississippi CC | Batesville, Miss. Eugene Brazley...................RB......5-10/180............................. G.W. Carver HS | New Orleans, La. Ryan Buchanan..................QB......6-4/205......................................Jackson Prep | Jackson, Miss. Tony Conner......................... S........6-2/205............................. South Panola HS | Batesville, Miss. Mark Dodson......................RB......5-10/193............................... Whitehaven HS | Memphis, Tenn. Evan Engram...................... TE.......6-3/210.............................. Hillgrove HS | Powder Springs, Ga. Austin Golson..................... OL.......6-6/290........................................ Prattville HS | Prattville, Ala. Bobby Hill...........................DB......6-0/165............................... Colquitt County HS | Moultrie, Ga. Lavon Hooks.......................DT.......6-4/290.......................Northeast Mississippi CC | Atlanta, Ga. A.J. Jackson....................... TE.......6-6/240........................................... Lovejoy HS | Hampton, Ga. Davion Johnson................. OL ......6-4/315...........................................Byhalia HS | Byhalia, Miss. Derrick Jones.................... WR......6-2/185............................................ Eupora HS | Eupora, Miss. David Kamara.....................CB......5-10/185........................................Grayson HS | Loganville, Ga. Devante Kincade................QB......6-1/185.............................................Skyline HS | Dallas, Texas Quadarias Mireles............ATH....5-11/185.......................................Hinds CC | Delray Beach, Fla. Herbert Moore...................DT.......6-2/330...................................Memphis East | Memphis, Tenn. Kailo Moore.......................RB......5-10/190.............................. West Bolivar HS | Rosedale, Miss. Christian Morgan............... TE.......6-4/255...........Prestonwood Christian Academy | Plano, Texas Robert Nkemdiche.............DE ......6-5/270.........................................Grayson HS | Loganville, Ga. Andy Pappanastos.............. K.......5-11/180...................... Trinity Presbyterian | Montgomery, Ala. Marcus Robinson................ B........6-4/210.............................Memphis East HS | Memphis, Tenn. Ray Ray Smith.................... LB.......6-3/210..........................................Florence HS | Florence, Ala. Laquon Treadwell.............. WR......6-3/198..........................................Crete-Monee HS | Crete, Ill. Laremy Tunsil..................... OL.......6-6/320........................................ Columbia HS | Lake City, Fla. Jordan Wilkins...................RB.......6-1/210.......... St. Benedict at Auburndale HS | Cordova, Tenn.

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 33

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D.T. SHACKELFORD BETTER THAN EVER?

After missing two seasons due to a knee injury, Ole Miss’ D.T. Shackelford is primed and ready for 2013 By JOHN DAVIS Contributing Writer

ife doesn’t revolve around football for Ole Miss senior linebacker D.T. Shackelford. After missing the past two seasons due to a torn ACL in his right knee he originally suffered in April, 2011, Shackelford has spent a lot of time doing other things besides playing college football. He’s been an guest speaker, a motivator, a leader and now, a graduate student. The Decatur, Ala., native doesn’t mind talking about his degree or how proud he is to have the opportunity to be in graduate school, the first of his family to achieve such an honor. “I’ve been blessed. I tell all my little cousins they don’t have an excuse. We didn’t have anybody to show us the ropes. My family, although they don’t have a college degree, they’re the reason I’m here today. They showed me a lot about life,” said Shackelford, who is close to obtaining his master’s degree in higher education. “Stuff was put in perspective and now that I’m able to pursue a master’s degree, which is even higher level, that’s something they’re proud of.” Shackelford, who aspires to become a principal or dean of students one day, has really enjoyed making a difference in the lives of youngsters, especially for those that have suffered debilitating injuries. “I’ve gotten opportunities to go speak at schools, middle schools, high schools, you name it. I’ve been talking at quite a few places. Like I always tell people, it’s how you handle adversity. That’s when people look at you the most. It’s not when you’re going through good 34 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Photo by Greg Pevey

>>> Relegated to cheerleader and team motivator the past two season, Shackelford is eager to get back on the field for his long awaited Senior season. times because anybody can put on a happy face when things are going well. That’s been the key for me and being able to help other people,” Shackelford said. “I’ve been able to help younger kids who are going through ACL surgery and can look at my story and

they say I’m one of the reasons they can make it through because they see me handle it. That makes you realize the whole meaning life and it’s not all about just playing football. It’s the effect you can have on other people.”

Photo by Greg Pevey

>>> Shackelford saw his last game action in 2010. As for being a role model, Shackelford said he thinks athletes, especially in college towns like Oxford, are looked up to and he has no problem with that role. “I’ve actually seen that commercial that Charles Barkley is in where he says he’s not a role model. I don’t agree with that statement. I feel like you are, we are in that position and we take on that role. Whether we want to or not, athletes are role models. You inevitably are going to be a role model or a person parents could possibly model their kids after. Why wouldn’t you want to be that?” Shackelford said. “Of course I was the Chucky Mullins award winner and I think his role was felt more after he got injured and just how he was able to impact people’s lives off the field. I think that’s the real value of life. Football is important but it gives you the platform to effect people. I tell people all the time the only difference between me and you is God blessed me a little bit more to play football. That’s it. Other than that we’re the same.” The leadership aspect hasn’t gone under the radar either. Shackelford was recently named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy award watch list, given annually who makes the biggest difference to their teams both on and off the field. He also joined Ole Miss Athletics Director Ross Bjork at Mississippi Fellowship of Christian Athletes event May 3 where he spoke about his faith with God. Ole Miss’ defense hasn’t been the same since Shackelford has been off the field.

Since his arrival in Oxford, he’s made plays, big plays, as both a linebacker and defensive end. He enters the 2013 season with 68 tackles, five sacks as well as an interception, a fumble recovery and three forced fumbles. He also has a two handful of quarterback hurries to his credit, and his ability to play several spots should only make the defense better in 2013. The key for Shackelford has been comfort and being able to move around like he was used to prior to his injury. “Even just working out and just being able to get more comfortable I think has helped me. After two years there are going to be some things that you feel like in your mind you can still do but realistically it takes some time, it takes some time for you to do certain things,” Shackelford said. “But I feel great. I feel like my knee is getting stronger and I’m getting more confident, daily. You have to feel confident that you can make a cut, that you can backpedal, just doing certain things.” The plan heading into summer drills is to weigh 240 pounds, about 10 pounds less than he did at the end of spring, so that he can make more cuts when Shackelford has to cover running backs on pass routes. There has been times when Shackelford has thought about his injury or what it would have been like had he not missed the past two years. He said he quickly focuses on the positives, such as his degree, and being more study to play in the NFL, if he gets

that opportunity after this year. “What if I left after my junior year and go on to the NFL and I tear my ACL the first week in camp? Then I don’t have a degree and now I’m on my masters. When I put all of this in perspective, it’s working out my way. I couldn’t see this at first though. I wasn’t the most optimistic person,” Shackelford said. “I don’t think I regret not redshirting my freshman year. At that time I was willing to play. I think the chain of events. I’m kind of one of those people to where if it happens to you, especially if it’s not killing you, it’s going to make you a stronger person in the end. “I feel like the success I had my freshman and sophomore year, I feel like my production could have gone further than what it was. I feel like I was just scratching the surface as far as being used a linebacker and dend. I was doing a lot of different things but stuff happens for a reason and here I am.” Former coach Houston Nutt was able to lure Shackelford away from Tennessee his first full recruiting class in part because the Volunteers wanted him to play fullback. Of course Shackelford admitted he couldn’t see himself not playing for Nutt or former defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. He talked about the differences, the good differences, between Nutt and Hugh Freeze and said both staffs, as well as the strength coaching staffs, have been huge for him. “It’s been a good transition but I think it’s been a collective effort though. I feel like where I’m at now, Coach Nix and Coach Nutt, that whole staff, Coach (Don) Decker, all those guys made an investment into me. Even when I got injured I remember working one-on-one with Coach (Jason) Wilfawn to get my knee back right,” Shackelford said. “Coach (Paul) Jackson comes in and he took (my knee injury) on. A lot of those guys on the strength staff helped me get to where I’m at. Both Coach Freeze and Coach Nutt impacted my life tremendously. I wouldn’t be here without either or. I don’t think you could take either one of them away.” Being a leader from the sideline wasn’t the easiest thing for Shackelford in 2011 when the team was losing every week. “You’ve got to have somebody take the reigns of the team and say ‘I don’t mind, I’ll follow you.’ I think that was one of our big issues (in 2011),” Shackelford said. “I don’t think the fans really realize how demanding this is for us. It’s very demanding on your body. It’s demanding of your time but the price of victory is high and so are the rewards. That’s one of my favorite quotes. “It’s going to cost you something but at the same time if you want those rewards, if See Shakleford continued on Page 67 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 35

MISS. STATE BULLDOGS 2012 RESULTS: 8-4 Overall; 4-4 SEC; 6-1 Home; 2-3 Away; 0-1 Neutral Bowl Game: 2013 TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl (N’western 34 - MSU 20) Photo by Greg Pevey

SCHEDULE Aug. 31.............. Oklahoma St.* Sep. 7....................Alcorn State Sep. 14....................... @Auburn Sept. 21................................Troy Sept. 28.............................OPEN Oct. 5....................................LSU Oct. 12.............. Bowling Green Oct. 19...............................OPEN Oct. 24........................ Kentucky Nov. 2............ @South Carolina Nov. 9..................@Texas A&M Nov. 16........................ Alabama Nov. 23..................@Arkansas# Nov. 28........................ Ole Miss *Houston, TX (Reliant Stadium) ; # Little Rock

BOWL PROJECTION: Chick-Fil-A Atlanta, GA GAME TO WATCH: August 31 vs. Oklahoma St.

TYLER RUSSELL

By PAUL JONES Contributing Writer

nother New Year’s Day bowl game, another 8-win season and a break-even record in the nation’s toughest conference. On paper it was another solid season for Mississippi State in 2012. But it has been well noted that the Bulldogs stumbled down the stretch, finishing 1-5 in their last six games following an impressive 7-0 start. That obviously left a bad taste in the mouths of head coach Dan Mullen, the MSU staff and players as well as the fan base. It did, however, produce more hunger this offseason to atone for that late-season slide. “I saw more urgency this spring,” said Mullen. “And more of a chip on their shoulders. Nobody liked how we finished and you could tell the players felt the same way. We have a 36 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

young team but we also may have more talent in some spots that we lost some key guys. “We just have to keep giving that relentless effort and competition was good this spring. There were a lot of young guys looking to earn their spot, and even some returning starters had a tough battle to keep their position.” MSU will have a “young” team but may actually have more talented depth this fall. The Bulldogs feature just 11 seniors on the 2013 roster but several redshirt freshmen made a big push this offseason. How they develop and how quick those growing pains are shed will be major factors behind the end result for 2013. OFFENSE Most of the experience MSU does return falls on the offensive side of the ball, led by

The 2012 season left a bad taste in the mouth of the Bulldogs as they lost five of their last six games to end the season. But, 2013 brings new hope as the Dawgs start the season in a must-win opening game against Oklahoma St. in Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. The Bullies look to prove they belong in the top half of the SEC West by beating a pretty good Cowboy team who finished 2012 with eight wins including a 58-14 thrashing of Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Coach Dan Mullen looks to put some bite back in his Bulldog team and an impressive victory over the Cowboys would put the rest of the conference on notice that MSU football can play and beat anyone.

2012 team statistics ...........................MSU........OPP SCORING ........................... 383 ............... 303 Points Per Game .............29.5 ..............23.3 FIRST DOWNS .................. 262 ............... 278 Rushing ........................... 95 ................ 134 Passing ........................... 149 ............... 128 Penalty ............................ 18 ................. 16 RUSHING YARDAGE ........ 1874 ............. 2153 Yards gained rushing .... 2123 ............. 2413 Yards lost rushing .......... 249 ............... 260 Rushing Attempts .......... 424 ............... 504 Average Per Rush ............4.4 ................4.3 Average Per Game ........144.2 ............165.6 TDs Rushing .................... 18 ................. 16 PASSING YARDAGE ......... 3091 ............. 2883 Comp-Att-Int ............249-424-10 ...265-414-19 Average Per Pass ............7.3 ................7.0 Average Per Catch ..........12.4 ..............10.9 Average Per Game ........237.8 ............221.8 TDs Passing ..................... 28 ................. 17 TOTAL OFFENSE ............... 4965 ............. 5036 Total Plays ...................... 848 ............... 918 Average Per Play .............5.9 ................5.5 Average Per Game ........381.9 ............387.4 KICK RETURNS: #-Yards .44-1016 ....... 53-1072 PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards .23-171 ........... 13-6 INT RETURNS: #-Yards .. 19-349 ......... 10-253 KICK RETURN AVG ............23.1 ..............20.2 PUNT RETURN AVG ...........7.4 ................0.5 INT RETURN AVG ..............18.4 ..............25.3 FUMBLES-LOST ................ 17-7 ............ 19-14 PENALTIES-Yards ........... 61-538 ......... 70-631 Average Per Game .........41.4 ..............48.5 PUNTS-Yards ................. 57-2340 ....... 63-2464 Average Per Punt ............41.1 ..............39.1 Net punt average ...........39.9 ..............35.8 KICKOFFS-Yards ............ 73-4395 ....... 64-3957 Average Per Kick ............60.2 ..............61.8 Net kick average ............54.6 ..............38.9 TIME OF POSS/Game ...... 30:01 ........... 29:59 3RD-DOWN Conv ........... 57/164 ......... 77/183 3rd-Down Pct ................ 35% ............. 42% 4TH-DOWN Conv ............ 13/21 ........... 11/15 4th-Down Pct ................ 62% ............. 73% SACKS BY-Yards ............ 19-148 ......... 19-130 MISC YARDS ..................... -20 ................. 6 TOUCHDOWNS SCORED ... 49 ................. 37 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS .14-22 ........... 15-20 ON-SIDE KICKS ................. 1-1 ............... 1-1 RED-ZONE SCORES .... (39-51) 76% .(35-44) 80% RED-ZONE TD’s .......... (31-51) 61% .(23-44) 52% PAT-ATTEMPTS ........... (47-48) 98% .(36-37) 97% ATTENDANCE ................. 389396 ......... 334168 Games/Avg Per Game .7/55628 ....... 5/66834 Neutral Site Games .......... .............. 1/48612 SCORING......1st....2nd....3rd....4th... Total Miss. State .... 86 .... 110 ....94 ....93 ..... 383 Opponents ..... 69 ..... 83 .....82 ....69 ..... 303

Photo by Greg Pevey

KALEB EULLS

fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler Russell. Despite having a poor showing in the Gator Bowl, Russell finished the year with 2,897 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was the lone scholarship quarterback this spring due to sophomore Dak Prescott sitting out due to offseason foot surgery. Despite his experience, Russell saw some different things this offseason, including going under center more as opposed to just shotgun as he’s done in the past. Russell will have to rely on a youthful receivers’ group as well with five senior receivers exiting the program following the Gator Bowl. “It is critical this offseason for our receivers and quarterbacks to be on the same page,” said offensive coordinator Les Koenning. “Tyler and Dak were on the same page last year with Chad Bumphis, Arceto Clark and Chris Smith. It was easy to call a route

knowing what you would get. This year Tyler and Dak have to be the same way with Jameon Lewis, Robert Johnson and others and have that kind of rhythm and comfortableness.” Prescott brings a different look than Russell and relies more on his legs and physical running style. Prescott had eight total touchdowns in 2012 - four on the ground and four through the air. But getting healthy is priority No. 1. “Dak has come a long way and we are seeing improvements with his reads and progressions,” said Koenning. “We saw that on film last year, too, and he is very comfortable with the offense. When you start making comparisons between Dak and Tyler, that is hard to do because Tyler throws it so well. At times Dak can throw it well, too, but he is still getting there. We are definitely excited, though, about what both guys bring to the table.” 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 37

The Bulldogs’ backfield will also feature experience with senior tailback LaDarius Perkins, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards a year ago and paces a deep and talented group. Junior Nick Griffin had glimpses last year of his abilities but suffered a torn ACL in bowl practices - his second ACL tear in college. But by all indications Griffin is expected to be ready to go by fall camp. Sophomores Josh Robinson and Derrick Milton got their first college reps last fall, and combined to total 538 yards and three touchdowns. Also joining the mix this fall will be highly-touted 2013 signee Ashton Shumpert, Mississippi’s Gatorade Player of the Year. The Bulldogs also displayed in the spring the speed of redshirt freshman Brandon Holloway, who split duties at tailback and slot receiver and rushed for over 100 yards in the spring game. “I thought Perkins got better this offseason because he got smarter,” said running backs coach Greg Knox. “He performed at a high level this spring and really started to help others around him. He helped guys like Josh and Derrick take that next step and improve.” Up front the Bulldogs will rely on experience as well, and that experience needs to be more productive along the offensive line. MSU returns four starters with seniors Gabe Jackson and Charles Siddoway, juniors Blaine Clausell and Dillon Day and sophomore Justin Malone, who saw some starting duty last year and alternated with Tobias Smith. Smith was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA but is leaning towards not returning to the field. Jackson is considered among the top offensive guards in the SEC and the nation while Siddoway and Clausell both started last year for the initial time. Day will resume his starting duties at center for the third straight year. “Just being used to one another should help and having that familiarity,” said Jackson. “We’ve all started beside each other for more than one year and that always helps. Now we know each other’s tendencies and what to expect.” Looking to feature more two tight-end sets this fall, the Bulldogs will have plenty available for those formations. Juniors Malcolm Johnson and Brandon Hill both own starting experience while sophomore Rufus Warren has made a move in the right direction this spring. Former linebacker Christian Holmes was productive as well in the spring in goal-line situations and appears more comfortable on the offensive side. Where the Bulldogs do feature youth is at receiver, as noted above with the loss of Bumphis, Clark, Smith and Brandon Heavens. Juniors Robert Johnson and Jameon Lewis own the most experience among those returning and that was easy to see with their production in the spring. 38 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Photo by Greg Pevey

LADARIUS PERKINS

“I thought Perkins got better this offseason because he got smarter,” said running backs coach Greg Knox. “He performed at a high level this spring and really started to help others around him. He helped guys like Josh and Derrick take that next step and improve.” Junior college transfer Jeremey Chappelle was the top performer in the spring game and could be the other starting receiver beside Johnson and Lewis. Also looking to get into the rotation are the likes of junior Michael Carr, sophomore Joe Morrow, senior Ricco Sanders and redshirt freshman Fred Brown. Carr last played at MSU in 2011 but returned this spring as a walkon. MSU will also welcome several 2013 receiver signees this fall, including four-star prospect Fred Ross of Tyler, Texas. “The guys out there are gonna learn and pick up things as quick as the coach teaches it to them,” said first-year receivers coach Billy Gonzales. “There are going to be some mess ups right now and I don’t mind that because we are still installing. All I care about is giving great effort. I can coach guys that might have a mistake every now and then. But it is about giving me unbelievable effort and that is probably the part I need to make sure these guys understand.

“And they are giving me effort, don’t get me wrong. But they got more in their gas tank where they can push it. So we are trying to get the ultimate out of them. DEFENSE In the offseason, Mullen made a few coaching changes and all but one (Gonzales) came on the defensive side. Geoff Collins, last year’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, maintained his duties with the linebackers but was also promoted as the defensive coordinator. On the defensive line, David Turner begins his second stint with the Bulldogs and will again tutor the defensive ends and defensive tackles. And in the secondary, former Alabama and NFL standout Deshea Townsend left the Arizona Cardinals for his first college coaching opportunity and will overlook the MSU corners. This spring, Collins’ defense exhibited a more aggressive style of play with numerous different looks. His position group also

Photo by Greg Pevey

CHARLES SIDDOWAY

“It is always hard to say you will depend on a freshman,” said Turner. “But obviously Chris is a talented guy and we are excited to have him. The big thing for him right now is to finish out strong, academically. It will be interesting to see what he can do this fall and when he gets in the weight room. He’s got a chance to be a full-grown man. Right now he is a boy in a man’s body. But he has the tools and it will be interesting to see what he can do early in his career.” returns the most experience with two fulltime starters in Benardrick McKinney and Deontae Skinner. Chris Hughes and Matt Wells also return at linebacker with starting experience while Beniquez Brown, Richie Brown and Zach Jackson help form a deep and talented group. McKinney ranked second on the team

last year with 102 tackles and enjoyed a breakout redshirt freshman campaign. “Benardrick had a solid spring and took his game to another level,” Collins said. “He is so fast and so big and uses his length to his advantage. He also became one of the best leaders on the team this spring and defensively, the sky is the limit as to what he can accomplish.

“He defended the run better this spring. Yeah, he had over 100 tackles last year but now he has learned more about his fits and where to be in the run game. Cam Lawrence helped him there last year with the run but this spring Benardrick took it on himself to be better there.” Where MSU will need to show its greatest improvement is along the line. Most of the 2012 season, the Bulldogs lacked a consistent pass rush. Returning starters Denico Autry and Preston Smith did combined for 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2012 at defensive end but rarely did MSU get a push from the middle. Also returning at defensive end in 2013 is sophomore Ryan Brown while redshirt freshmen A.J. Jefferson and Torrey Dale seek their initial college reps this fall. Also expected to have an impact this fall is fivestar 2013 signee Chris Jones. “It is always hard to say you will depend on a freshman,” said Turner. “But obviously Chris is a talented guy and we are excited to have him. The big thing for him right now is to finish out strong, academically. It will be interesting to see what he can do this fall and when he gets in the weight room. He’s got a chance to be a full-grown man. Right now he is a boy in a man’s body. But he has the tools and it will be interesting to see what he can do early in his career.” MSU must replace Josh Boyd, Dewayne Cherrington and Devin Jones from that defensive tackles’ rotation and have several good candidates to do so. Juniors P.J. Jones and Kaleb Eulls nailed down starting roles in the spring but received a stiff challenge from sophomores Quay Evans and Nick James, along with junior Curtis Virges. “I liked our group and we had more good days than bad days,” said Turner. “We still have a long way to go with fundamentals and technique as far as where I want us to be. But we did have two guys show they can be great leaders up front with (senior defensive end) Denico and (junior defensive tackle) Kaleb Eulls. They’ve got to be the bellcows with energy.” Guys in new roles is also the theme for much of the secondary. With Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay now prepping for their NFL careers, both corner positions are up for grabs. There was a consistent rotation in the spring with juniors Jamerson Love and Justin Cox, sophomore Cedric Jiles and redshirt freshman Will Redmond on those islands. Cox is a former juco All-American while Love returns the most experience of the group. Sophomore Taveze Calhoun will also be in the mix this fall despite missing spring ball with shoulder surgery. “I think our guys tried to do what I asked of them,” said Townsend. “Some of the stuff 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 39

NICKOE WHITLEY

Photo by Greg Pevey

“Nickoe responded well and played like we expected him to play,” said safeties’ coach Tony Hughes. “A fifth-year senior should be dominant and he’s the most experienced guy in the secondary. Some guys never come back from a ruptured Achilles. For him to come back in less than a year and play a full SEC schedule was a miracle in itself.” changed for them from last year but overall they competed hard. They still have some growing and learning to do. But they tried to learn and tried to do things right and this spring was good for them. “We are going to do what they offense tells us to do. But with our speed and skill set and size, pressing receivers is going to work better for us than playing off receivers.” A pair of returning starters will be at the safety positions, however, with senior Nickoe Whitley and junior Jay Hughes. Whitley wasn’t 100 percent last fall after returning from an Achilles’ heel injury but still managed 88 tackles and three interceptions. Hughes stepped into a starting role late in the 2012 season and is expected to maintain that spot. “Nickoe responded well and played like we expected him to play,” said safeties’ coach Tony Hughes. “A fifth-year senior should be dominant and he’s the most experienced guy in the secondary. Some guys never come back from a ruptured Achilles. For him to come back in less than a year and play a full SEC schedule was a miracle in itself. “But we’ve got to remember at one point we 40 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

COACH DAN MULLEN

were 7-0 with him so it’s not like he played bad. But he probably did need more time to heal. Now he is healed and is more confident. We believe he is an upper-echelon safety and that is what we need him to be in the SEC.” SPECIAL TEAMS The Bulldogs should not experience much change on special teams outside of the return game. Senior Baker Swedenburg resumes his duties at punter and averaged 41.1 yards in 2012 and held opponents to a nation’s low of just six total return yards. Sophomore kicker Devon Bell shook off a slow start (missed first three field goals) to convert 14-of-21 field-goal attempts in 2012. MSU did lose return men Banks and Bumphis in the punting game. Lewis and Whitley handled those duties in the spring and Lewis is also expected to be on kickoff returns along with Robert Johnson. - MSM

2012 RESULTS Sep. 1......Jackson State (W, 56-9) Sep. 8................ Auburn (W, 28-10) Sep. 15................ @Troy (W, 30-24) Sep. 22.......S. Alabama (W, 30-10) Oct. 6..........@Kentucky (W, 27-14) Oct. 13.........Tennessee (W, 41-31) Oct. 20................... MTSU (W, 45-3) Oct. 27.............@Alabama (L, 38-7) Nov. 3.......... Texas A&M (L, 38-13) Nov. 10.................. @LSU (L, 37-17) Nov. 17.......... Arkansas (W, 45-14) Nov. 24..........@Ole Miss (L, 41-24) Jan. 1..... Northwestern (L, 34-20)* *TaxSlayercom Gator Bowl

2013 ROSTER NO NAME................................... POS.......HT/WT..... YR-EXP....................HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE 2 Will Redmond ........................DB ....... 6-0 190 ......RFr . RS .............................................................Memphis, Tenn . (East) 4 Jameon Lewis ....................... WR ....... 5-9 195 ....... Jr . 2L .....................................................Tylertown, Miss . (Tylertown) 5 Nickoe Whitley ......................DB ....... 6-1 205 .......Sr . 3L ............................................................Jackson, Miss . (Provine) 6 Malcolm Johnson .................. TE ........ 6-2 235 ....... Jr . 2L ....................................................Tuscaloosa, Ala . (Northridge) 7 Nick Griffin .............................RB ........ 6-0 225 ....... Jr . 2L ..........................................New Augusta, Miss . (Perry Central) 9 Josh Hand .............................ATH ....... 6-0 205 .......Jr . TR ...................................................Cumming, Ga . (South Forsyth) 11 Ricco Sanders ....................... WR ...... 5-11 195 ......Sr . 3L ...............................................................Duncan, S .C . (Byrnes) 12 Chris Hughes .......................... LB ........ 6-1 225 .......Sr . 2L .............................................................Mobile, Ala . (Davidson) 14 Cedric Jiles ............................DB ...... 5-10 180 ......So . 1L .............................................................Clinton, Miss . (Clinton) 15 Dak Prescott ...........................QB ....... 6-2 230 .......So . 1L .........................................................Haughton, La . (Haughton) 14 Sam Cowart ..........................ATH ....... 6-1 210 .......Jr . SQ .........................................Magee, Miss . (Mississippi College) 16 Joe Morrow .......................... WR ....... 6-4 210 .......So . 1L .....................................Ocean Springs, Miss . (Ocean Springs) 17 Deonte Evans .........................DB ...... 5-10 210 .....RFr . RS ......................................................McComb, Miss . (McComb) 17 Tyler Russell ...........................QB ....... 6-4 220 .......Sr . 3L ....................................................... Meridian, Miss . (Meridian) 18 Brandon Hill ........................... TE ........ 6-2 240 ....... Jr . 2L .............................................Columbus, Miss . (West Lowndes) 20 Justin Cox ..............................DB ....... 6-3 195 .......Jr . TR ...................................West Point, Miss . (East Mississippi CC) 22 Josh Creekmore ....................ATH ....... 5-6 185 ......RFr . RS ...........................................New Albany, Miss . (New Albany) 22 Matthew Wells ...................... LB ........ 6-2 215 ....... Jr . 2L ....................................... Monticello, Miss . (Lawrence County) 24 Jamerson Love .......................DB ...... 5-10 175 ...... Jr . 2L ..................................................... Aberdeen, Miss . (Aberdeen) 25 Michael Carr ......................... WR ....... 6-1 215 .......Sr . 1L .................................................West Point, Miss . (West Point) 26 Kasey Akins ............................RB ........ 5-6 185 .......Sr . SQ .............................. Starkville, Miss . (East Central [Miss .] CC) 26 James Baldwin ......................DB ...... 5-10 195 ..... So . SQ .............................................Birmingham, Ala . (Vestavia Hills) 27 LaDarius Perkins ....................RB ....... 5-10 195 ......Sr . 3L ..................................................Greenville, Miss . (St . Joseph) 28 Derrick Milton ........................RB ........ 6-0 210 .......So . 1L .....................Pineville, La . (Hargrave [Va .] Military Academy) 28 DeAndre Ward ......................ATH ....... 6-0 205 ......RFr . RS ..................................................Wetumpka, Ala . (Wetumpka) 29 Quadry Antoine ......................DB ...... 5-10 215..... RFr . RS .............................................Belle Chasse, La . (Belle Chasse) 29 Justin Rogers ........................ATH ...... 5-11 200 .......Jr. TR ...................................Starkville, Miss . (Itawamba [Miss .] CC) 30 Jay Hughes ............................DB ...... 5-11 195 ...... Jr . 2L .................................................Hattiesburg, Miss . (Oak Grove) 31 Tyrell Miller ...........................ATH ....... 5-9 175 ...... So . RS .......................................................... Hampton, Va . (Hampton) 31 Vincent Watkins ....................ATH ....... 5-9 145 ......RFr . RS .................................................... Disputana, Va . (Dutchtown) 31 Taylor Earhart ..........................K ......... 6-1 180 .......Sr . SQ .............................Olive Branch, Miss . (Northeast [Miss .] CC) 31 Will Goodwin ..........................K ......... 6-0 180 .......Jr . TR ...................................Starkville, Miss . (Itawamba [Miss .] CC) 32 Brandyn Bartlett ....................ATH ...... 5-11 195 .....RFr . RS ................................................................Dacula, Ga . (Dacula) 33 Kivon Coman ..........................DB ....... 6-3 195 .......Fr . HS ..................Sheffield, Ala . (Hargrave [Va .] Military Academy) 34 Brandon Davis .......................ATH ....... 5-9 170 ......RFr . RS ................................................Memphis, Tenn . (Whitehaven) 34 Josh Robinson ........................RB ........ 5-9 225 .......So . 1L ....................................................Franklinton, La . (Franklinton) 35 Johnathan Long ....................ATH ...... 5-11 190 .....RFr . RS ..........................................................Martinez, Ga . (Lakeside) 37 Taveze Calhoun ......................DB ....... 6-1 180 .......So . 1L ............................................................Morton, Miss . (Morton) 38 Dee Arrington .........................DB ....... 6-1 220 ....... Jr . 1L ..................................................Wiggins, Miss . (Stone County) 39 Richie Brown .......................... LB ........ 6-2 235 ......RFr . RS ............................................. Long Beach, Miss . (Long Beach) 39 Michael Hodges ....................ATH ...... 5-10 195 .....RFr . RS ................................................... Aberdeen, Miss . (Aberdeen) 39 Mike Mordecai ........................ P ......... 6-3 195 ......RFr . RS ....................................... Madison, Miss . (Jackson Academy) 39 Baker Swedenburg .................. P ......... 6-0 205 .......Sr . 2L .......................................Columbus, Miss . (Heritage Academy) 40 Devon Bell ...............................K ......... 6-2 195 .......So . 1L ...........................................Vicksburg, Miss . (Warren Central) 40 Evan Sobiesk ...........................K ......... 5-8 180 ......RFr . RS ......................................... Hattiesburg, Miss . (Oak Grove HS) 41 Rishunn McCaleb ...................DB ....... 6-3 200 .......Sr . SQ ...................................Indianola, Miss . (Coahoma [Miss .] CC) 42 Beniquez Brown ..................... LB ........ 6-1 225 ......RFr . RS ..........................................................Florence, Ala . (Florence) 43 Ivan Muniz .............................. LB ........ 6-1 220 ....... Jr . 1L .................................................Houston, Texas (Cypress Creek) 44 Christian Holmes .................... TE ........ 6-1 220 ....... Jr . 2L .............................................................Puckett, Miss . (Puckett) 45 Zachary Jackson ....................DB ....... 6-1 215 .......So . 1L ................................................ Heidelberg, Miss . (Heidelberg) 46 Kendrick Market .....................DB ...... 5-10 190 ......So . 1L .............................................. Batesville, Miss . (South Panola) 47 A .J . Jefferson ......................DL ........ 6-3 260 ......RFr . RS ..................................................... Summit, Miss . (North Pike) 48 Ryan Brown ............................DL ........ 6-6 260 .......So . 1L ...................................... New Orleans, La . (Archbishop Shaw) 49 Torrey Dale .............................DL ........ 6-6 250 ......RFr . RS ..........................................Kenner, La . (John Curtis Christian) 50 Benardrick McKinney ............. LB ........ 6-5 235 .......So . 1L ..........................................................Tunica, Miss . (Rosa Fort) 51 Deontae Skinner .................... LB ........ 6-2 250 .......Sr . 3L ...............................................Macon, Miss . (Noxubee County) 52 Ferlando Bohanna .................. LB ........ 6-0 225 ....... Jr . 2L ..................................................Memphis, Tenn . (Whitehaven) 53 Brian Egan ...............................K ........ 5-11 210 ......Sr . 2L ...............................................Prattville, Ala . (Western Illinois) 54 Quay Evans .............................DL ........ 6-3 310 .......So . 1L ............................................................Morton, Miss . (Morton) 55 Dylan Holley ...........................OL ........ 6-3 290 .......Sr . 1L ...................................D’Iberville, Miss . (Miss . Gulf Coast CC) 56 Corvell Harrison-Gay ..............DL ........ 6-3 265 .......Sr . 2L ................................................Laurel, Miss . (Northeast Jones) 58 Justin Senior ..........................OL ........ 6-5 300 ......RFr . RS ............Montreal, Quebec (Hargrave [Va .] Military Academy) 59 Archie Muniz ..........................OL ........ 6-5 300 ....... Jr . 2L .................................................Houston, Texas (Cypress Creek) 61 Gabe Jackson .........................OL ........ 6-4 335 .......Sr . 3L ....................................................Liberty, Miss . (Amite County) 62 Devon Desper .........................OL ........ 6-4 300 ......RFr . RS ..........................................Madison, Miss . (Madison Central)

63 66 69 70 71 72 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 98 99

Dillon Day ...............................OL ........ 6-4 300 ....... Jr . 2L ............................................West Monroe, La . (West Monroe) Ben Beckwith .........................OL ........ 6-3 305 ....... Jr . 2L ..............................................Benton, Miss . (Benton Academy) Rodney Lacy ..........................ATH ..........5-11 .... 290 RFr . RS .....................................................Birmingham, Ala . (Minor) Justin Malone ........................OL ........ 6-7 320 .......So . 1L ......................Madison, Miss . (Madison-Ridgeland Academy) Cole Carter .............................OL ........ 6-6 290 ......RFr . RS .................................................. Caledonia, Miss . (Caledonia) Winston Chapman ................ATH ....... 6-2 235 .......So . 1L .......................................................... Fairhope, Ala . (Fairhope) Patrick Sparkman ...................OL ........ 6-4 285 .......Sr . SQ .....................Walnut Grove, Miss . (Jones County [Miss .] CC) Paul Thompson .......................OL ........ 6-3 275 .......Jr . SQ .................Madison, N .J . (Hargrave [Va .] Military Academy) Daniel McCray........................ LB ....... 6-0 250....... Jr . SQ ........................................... Center Point, Ala . (Shades Valley) Blaine Clausell .......................OL ........ 6-7 310 ....... Jr . 2L ...................................................................Mobile, Ala . (Baker) Charles Siddoway ..................OL ........ 6-7 305 .......Sr . 1L ................................................Eugene, Ore . (Butte College CC) Damien Robinson ...................OL ........ 6-8 335 ....... Jr . 2L ............................................Olive Branch, Miss . (Olive Branch) Hunter Cunningham ..............ATH ...........6-4 ......320 So . SQ .............................................. Maben, Miss . (East Webster) Brandon Holloway .................ATH ....... 5-8 165 ......RFr . RS.................................................................Tampa, Fla . (Alonso) Robert Johnson ..................... WR ....... 6-1 225 ....... Jr . 2L .................................................Hattiesburg, Miss . (Oak Grove) Rufus Warren ......................... TE ........ 6-7 265 .......So . 1L ..........................................................Indianola, Miss . (Gentry) Jeremey Chappelle ............... WR ....... 6-3 210 .......Jr . TR ................................................................. Tyler, Texas (Tyler JC) Bailey West ............................SN ....... 6-1 205 .......Jr . SQ ................................................ Hollandale, Miss . (Deer Creek) Artimus Samuel ..................... TE ........ 6-2 260 .......Fr . HS ..................Columbus, Ga . (Hargrave [Va .] Military Academy) Fred Brown ............................ WR ....... 6-1 185 ......RFr . RS .........................................................Jackson, Miss . (Jim Hill) Javous Nicks .........................ATH ...... 5-11 170 .....RFr . RS ......................................Brandon, Miss . (University Christian) Hunter Bradley ....................... TE ........ 6-3 235 .......Fr . HS ..................................................Collierville, Tenn . (Collierville) Nick James ............................DL ........ 6-5 345 .......So . 1L .............................................. Long Beach, Miss . (Long Beach) Gus Walley ............................. TE ........ 6-4 245 ......RFr . RS ...............................................Richton, Miss . (Greene County) Denico Autry ..........................DL ........ 6-6 265 .......Sr . 1L .....................................Albemarle, N .C . (East Mississippi CC) Preston Smith .........................DL ........ 6-6 255 ....... Jr . 1L ...........................................Stone Mountain, Ga . (Stephenson) Kaleb Eulls .............................DL ........ 6-4 290 ....... Jr . 1L .............................................. Yazoo City, Miss . (Yazoo County) P .J . Jones..............................DL ........ 6-3 295 ....... Jr . 2L ............................................................... Tupelo, Miss . (Tupelo) Nelson Adams ........................DL ........ 6-3 295 ......RFr . RS ........................................................Brandon, Miss . (Brandon) Jordan Washington ................DL ........ 6-2 290 ......RFr . RS .............................................Sugar Hill, Ga . (North Gwinnett) Curtis Virges ...........................DL ........ 6-3 315 ....... Jr . 2L................................................. West Point, Miss . (West Point) John Harris .............................DL ........ 6-5 235 ...... So . SQ ................... Boynton Beach, Fla . (Boynton Beach Community)

2013 SIGNEES NAME..............................POS.....HT/WT...............................................HOMETOWN/SCHOOL Jeremy Chappelle............. WR......6-2/212......................................................... Tyler, TX (Tyler JC) Shelby Christie.................. WR......6-2/190.........................................Geismar, LA (Dutchtown HS) Jamaal Clayborn................ OL.......6-4/315................................. Jackson, MS (Jackson Academy) Tolando Cleveland..............DB......6-0/170...............................Powder Springs, GA (Hillgrove HS) Kivon Coman......................DB......6-1/195.................. Sheffield, AL (Hargrave Military Academy) Justin Cox........................... S........6-3/190.......................... West Point, MS (East Mississippi CC) Kent Flowers...................... OL.......6-5/300......................................Hollandale, MS (Simmons HS) Donald Gray...................... WR.....5-11/180................................ Memphis, TN (White Station HS) B.J. Hammond................... WR......6-4/215....................................Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City HS) Dezmond Harris.................. LB.......6-4/220........................................... McCalla, AL (McAdory HS) Chris Jones........................ DL.......6-5/250........................................... Houston, MS (Houston HS) Gabe Myles.......................ATH.....6-0/180........................................Starkville, MS (Starkville HS) Fred Ross........................... WR......6-2/185................................................Tyler, TX (John Tyler HS) Artimus Samuel................. TE.......6-2/227................ Columbus, GA (Hargrave Military Academy) Cord Sandberg...................QB......6-3/215.........................................Bradenton, FL (Manatee HS) Ashton Shumpert..............ATH.....6-2/215......................................... Fulton, MS (Itawamba AHS) Jake Thomas...................... OL.......6-5/300...................................... Columbus, MS (Columbus HS) Brandon Wells...................ATH.....6-2/180............................ Bogue Chitto, MS (Bogue Chitto HS) Damian Williams...............QB......6-1/215......................... Metairie, LA (Archbishop Rummel HS) De’Runnya Wilson............ WR......6-5/215.....................................Birmingham, AL (Wenonah HS)

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 41

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GABE JACKSON FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

Photo by Greg Pevey

OL Gabe Jackson forgoes the NFL draft to finish his MSU career with his “family” By PAUL JONES Contributing Writer

few months ago Mississippi State’s Gabe Jackson faced a major decision concerning his future on the gridiron. After receiving NFL feedback and getting thirdround grade for the 2013 NFL Draft, the AllSEC offensive guard could have bypassed his senior season in the Maroon and White and get his pro career started a year early. But in the end, spending one more year with his Bulldog “family” and attempting to improve his NFL stock won out. And that was also a win for MSU’s offensive line in 2013. “Just being here with my family - my teammates,” said Jackson. “I just couldn’t see myself leaving them and then my draft grade didn’t come back as good as I wanted it to. But the biggest part was I couldn’t just see myself leaving early. “Then me and (MSU offensive line) Coach (John) Hevesy has a good relationship and that played a bit part, also. And same with Coach (Dan) Mullen, too.” The Amite County (Miss.) High School product has been a mainstay in the Bulldogs’ offensive line ever since his redshirt freshman campaign in 2010. Since entering the starting lineup that year, Jackson has started all 39 games of his college career. He enters the 2013 season as a preseason All-American candidate and has been listed as the top offensive guard in the 2014 NFL Draft. Despite being in the lineup for that 42 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

>>> Already being picked as a pre-season All-American, Jackson plans to help lead his teammates to a SEC West Championship in 2013. long, the 6-foot-4 and 320-pound left guard said it is hard to fathom he will be a senior. “I really didn’t expect it to go that fast,” said Jackson. “And I didn’t expect to start as early as I did. But once I got used to playing my redshirt freshman season I saw that I could compete. I was doing well against guys on our defense and that gave me a lot of confidence. “It was kind of rough my first year (2009) on campus when I redshirted. I was learning how to take care of my body and knowing what I could eat and couldn’t eat. I learned to eat the right things and get proper rest. It was those small things that helped me to get through the season.” Speaking of eating right, reflecting back on his first-ever week of practice always produces a funny story concerning Jackson. While preparing for his initial college practices, Jackson was asking several veterans how long they practiced and once he heard

it would be two or three hours, he was concerned about being hungry. To combat those hunger pains, Jackson began sneaking candy bars inside the tape of his ankles. He actually got away with it on the field and would sneak a bite or two during practice. But in practice film study, Jackson was caught red-handed one day. It is something that Hevesy often reminds Jackson of on a regular basis. “He will never let that die down,” said Jackson with a laugh. “He even brought that up this spring in practice and always talks about it.” As he noted, it is that kind of relationship with his position coach that played a factor with Jackson returning for his senior season. “We’ve become real close,” said Jackson of Hevesy. “He has become like a dad, a brother and a friend to me. My dad was my high school coach and that is all I knew in high

Photo by Greg Pevey

>>> Jackson was considered a 3rd round pick in the NFL draft after his Junior season. school. Coming in here, I was not used to another man fussing at me besides my dad and didn’t know that would play out. “But Coach Hevesy shows you how much he cares and just wants the best from you and for you to reach your potential. Off the field he is one of the nicest guys you will ever see and we joke around a lot. But at the same time he is all serious business on the field.” Jackson is also focused on his leadership going into the 2013 season. When he began his career, he was blessed to learn from the likes of former MSU linemen Derek Sherrod, who is now with the Green Bay Packers, and J.C. Brignone. Now, said Jackson, it is his time to give back. “I learned a lot from Sherrod and J.C.,” said Jackson. “Those guys showed me the ropes and I depended on them to make the right calls and to help me out. It is a big transition from following to leading and that is what I have to do now. I have to help the younger guys like (sophomore right guard) Justin Malone. I have a different role now

and the guys are depending on me now.” Since the likes of Sherrod and Brignone graduated, the Bulldogs’ offensive line has battled injuries and inexperience. But this year the Bulldogs will feature their most experience up front since 2010. That group features two seniors in Jackson and right tackle Charles Siddoway, and two juniors with center Dillon Day and left tackle Blaine Clausell. Malone also started a couple of games in 2012 in place of Tobias Smith, who is still deciding on whether or not to return for a sixth year after granted that option by the NCAA. “We just have to come together and realize we are the most mature group and most experienced group on the team,” said Jackson. “We have the chance to be one of the best offensive lines in the SEC if not the country. We have two seniors, two juniors and one sophomore. Since I’ve been here, we’ve never had that consistency with the older guys like we have now. I think that gives us a good chance to step up, in my opinion. “Clausell and Day have been playing since

their redshirt freshman year, too. So our chemistry is a big improvement now and a big difference. A couple of years ago when Tobias went down, we had some young guys coming in and out of the lineup and there wasn’t much of a rhythm. But now we are all used to playing beside each other. “It is so vital to have that and to know the guys beside you. You know how they play and when you practice and play together that long, you gain that trust and have that feel.” For all of his individual accolades at MSU - All-SEC honors and second team AllAmerican last year by Phil Steel magazine Jackson has encountered just as much if not more team success. Last year the Bulldogs played in their third straight bowl for just the second time in school history. A bowl invite in 2013 would be the school’s first time to reach four straight bowls. “It means a lot to me,” said Jackson. “There are a lot of things we have accomplished as a team since I’ve been here, and there are still things I want to help us accomplish like win the SEC West and an SEC championship. It is towards the end now so you feel your last year you want to accomplish all you can.” Throughout his career, Jackson has blocked for the likes of Vick Ballard, who is now with the Indianapolis Colts, as well as quarterbacks with varying styles. Being able to adjust to the likes of former MSU quarterback Chris Relf and current signal caller Tyler Russell should bode well for Jackson at the pro level. “It is different,” said Jackson. “And now Dak (Prescott) is a dual-threat quarterback, too. you just learn to adjust as fast as you can because they can’t wait on you. But it has really helped me. “In my first two years Relf was a run-first guy and I was able to become very good at run blocking. With Tyler, now I am sound with pass blocking, too. Dak likes to mix it up some and run, too, but now I am ready for it all.” Jackson is naturally anxious for his senior season, and beyond. Like any kid that has ever played the sport, Jackson has dreamed of reaching the highest level and playing in the NFL. That time is rapidly approaching. “It is a big accomplishment to reach and having that goal makes you work even harder to be better,” said Jackson. “My redshirt freshman year playing in the NFL was just a dream and I was just taking things one day at a time. Then after last year I thought about leaving for the NFL and you start realizing that time is getting closer. “Now my last go-around is here and my last season at Mississippi State. So you want to finish up strong and help us accomplish as much as possible.” - MSM 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 43

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44 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

JULY/AUGUST 2013

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Come Enjoy Fried Chicken & Greens. Join us at the Sanderson Farms Championship for lots of first-class golf, fan-pleasing fun, fantastic fundraising for Batson Hospital for Children … and, of course, chicken! July 18 – 21 • Annandale Golf Club • Madison, Mississippi

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2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 45

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES 2012 RESULTS: 0-12 Overall; 0-8 CUSA; 0-6 Home; 0-6 Away; 0-0 Neutral Bowl Game: NONE Photo by Greg Pevey

SCHEDULE Aug. 31................... Texas State Sep. 7..................... @Nebraska Sep. 14....................@Arkansas Sep. 21..............................OPEN Sep. 28................@Boise State Oct. 5.......Florida International Oct. 12...............................OPEN Oct. 19..............@East Carolina Oct. 26................... North Texas Nov. 2.......................@Marshall Nov. 9............@Louisiana Tech Nov. 16.............Florida Atlantic Nov. 23....... Middle Tennessee Nov. 20........................... @ UAB

BOWL PROJECTION: New Orleans Bowl New Orleans, LA GAME TO WATCH: August 31 vs. Texas State RICKY LLOYD

By LANNY MIXON Contributing Writer

n many ways first year Southern Miss head coach Todd Monken has the most interesting coaching job in the country this fall when he leads the Golden Eagles onto the field. Monken took over the reigns following the 2012 season and there’s little doubt that he and his staff have their work cut out for them. In 2012, the Southern Miss football program crashed to it’s worst season in program history under Ellis Johnson, the 0-12 finish led to his firing after less than a year in Hattiesburg. That’s the bad news and it’s about as bad as it could get for Eagle fans who were just a season removed from a 12-2 Championship year in 2011. Monken and his staff hit the ground running hitting the recruiting trail and beginning 46 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

to build relationships with the current players. He brought in a dynamic staff including veteran defensive assistant David Duggan as his defensive coordinator. Duggan has more than two decades of experience in collegiate and professional football, he’s pretty much seen it all, done it all and he’s had experience at Southern Miss under former head coach Larry Fedora. On the offensive side of the ball Monken tapped a young rising coach in Marcus Arroyo who comes to Southern Miss from Cal. Turning a winless program around is never easy, most of the time teams who fail to win a game over the course of a season just don’t have very much talent, but that’s not the case at Southern Miss. “We’ve got enough right now to compete and win football games,” Monken said. “I’ve

Yes, all three of Mississippi’s “Big 3” key games kick-off the 2013 season. None is more important however, than USM’s match up with Texas State. After enduring a miserable 2012 campaign in which the Golden Eagles suffered through a 0-12 season, a coach who appeared to just be along for the ride (and paycheck), and assistant coaches who couldn’t put together a game-plan, a change had to be made. Enter Todd Monken. Monken comes in and has already gotten the fan-base interested in football again. Monken brings his high powered offense to “The Rock” and a win over the Bobcats is just what the players and fans need to cure the Golden Eagles blues.

2012 team statistics ...........................USM........OPP SCORING ........................... 236 ............... 454 Points Per Game .............19.7 ..............37.8 FIRST DOWNS .................. 215 ............... 266 Rushing .......................... 108 ............... 132 Passing ............................ 87 ................ 116 Penalty ............................ 20 ................. 18 RUSHING YARDAGE ........ 1855 ............. 2490 Yards gained rushing .... 2267 ............. 2794 Yards lost rushing .......... 412 ............... 304 Rushing Attempts .......... 479 ............... 500 Average Per Rush ............3.9 ................5.0 Average Per Game ........154.6 ............207.5 TDs Rushing .................... 17 ................. 34 PASSING YARDAGE ......... 2019 ............. 2628 Comp-Att-Int ............151-313-13 ....219-338-5 Average Per Pass ............6.5 ................7.8 Average Per Catch ..........13.4 ..............12.0 Average Per Game ........168.2 ............219.0 TDs Passing ...................... 9 .................. 23 TOTAL OFFENSE ............... 3874 ............. 5118 Total Plays ...................... 792 ............... 838 Average Per Play .............4.9 ................6.1 Average Per Game ........322.8 ............426.5 KICK RETURNS: #-Yards .53-1137 ........ 37-940 PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards .6-40 ........... 21-190 INT RETURNS: #-Yards .... 5-77 ........... 13-236 KICK RETURN AVERAGE ...21.5 ..............25.4 PUNT RETURN AVERAGE ...6.7 ................9.0 INT RETURN AVERAGE .....15.4 ..............18.2 FUMBLES-LOST ............... 23-15 ............ 14-7 PENALTIES-Yards ........... 57-486 ......... 66-633 Average Per Game .........40.5 ..............52.8 PUNTS-Yards ................. 64-2544 ....... 48-1910 Average Per Punt ............39.8 ..............39.8 Net punt average ...........35.8 ..............36.5 KICKOFFS-Yards ............ 49-2783 ....... 83-5022 Average Per Kick ............56.8 ..............60.5 Net kick average ............48.8 ..............39.0 TIME OF POSS/Game ...... 27:43 ........... 32:17 3RD-DOWN Conversions .61/169 ......... 80/161 3rd-Down Pct ................ 36% ............. 50% 4TH-DOWN Conversions . 7/16 ............. 6/11 4th-Down Pct ................ 44% ............. 55% SACKS BY-Yards ............ 19-150 ......... 30-206 MISC YARDS ...................... 54 .................. 0 TOUCHDOWNS SCORED ... 29 ................. 60 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS .11-17 ........... 13-19 ON-SIDE KICKS ................. 0-2 ............... 0-0 RED-ZONE SCORES .... (26-34) 76% .(49-55) 89% RED-ZONE TD’s .......... (20-34) 59% .(38-55) 69% PAT-ATTEMPTS ........... (27-28) 96% .(55-59) 93% ATTENDANCE ................. 154503 ......... 195766 Games/Avg Per Game .6/25750 ....... 6/32628 Neutral Site Games .......... .................. 0/0 SCORING....... 1st....2nd....3rd...4th .... OT... Total Southern Miss .43 ..... 84 .....34 ....68 ......7 ...... 236 Opponents ....... 78 .... 146 ...132 ...84 .....14 ..... 454

Khyri Thornton

said that all along.” The spring gave Southern Miss fans hope that the 2012 season could be a distant memory in short order. “With 15 practices, you’re just trying to get to where you play good football. That’s really what you’re trying to do,” Monken said. “Get the guys to play hard and understand assignments and alignment. That’s really what you’re trying to accomplish.” Maybe as importantly Southern Miss players were having fun again, there wasn’t a lot of fun for the players during this past season. “I think they exceeded expectations in terms of want to and buying in by far,” Monken said candidly. “I wouldn’t guess we’d have that after 15 practices. I didn’t feel like there were many days when our energy level was down.” Heading into the summer and training camp Southern Miss players, coaches and

Photo by Greg Pevey

fans have plenty to be excited about. OFFENSE The Southern Miss offense returns some talented play-makers on the offensive side of the ball including a stable of running backs. Seniors Kendrick Hardy and Jeremy Hester are joined by sophomores Tyre Braken and Jalen Richard to make up C-USA’s best group of running backs. Hardy, a bruising 6-foot-0, 225-pounder is a bull that drags sometimes multiple defenders with him running between the tackles. He has good speed but he is a true power back. He’s not going to make a lot of defenders miss, mainly because he’s not going to try to make them miss. Hester is more of a slasher who is most productive running off tackle and catching the ball out of the back field. He has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field as evidenced by role as the back-up punt re2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 47

turner this past season. At 5-foot-8, 205-pounds Richard may be the most complete back of the group with a unique combination of speed, power and agility. He can run between the tackles or outside, he catches the ball well out of the backfield and can make defenders miss in open space. Bracken is a slasher very much in the same mold as Hester who catches the ball very well out of the backfield. He averaged more than 20 yards per reception a year ago. With so many options it could create a log jam at the position with so many talented players vying for the same carries. Under f Monken and running backs coach John Simon expect to see each back play a personalized and unique role. “I think what you end up having to decide, for each situation, who fits that role, and then you have to develop a depth chart from there,” Monken said. “You say, ‘OK, who is your athletic, receiving-style back? Who is your running-down-hill-style back?’ Then, you go from there, because really there’s only two styles.” Monken went on to explain how in reality Southern Miss will likely have two depth charts for running backs. “So, is Kendrick Hardy that one-back, receiving back? No. Is he really good in The Pistol and down-hill? Yes. So, is he going to be a weapon with that? Yes. So, does that start your depth chart there? Probably, yes, and then you figure out who your best guy is in your offset and speed personnel package, and you go from there.” Southern Miss needs to find some play-makers at receiver but they do return some depth with senior starters Francisco Llanos and Justin Sims returning, Chris Briggs, Dominique Sullivan, D.J. Thompson and Markese Triplett are also experienced pass catchers. Jerrell Aaron, Ricky Bradley, Jr., and Cooper Harrington are also expected to contribute this year. “They’ve all responded exactly how we needed them to,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said of the receivers.. “They gave the effort, they came out everyday and worked. They’re gave us everything they’ve got and that’s all we can ask.” Monken brought in experienced offensive line coach Pete Perot to sure up a line that is pretty talented but not necessarily all that deep. “Everyone has pulled together and we’re all on the same page,” senior guard Ed Preston said after the spring game. Monken was also encouraged with the progress the group made over the course of the spring. “At the end of the day, I think we’re going to be good enough,” he said. “We’re not very deep, but we ought to be good enough.” The one position that isn’t very clear is quarterback. For the majority of the spring the Eagles only had one scholarshipped player that took part in all drills, redshirt Kyle Sloter. 48 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Photo by Greg Pevey

Vincent Brown

“So, is Kendrick Hardy that one-back, receiving back? No. Is he really good in The Pistol and down-hill? Yes. So, is he going to be a weapon with that? Yes. So, does that start your depth chart there? Probably, yes, and then you figure out who your best guy is in your offset and speed personnel package, and you go from there.” - Monken on filling the running back depth chart Walk-on Cole Week, who started one game last year, saw a large number of snaps along with sophomore Ricky Lloyd. Lloyd was slowed in the spring as he recovered from a season ending knee injury suffered this past fall. He was unable to take part in full contact drills although he did take part in most everything else. This spring Southern Miss signed two high school quarterbacks Oxford (MS) High stand-out Parker Adamson and Spain Park (Hoover, AL) star Nick Mullens. The two met face to face this past year in the MS/AL All Star Classic when Adamason started for Mississippi and Mullens started for Alabama. Throw another wild card into the mix with the announced transfer of Allen Bridgford from the University of California. This will no doubt be the most interesting position battle of the spring. DEFENSE The Southern Miss defense returns 11

players that started multiple games a year ago and features a number of other players who have played significant snaps for the Eagles. This experience is going to be vital as the Eagles begin to turn things around in Hattiesburg. Defensive coordinator David Duggan played a major role in solidifying the Southern Miss defense under Larry Fedora as the Eagles made their Championship run in 2011. When the chance to return to Hattiesburg became a reality it didn’t take him long to start packing his bags. “I just looked at is as a great opportunity,” he said of taking over the Eagle defense. “This is a program with a rich defensive tradition. It’s a great place to coach defense.” Duggan will employ multiple defensive schemes but will base out of a 4-3. “It’s a little more traditional of a 4-3,” he said. “I’ll be coaching the Spur backer with the other linebackers and the Bandit will work with the defensive line. We’re going to

Photo by Greg Pevey

D.J. THOMPSON

2012 RESULTS Sep. 1..........@Nebraska (L, 49-20) Sep. 15..... East Carolina (L, 24-14) Sep. 22...@W. Kentucky (L, 42-17) Sep. 29............ Louisville (L, 21-17) Oct. 6................ Bosie St. (L, 40-14) Oct. 13.............. @UCF (L, 38-31OT) Oct. 20.............. Marshall (L, 59-24) Oct. 27...................@Rice (L, 44-17) Nov. 3................... @UAB (L, 27-19) Nov. 10...................@SMU (L, 34-6) Nov. 17................... UTEP (L, 34-33) Nov. 24.........@Memphis (L, 42-24)

be real multiple.” The 4-3 with a Spur and Bandit can morph into a 4-2-5 or a 3-4 at the drop of the hat by moving players around before the snap. The good news is that he has plenty of talent to work with and it showed all spring. The defensive front is expected to be a strength for the Eagles if they can develop some depth at the interior line position. First line defensive tackles Khyri Thornton and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are NFL caliber tackles that will likely be the best tandem in the conference this year. Only Adam Williams saw many snaps a year ago in a back-up role. The staff will be counting on someone from a group of four highly touted defensive tackles to step up and provide that needed depth. The defensive end position is pretty good shape going two deep with Dasman McCullum, Michael Smith, Anthony Wilson and

Octavious Thomas. Will Freeman will also factor in when he fully recovers from an injury suffered last in 2012. “We’re trying to find out who is going to step up,” Duggan said. “We can’t play with four guys. We have to be able to rotate guys like it’s a hockey shift.” The linebacker position is an area of concern heading into the summer workouts. The Eagles are thin in the middle. Three players who started games last year will return in Allen Howze, Jerrion Johnson and Dylan Reda. Also figuring into the mix is Justin Penn, C.J. Perry and Tarrick Wright. Ta’Dren Kennedy and Lelland Ducksworth will also provide depth. There’s not a lot of help coming, with only one linebacker in the 2013 signing class, Pearl (Miss) High standout Evan Osbourn. The secondary is expected to be a strength of the defense with a returning starters at both the corner-back and safety positions. Several publications have tabbed senior corner-back Deron Wilson as a pre-season C-USA First Team All-Conference performer. Wilson not the only Eagle who has seen a lot of snaps in the secondary. Jacorius Cotton, Alex Smith, and Alexander Walters are all seniors who have seen it all at Southern Miss. Underclassmen Emmanuel Johnson, Kalen Reed, and Ed Wilkins are also expected to play major roles. Urell Johnson who sat out last year after transferring from Texas Tech along with redshirt freshmen Antonio Thomas and Marcus Turner could work into the rotation as well. “I see some guys who love to play the game of football,” corner backs coach Lytrel Pollard said of the secondary. “We have some guys who have played a lot of football.” Head coach Todd Monken was quick to praise the group after spring practice was over. “They’re doing well,” Monken said of the defensive backs. “They’ve got a lot of experience back there and their confidence has shown all spring.” SPECIAL TEAMS Southern Miss is in pretty good shape on the special teams front. They return Corey Acosta who proved his worth over the past two years as a competent place kicker. He’ll be back up by Larson Real who had a solid spring including a 40 yard field goal in the Black and Gold Game. Matthew Mosley and Cliff Mosley will compete for punting duties. Lance Schuffert and Hunter Graves will handle snapping responsibilities. Southern Miss returns experience in the return game with Bracken and Hester returning kick-offs and Llanos and Sims returning punts. - MSM 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 49

2013 ROSTER NO NAME................................... POS.......HT/WT..... YR-EXP....................HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST COLLEGE

Garrett Clark........................6-3/280........ OL............RS SO............................................Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS)

Tyre Bracken........................5-8/186........RB..............SO.............................................White Castle, La. (White Castle HS)

Luke Burnham....................5-11/218.......DS............RS FR............................................. Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove HS)

D.J. Thompson....................6-3/186....... WR..............SO...................................................................Pearl, Miss. (Pearl HS)

Josh Flanders......................6-1/210........ LB.............RS FR..............................................Alabaster, Ala. (Evangel Christian)

Jerrion Johnson..................6-0/205........DB........... RS SR............................................Beaumont, Miss. (Perry Central HS)

Brandon Farmer...................6-2/314........ OL.............RS FR......................................... Gulfport, Miss. (Harrison Central HS)

Kyle Sloter...........................6-4/213........QB............RS FR................................Johns Creek, Ga. (Mt. Pisgah Christian HS)

Bradley Nugent..................5-11/260....... OL............RS SO.......................................................Pell Lake, Wisc. (Badger HS)

Desmond Johnson.............5-11/210.......RB........... RS SR................................................Yazoo City, Miss. (Yazoo City HS)

Hunter Graves.....................5-9/191........DS........... RS JR................................................... Sumrall, Miss. (Pearl River CC)

Ricky Lloyd..........................6-2/200........QB...........RS SO.......................................................Concord, Calif. (Concord HS)

Chaz Cavignac.....................6-1/271........ OL............RS SO.........................................................Slidell, La. (Northshore HS)

Matthew Bergeron.............5-10/182.......QB............RS FR.................................................Mandeville, La. (Mandeville HS)

Jordan Greene....................6-3/265........ OL............RS SO........................................New Orleans, La. (Brother Martin HS)

Chris Briggs.........................6-5/214....... WR..............JR.................................................... Franklinton, La. (Franklinton HS)

Johntre Goudy.....................5-9/241........ DL.............RS FR...............................Meridian, Miss. (Southeast Lauderdale HS)

Kalan Reed.........................5-11/198.......DB..............SO..................................Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian HS)

Vincent Brown.....................6-5/289........ OL............ RS SR..........................................................Miami, Fla. (ASA Institute)

Cole Weeks.........................6-0/199........QB........... RS JR...................................................Freeport, Fla. (Brevard College)

Randal Agee........................6-0/264........ OL............RS SO...........................................................Terrytown, La. (Jesuit HS)

Jarell Aaron........................6-5/185....... WR............RS FR...............................................Poplarville, Miss. (Poplarville HS)

Aaron Reed.........................6-4/305........ OL............RS SO.................................................Scottsdale, Ariz. (Scottsdale CC)

Emmanuel Johnson............5-11/181.......DB..............JR.......................................................McKenzie, Ala. (McKenzie HS)

Rashod Hill..........................6-6/285........ OL............RS SO................................................. Jacksonville, Fla. (Ed White HS)

Chris Campbell....................6-3/200........QB........... RS SR.................................Collierville, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian HS)

Cedric Chisolm....................6-4/278........ OL............ RS JR.............................................Charleston, SC (Louisburg College)

Terrick Wright......................6-2/211........ LB............RS SO................................................Gadsden, Ala. (Gadsden City HS)

Oliver Bates.........................6-2/262........ OL.............RS FR.................................................Tylertown, Miss. (Tylertown HS)

Alex Smith..........................5-10/194.......DB........... RS SR.................................. McCall Creek, Miss. (Franklin County HS)

Michael Brinson..................6-3/273........ OL............RS SO............................. Flowood, Miss. (University Christian School)

Antonio Thomas, Jr............5-10/194.......DB............RS FR.............................................. Memphis, Tenn. (Whitehaven HS)

Ed Preston...........................6-3/309........ OL............ RS SR.......................................................Bacliff, Texas (Dickinson HS)

David Bertucci....................5-11/188.......DB...........RS SO.......................................................Gulfport, Miss. (Gulfport HS)

Devin Farrior........................6-4/300........ OL............... FR........................................Waynesboro, Miss. (Wayne County HS)

Dominique Sullivan.............6-3/201....... WR..............SR................................................Taylorsville, Miss. (Taylorsville HS)

Taylor Peterson....................6-4/293........ OL............ RS JR............................................................Auburn, Ala. (Auburn HS)

Urell Johnson.....................5-10/174.......DB........... RS JR.................................................... New Orleans, La. (Texas Tech)

Dillon Fedora.......................5-8/161....... WR...........RS SO..........................................Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oklahoma State)

Ed Wilkins..........................5-10/166.......DB...........RS SO.............................................McDonough, Ga. (Union Grove HS)

Rickey Bradley.....................6-2/200....... WR........... RS SR.............................................Hattiesburg, Miss. (Pearl River CC)

Jeremy Hester.....................5-6/177........RB..............SR........................................................ Panama City, Fla. (Arnold HS)

Cooper Harrington...............6-0/188....... WR...........RS SO................................Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian HS)

Marcus Turner....................5-11/206.......DB............RS FR..........................................................McCalla, AL (McAdory HS)

Max Mason.........................6-7/231........ TE............RS SO................................................. Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb HS)

Deron Wilson.....................5-10/181.......DB........... RS SR.......................................New Orleans, La. (O. Perry Walker HS)

Lorenzo Patrick....................6-0/189........DB........... RS JR.................................................. Sebastopol, Miss. (Sebastopol)

Delvin Welch......................5-10/233....... FB............RS SO.......................................Baton Rouge, La. (Mississippi College)

Francisco Llanos..................5-8/169....... WR........... RS SR.....................................................Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain HS)

C.J. Felix..............................5-9/190........DB..............SO...............................................................Gulfport, Miss. (MGCCC)

Rashun Prince.....................6-1/176....... WR........... RS SR.............................................Toms River, N.J. (Georgia Military)

Markese Triplett..................6-4/216....... WR........... RS JR...................................................Louisville, Miss. (Louisville HS)

Shawn Brickley...................5-8/159....... WR............RS FR...............................................................Slidell, La. (Salmen HS)

Dimitri Smith.......................5-7/162....... WR........... RS JR.............................................Long Beach, Miss. (Faulkner State)

Michael Smith.....................6-4/262........ DL............RS SO................................................ Birmingham, Ala. (Wenonah HS)

Chauncey Smith.................5-11/243....... LB............RS SO......................................................LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange HS)

Casey D’Angelo..................5-11/260....... DL............ RS JR...................................... Madisonville, La. (Mississippi College)

Justin Sims.........................5-7/165....... WR........... RS SR..............................................................Decatur, Ga. (Redan HS)

Anthony Wilson..................6-3/227........ DL...............SR....................................................Midfield, Ala. (Jones County JC)

Corey Acosta.......................6-0/185........ PK............ RS JR.....................................Memphis, Tenn. (Christian Brothers HS)

Roderick Henderson............6-0/362........ DL.............RS FR...............................Montgomery, Ala. (Carver-Montgomery HS)

Debarriaus Miller...............5-10/183.......DB..............SO................................................Fort Valley, Ga. (Peach County HS)

Rakeem Nunez-Roches.......6-2/290........ DL...............JR.........................................................Phenix City, Ala. (Central HS)

Keelan Anderson.................5-9/187........DB........... RS JR...............................................New Orleans, La. (John Ehret HS)

Khyri Thornton.....................6-3/308........ DL............ RS SR.......................................................... Panama City, Fla. (Bay HS)

Cliff Hurst...........................5-11/225........ P..............RS FR..............................................Clinton, La. (Centreville Academy)

Octavius Thomas.................6-3/230........ DL............ RS SR.......................................................Carrollton, Ga. (Mt. Zion HS)

Kewin Nielsen....................5-10/183........ K.............RS SO..............................................................Biloxi, Miss. (Mt. Union)

Jacorius Cotton..................5-11/195.......DB..............SR...................................................LaGrange, Ga. (Troup County HS)

2013 signeEs

Kendrick Hardy....................6-0/223........RB........... RS SR................................................Monticello, Miss. (Lawrence HS)

Juan Rodriguez..................5-11/207....... FB.............RS FR....................................................Weston, Fla. (Cypress Bay HS)

Jomez Applewhite.............DB ............6-0/180...............................Bassfield, Miss./Bassfield HS)

Jalen Richard......................5-8/205........RB..............SO................................................Alexandria, La. (Peabody Magnet)

Dylan Bradley.....................DE .............6-1/245...................... Macon, Miss./Noxubee County HS)

Alexander Walters.............5-10/174.......DB..............SR.........................................Northport, Ala. (Tuscaloosa County HS)

Trae Collins.........................DB.............5-1/175........................... Columbus, Miss./New Hope HS)

Larsen Real.........................5-8/174......... K..............RS FR.............................................................Hoover, Ala. (Hoover HS)

James Cox......................... WR.............6-1/193............................Tuscaloosa, Ala./Northridge HS)

Matthew Moseley.............5-10/159........ P.............RS SO............................................... Franklin, Tenn. (Tennessee State)

Rod Crayton........................DT..............6-1/310................................ Dadeville, Ala./Dadeville HS)

Justin Penn.........................6-1/212........ LB............ RS JR....................................................Bassfield, Miss. (Bassfield HS)

Bruce Johnson...................5-10/228.......RB........... RS SR............................................Alpharetta, Ga. (Blessed Trinity HS)

Alan Howze.........................6-3/227........ LB...............SR.....................................Ocean Springs, Miss. (Ocean Springs HS)

Jerry McCorvey...................6-3/249........ LB.............RS FR................................................Vancleave, Miss. (Vancleave HS)

Sam Weimerskirch.............5-11/205....... FB............... FR....................................................... Lake Vista, Fla (Park Vista HS)

Branton Lee....................... WR.............5-8/163........Tallahassee, Fla./North Florida Christian HS)

NAME..............................POS............HT/WT........................................HOMETOWN/SCHOOL Parker Adamson.................QB.............6-4/205.......................................Oxford, Miss./Oxford HS)

James Davis....................... OL..............6-3/275................................... Jackson, Miss./Murrah HS) Kelsey Douglas..................DB............5-11/180.....................Missouri City, Texas/Hightower HS) Devin Farrior.......................OT..............6-4/295................ Waynesboro, Miss./Wayne County HS) Jerry Harris........................DT..............6-4/280...............................Bessemer, Ala./Hueytown HS) Tyre’oune Holmes..............ATH...........5-11/170............................Tylertown, Miss./Tylertown HS)

C.J. Perry, Jr........................6-0/231........ LB............... FR.............................................Bessemer, Ala. (Bessemer Academy)

Nick Mullens......................QB.............6-0/170...................................Hoover, Ala./Spain Park HS)

Ta’Dren Kennedy.................5-7/218........ LB............ RS JR...........................................Hattiesburg, Miss. (Hattiesburg HS)

Evan Osborne.....................DB.............6-3/187............................................Pearl, Miss./Pearl HS)

Dasman McCullum..............6-4/237........ DL............ RS JR....................................................Laurel, Miss. (West Jones HS)

C.J. Perry............................ LB..............6-2/225.....................Bessemer, Ala./Bessemer Academy)

Wil Freeman........................6-6/241........ DL...............SO...................................................Flowood, Miss. (NW Rankin HS)

Ja’Boree Poole...................DE..............6-2/230...................... Brookhaven, Miss./Brookhaven HS)

Nic Bekkers.........................6-5/227........ DL............ RS JR.............................................................Perry, Ga. (Westfield HS)

Jamarcus Revies............... WR............5-11/175...........................................Petal, Miss./Petal HS)

Darrion Goudy....................5-10/213....... LB............ RS JR...............................Meridian, Miss. (Southeast Lauderdale HS)

Adam Williams...................6-2/282........ DL............ RS JR........................................................Tunica, Miss. (Coahoma CC)

Marquise Ricard................ WR.............6-2/180...................... Baton Rouge, La./Southern Lab HS) Draper Riley....................... TE..............6-3/260............................ Harvey, La./West Jefferson HS) Christopher Robinson.........DT..............6-2/265............................. Shreveport, La./Woodlawn HS)

Lance Schuffert...................6-0/229........DS...........RS SO.......................................................Prattville, Ala. (Prattville HS)

Jamil Murray.......................6-0/203........ LB............RS SO...................................................... Jacksonville, Fla. (Bolles HS)

Lelland Ducksworth............6-1/207........ LB.............RS FR.........................................Hattiesburg, Miss. (North Forrest HS)

Xavier Thigpen................... DL..............6-5/215...................................Soso, Miss./West Point HS)

Dylan Reda..........................6-1/230........ LB...............SR.......................... San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Santa Ana College)

Cameron Tom.....................OG.............6-4/265...............................Baton Rouge, La./Catholic HS)

50 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Tyler Sarrazin....................... K...............6-3/175..................................Geismar, La./Dutchtown HS) Jalen Square......................DB............5-10/180............................Mobile, Ala./McGill-Toolen HS)

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 51

JACKSON STATE TIGERS 2012 RESULTS: 7-5 Overall; 7-2 SWAC; 3-1 Home; 4-2 Away; 0-2 Neutral Post Season: 2012 SWAC Championship (Arkansas Pine Bluff 24 - JSU 21)

SCHEDULE Aug. 31........................at Tulane Sept. 7......... ALABAMA STATE Sept. 14......... at Tennessee St. Sept. 21..... TEXAS SOUTHERN Sept. 28........ at Southern Univ. Oct. 5... ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF Oct. 12.............at MS Valley St. Oct. 19..... GRAMBLING STATE Oct. 26...............at Prairie View Nov. 2................................OPEN Nov. 9........... at Alabama A&M Nov. 16.................. ALCORN ST.

Rakeem Sims

By WESLEY PETERSON

Jackson State Sports Information

he Jackson State Football Tigers had an outstanding 2012 season, as head coach Rick Comegy led the program to its sixth winning season during his seven year tenure. JSU finished with a 7-5 overall record and a 7-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference mark. The Tigers also won the SWAC Eastern Division title for the fourth time. The Tigers opened 2012 with inconsistent play at the quarterback position. Once the Tigers settled on transfer Clayton Moore as the full time signal caller in the third game JSU’s fortunes began to change. In addition to choosing a starting QB, the Tigers also established its ground game with Moore, Rakeem Sims and Tommy Gooden as the main ball carriers. Sims led the Tigers with 784 yards and nine

52 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

touchdowns on 152 attempts. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Moore finished with 633 yards and 11 touchdowns and Gooden had 601 yards and five touchdowns on only 107 carries. He lost only seven yards for the season. Standout Rico Richardson became the first wide receiver during the Comegy era to record over 1,000 singe season receiving yards. Richardson finished his senior season with 1153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 96.1 yards per game and 19.2 yards per catch. Zachary Pendleton, DeSuan McKenzie and Jairus Moll all showed JSU fans moments of the things to come in the future. Pendleton showed he could be the dependable go to receiver to move the chains and score in the red zone, McKenzie showed the ability to run good routes and get open and Moll displayed the ability to get open and pick up extra yardage after the catch. JSU’s

offense was second in the SWAC in scoring offense (28.5 ppg), second in total offense (401.6 ypg) and rushing offense (186.9 ypg). On the defensive side of the ball AllAmerican Joseph LeBeau received a lot of the preseason hype and attention. He also got a lot of attention on the field, as he was double teamed against virtually all of JSU’s opponents. This allowed for some of the team’s under the radar players to rise up. Transfer Cameron Loeffler led the team with 84 tackles. Loeffler proved to be one of the surest tacklers in the SWAC. He also showed some cover ability. Despite the double teams, LeBeau did finish second on the team in tackles with 66 and led the team in sacks with 10. Another player who seemed to come from nowhere, despite being a Tiger for the three previous seasons, was defensive lineman Johnathan Billups. With his size he proved to be one of the better run stoppers in the SWAC. Another pleasant surprise on the defensive live was freshman Tedderick Terrell. Terrell played opposite LeBeau and finished with 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Qua Cox was the leader of the secondary. He finished the season with 50 tackles and five interceptions. Cox’s five interceptions led the SWAC.

The JSU defense finished third in the SWAC in total defense (316.8 ypg) and was second in rushing defense (122.2 ypg). 2013 Season Outlook 2013 should be a season of continued growth for the Tigers squad. After falling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game last season and a new venue for the conference title game, JSU fans have high expectations. “I am excited about this season,” said JSU head coach Rick Comegy. “Although we lost Joseph LeBeau and Rico Richardson to graduation we have a great nucleus returning. We have a solid offense and a good defense.” OFFENSE Under Offensive Coordinator Derrick McCall the Tigers offense improved each week last season. JSU placed a renewed emphasis on the running game with Rakeem Sims and Tommy Gooden and should continue that trend in 2013. JSU fans should not expect the offense to be one dimensional. The Tigers have a stable of capable receivers and good signal callers. Senior Clayton Moore (6-2, 215) emerged as the offensive leader the Tigers were searching for last season. He passed for 1863 yards and 11 touchdowns and ran for another 633 yards and 11 touchdowns. Moore should be the incumbent going into fall camp the season. Red-shirt freshman LaMontiez Ivy (6-3, 230) will look to make his bid for the starting quarterback position. Ivy, was a three-star recruit as a dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school. He has all of the tools to make a very good QB for the Tigers in the years to come. Evan Ingram (6-3, 220, Jr.) is the only other returning signal caller with any playing experience last season. He played in five games and completed his only pass attempt. The J-State QBs will have a good group of wide receivers and tight ends. Zachary Pendleton (6-3, 190, Sr.) looks to improve on last season’s performance when he was the second leading receiver on the team with 33 receptions for 457 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 41.5 yards per game. DeSuan McKenzie (6-3, 190, So.) was tied for third on the team in receptions with 15 catches and 189 yards. Tobias Singleton (6-2, 190, Jr.) who also pulled in 15 passes for 132 yards looks to have a breakout year for the Tigers and looks to fill the void left with the departure of Rico Richardson. JSU fans should also look out for outstanding performances from Michael Perkins (6-1, 190, R-Jr.) and Jairus Moll (5-9, 180, So.) who each caught 10 passes. Dylan Douglas (6-2, 245, R-Jr.) was the main pass catcher at the tight end position. He caught

CLAYTON MOORE

six passes for 43 yards. JSU will have a stable of seasoned backs. Tommy Gooden (6-0, 215, Sr.) and Rakeem Sims (5-11, 225, R-Jr.) were the main weapons out of the backfield. Gooden rushed for five touchdowns and Sims finished with nine for the season. Each player has the ability to run between the tackles and pick up tough yards or can bounce a play outside and go the distance. The duo is expected to provide a dynamic one-two punch for the Tigers. A third back who should be able to carry the load for JSU is Alexander Montgomery (510, 190, So.). He started last season listed as a defensive back, but had an outstanding spring as a running back. He was a bright spot for JSU during its annual Blue and White game. Stedmon Capler (5-11, 250, So.) proved to be a capable full back. He opened holes for JSU backs and when called upon rushed for positive yards. Last season he had seven carries for 18 yards. JSU’s offensive line will be one of the most cohesive units on the team. Jordan Arthur (6-4, 300, Sr.) and Derrick Jean (6-3, 270, Sr.) will be the anchors of the unit. DEFENSE Under Defensive Coordinator Darrin Hayes JSU has, year in and year out, one of the best defensive units in FCS football. The Tigers look to continue that trend in 2013.

JSU will arguably have one of the best defensive lines in the SWAC. Teddrick Terrell (6-2, 230, R-So.) is expected to emerge as the next standout defensive end, following in the footsteps of Marcus Benard, Donavan Robinson and Joseph LeBeau. Last season Terrell recorded 37 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Cedric Hogan (6-3, 250, Sr.) will look to be the starter opposite Terrell. Last season he played in 10 games and had three tackles for loss. Ricky Hutchins (6-0, 280, Sr.), Michael Dukes (6-4, 315, R-Sr.), Armon Carter (6-3, 285, Sr.) and Coleman Johnson (6-2, 290, So.) will all compete for starting positions. Todd Wilcher (6-1, 230, R-Sr.) and John McNabb (6-1, 220, Sr.) will be the leaders of the JSU linebackers. Last season Wilcher was third on the team with 64 tackles and had seven tackles for loss. McNabb had 36 tackles. Ryan Griffin (5-11, 185, Jr.) emerged as a standout for the Tigers last year. He became a defensive playmaker as he recorded an interception, had five pass deflections, three forced fumbles, a blocked kick and a recovered fumble for a touchdown. John Moore (6-1, 215, Sr.) recorded 13 tackles and Ariane McCree (6-2, 250, R-Jr.) had 18 tackles. The Tigers return two of the better secondary members in the SWAC in Qua Cox See JSU continued on Page 66 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 53

ALCORN STATE BRAVES 2012 RESULTS: 4-7 Overall; 4-5 SWAC; 2-3 Home; 1-4 Away; 1-0 Neutral Post Season: NONE

A alcorn SCHEDULE

Aug. 31.......EDWARD WATERS Sept. 7................ at Miss. State

Sept. 14............MS VALLEY ST.

Sept. 21.... at Arkansas Pine Bluff Sept. 28.............at Alabama St. Oct. 5............... WARNER UNIV. Oct. 12...............Grambling St.* Oct. 19.........at Texas Southern Oct. 26.................... at Southern Nov. 2............ ALABAMA A&M Nov. 7................ PRAIRIE VIEW Nov. 16..........at Jackson State *Indianapolis

yards. The Braves have to replace their two leading tacklers on defense from 2012, Robert Gainwell and Brandon Thompson. The Braves return five players on offense as well as on the defensive side of the ball for the 2013 season.

JOHN GIBBS

By JEKEL SMITH

Alcorn Sports Information

ead coach Jay Hopson enters his second season at the helm of the Braves. Hopson came in last season and went to work right away guiding the Braves to a 4-7 overall record and 4-5 in conference play last season after a disappointing 2011 season. The Braves picked up some key wins under Hopson and his staff by defeating Grambling State 22-21 in comeback fashion, snapping a five-year losing streak to the Tigers. They also managed to upset undefeated SWAC leader at the time, Alabama A&M 22-21 on their home turf midway through the season. Also included was a national televised ESPN victory versus Southern University. The Brave football team is working hard to achieve bigger and better things next 54 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

year. Hopson looks to his secondary as one of their key areas to get them over the hump this season. The Braves led the conference and finished fourth in the FCS in pass defense by only allowing 156.0 yards per game. On offense, the Braves were very young last year, but with more experience and a stellar recruiting class should help the offense. In Hopsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first recruiting class he was able to add some depth to the offensive line by signing five new players. The Braves were able to play many young players last year and are looking forward to a team with more experience and added depth. In spring camp, the Braves were without several key players from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team. The quarterback position has tons of potential but the Braves have to replace speedy receiver, Terrance Lewis, who led the team in all-purpose

OFFENSE Sophomores John Gibbs and Jordan Payne are two of the three quarterbacks who significant time in 2013 for the Braves. Gibbs (6-6, 193, So.) started in 8 of the 11 games for the Braves completing 126 of 259 passes and threw eight touchdowns in his freshman season as a Brave. He will be challenged at the position by Payne and Brandon Vessel as well as two incoming freshmen. The Braves rushing attack is very talented and has plenty of experience returning. Arnold Walker (6-0, 225, Sr.) returns as the Braves leading rusher in 2013. Walker rushed for 392 yards and recorded four touchdowns. He is expected to share time with juniors Joe Price and Anthony Williams III. Though Lewis has graduated, the Braves receiving core should be an exciting group to watch this season. Senior Tavoris Doss (5-8, 160, Sr.) has great hands and quick feet and is expected to the Braves kick and punt

returner. Doss caught 27 passes for 315 yards (1st on team) and two touchdowns. Tollete George(5-10, 155, Jr.) suffered an offseason injury but caught 20 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns for the Braves last season. Sophomores LaDarrien Davis and Jarvis Turner both saw action last season for the Braves. Davis (6-1, 200, So.), a walk-on from Greenville, TX, has great size and amazing hands and Turner (6-2, 205, So.) has blazing speed and can really go after the deep ball. Johnathan Scott (6-2, 295, Jr.) and Iskeli Ongosia (6-4, 290, Jr.) head the offensive line for the Braves. The Braves bring in some great experience in junior college transfers, Ronald Perry and Jeremy Toines. Losing two starters from last season is a major issue but Coach Hopson believes the new additions to the crop will fill in those slots. DEFENSE On defense the Braves will have good depth in certain positions and new faces in other spots. Almost every defensive back and safety in the secondary returns in 2013, including junior Devon Francois (5-10, 195). Francois recorded 41 tackles, seven pass deflections, and six broken up passes. He also returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns in 2012. Also returning for his senior campaign is Jamison Knox (5-9, 185,). Knox racked up 37 tackles last season along with nine pass deflections and seven pass breakups. Anthony Williams, Jr. (5-10, 175, So.) had an excellent freshman season recording 36 tackles and blocked two PATs. Clinton, La native, Hendrick Taylor finished 2012 with 24 tackles and was one of the four Bravesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; players to record 10 tackles in one game. Coach Hopson brought in some height and depth to the secondary over the offseason which should help the Braves continue their dominance as one of the best secondaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the country. The linebacker tandem is led by junior Deion Roberson who posted an impressive sophomore season. Roberson (6-0, 260) accumulated 40 tackles and led the team in tackles for loss with 15. To go along with those ecstatic numbers, he forced two fumbles, and recorded two pass deflections. William Thomas (6-1, 235, Jr.) should see more action this year. Damon Watkins and converted linebacker Casey Freeman had a very good spring, as did walk-on candidates Charles Butler and Jestin Williams. Darien Anderson (6-2, 210, Fr.), Nelson Easterling (6-3, 245, Fr.), Stacey Garner (6-4, 220, Fr.), Michael Hurns (6-2, 200, Fr.) and Corey Williams (6-2, 235, Fr.) are five new faces who will join a young linebacker core this season. Carrington Aloese (6-3, 301, Jr.) have a difficult task on their hands as two of re-

A alcorn

Devon Francois

turnees on the defensive front. Between the two they only combined for 22 tackles in 2012 but with the exposure they received last season, they should be ready to take on any offensive line in the SWAC. Also, returning for the Braves is senior Kenry Tolbert (6-0, 230) and sophomores Andres Cook (5-11, 250) and Theavis Cooper (6-2, 235). SPECIAL TEAMS Marcquiso Jean (5-11, 189, So.) once again will handle the punting for the Braves this season. Jean averaged 35.4 yards per punt last season and placed eight punts inside the 20. Ernesto Santillan and skilled freshman Haiden McCraney will compete for the starting kicker job this upcoming year. Wide receiver Tavoris Doss is expected to return punts and some kickoffs. SCHEDULE Coach Hopson has elected not to take breaks this season and play all the way through. His Braves open the 2013 season at home against Edward Waters on Aug. 31. The following week, the Braves travel to Starkville, MS to take on SEC opponent Mississippi State in their second ever meet-

ing. The Braves then welcome the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State to open up SWAC league play on Sept. 14. To close out the month of September, the Braves have two tough conference road test against defending SWAC champion Arkansas PineBluff and Alabama State who dismantled the Braves in 2012 for homecoming last season. October kicks off with a first time matchup against Warner University for homecoming on the 5th. The Braves take a trip up North to Indianapolis, IN on the 12th to face Grambling State in their second ever appearance in the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Braves once again close out another month on the road at Texas Southern and an exciting night game against Southern University. The Braves host Alabama A&M on Nov. 2nd and cap off their home stand with a quick turnaround on a Thursday night against Prairie View which will be featured on ESPN-U Nov. 7th. In the season finale, the Braves return to Jackson to go head-tohead with arch rival Jackson State on Nov. 16th. - MSM

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 55

MS VALLEY ST. DELTA DEVILS 2012 RESULTS: 5-6 Overall; 5-4 SWAC; 3-2 Home; 2-4 Away; 0-0 Neutral Post Season: NONE

SCHEDULE Sept. 1..............at Florida A&M Sept. 7................. DELTA STATE Sept. 14.......................at Alcorn Sept. 21....... SOUTHERN UNIV. Sept. 28.............................OPEN Oct. 5............ at Alabama A&M Oct. 12...........JACKSON STATE Oct. 19...............at Prairie View Oct. 26............. ARKANSAS-PB Nov. 2.........at Grambling State Nov. 9........ TEXAS SOUTHERN Nov. 16........ ALABAMA STATE

KEVIN EUGENE

By KENNETH MISTER

MS Valley Sports Information

he Mississippi Valley State football team has improved each year under fourth-year head coach Karl Morgan, but the 2012 season proved to be the largest step forward for the Delta Devil program. MVSU finished the season with a 5-6 record, including three losses by less than 10 points. The Delta Devils finished with a 5-4 conference record and its most wins since 2006. Two of its wins came against Southern University and Grambling State, marking the first time Valley has defeated both teams in the same season since 1984. In addition, MVSU finished the season with the fourth-ranked defense in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), giving up just 279 yards per game. The stingy Valley de-

56 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

fense gave up 14 points or less in four games last season, including only 10 to eventual SWAC champion Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Delta Devils ended the season with three consecutive victories, with wins over Prairie View, Alcorn State and Texas Southern. In those three games, the Valley defense gave up just 32 combined points. Now, MVSU hopes that last year’s success carries over into the 2013 season. But the Delta Devils will have to do it without a large portion of its team from 2012, including its starting quarterback, two leading rushers and a chunk of its defensive starters. OFFENSE Without two-year starter Garrick Jones under center, the Delta Devils will have an open competition for its quarterback position. Returning quarterbacks include juniors Carl Davis (6-1, 180, Mobile, Ala.)

and Jeremy Collins (6-0, 215, Greenwood, Miss.). They’ll look to replace Jones, who made a name for himself by escaping defenders and rushing for 415 yards and six touchdowns last season. Having begun his freshman year as the starter in 2010, Davis has the most experience of the two returnees. The Mobile, Ala. native broke his ankle early in the season at South Carolina State, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the season. Graduating senior running backs Trey Bateaste and Brandon Stansell also won’t be able to help out MVSU this season. The two standouts backs combined to rush for 1,214 yards and seven TDs last season. Looking to pick up some of the slack will be junior Cortez Frizell (5-10, 195, Durant, Miss.), who rushed for 126 yards and a TD in 2012. The most talented offensive group for MVSU this season will likely be the receiving corps. Led the redshirt junior Julian Stafford, the Delta Devils will return four experienced receivers. Stafford (5-10, 180, R-Jr., Memphis, Tenn.) led Valley with 51 catches for 779 yards and four TDs while also returning two kickoff returns for a score. Richard Drake (6-2, 200, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.) also is expected to make an impact after picking up 12 catches for 173 yards and

a TD last season. The offensive line will be without leader Martin Davis, who played his final year last season. Valley will however have Timothy Johnson (6-4, 360, Jr., Clarksdale, Miss.), Eddie Wright (6-3, 285, Memphis, Tenn.), Wesley Steele (6-2, 260, Jr., Moss Point, Miss.) Justin Barner (6-2, 315, Sr., Clinton, Miss.) and Trevin Wallace (6-6, 315, So., Memphis, Tenn.). DEFENSE One area that MVSU could always count on last season to produce was the defense. For most of the season, the Delta Devils were ranked as the second in total defense in the FCS. And they did it was an experienced defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs. But seven of those players were seniors, who won’t be able to help Valley this year. But one of the most productive players will return. Robert Simpson (6-4, 255, Sr., Gulfport, Miss.), who was named First Team All-SWAC and an FCS All-American, led the nation in tackles for loss and will be looking to end his career with a bang. In 2012, Simpson finished with 59 tackles (22.5 for loss), seven sacks and two fumble recoveries. Alongside him on the front line will be Rico Shaw (6-2, 320, Sr., Ruleville, Miss.), D’Ondre Jackson (6-4, 340, So.), Cedric McField (6-2, 230, So., Jackson, Miss.) and Jacob Avery (6-5, 240, Sr., Carson, Calif.), who made the switch from tight end. Others who MVSU are hoping to make an impact include linebackers Jameel Franklin (6-0, 205, Sr., Jackson, Miss.) and Antonio Benson (6-1, 207, Sr., Crystal Springs, Miss.) and defensive backs Jeremy Johnson (5-9, 170, Jr., Bassfield, Miss.) and Kevin Eugene (5-11, 175, Sr., Miami, Fla.), who was second in the SWAC in interceptions with four last season and scored two TDs – one on a fumble return and another on an interception. SPECIAL TEAMS The MVSU special teams unit will be without a key contributor to last year’s success: placekicker Kevin Monzon, who died in April from injuries sustained in a car accident near Itta Bena. Monzon made two field goals last season after taking over the placekicking duties early in the season. “He was a coaches’ dream,” said Morgan, “with high character and low maintenance. He was a solid student and an athlete who was striving to get better. He went the extra mile.” The MVSU special teams unit will also be without punter Carlos Sanchez, who averaged 41.2 yards per punt last year. But Valley will have return specialist Julian Stafford, who averaged 29.5 yards per kick return and scored a pair of touchdowns.

JULIAN STAFFORD

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN With a national television appearance and the revival of a Delta rivalry, a muchanticipated schedule awaits Delta Devils players and fans. Valley will open the season for the first time in school history in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Sept. 1 against Florida A&M at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The game will be broadcasted live on either ESPN or ESPN2. “I’m very excited our team will have the chance to open the season on ESPN against Florida A&M,” said Morgan. “To play on national TV two years in a row is huge for our program. We can’t wait to get to Orlando.” In all, MVSU’s 2013 schedule includes six home games, including the Sept. 7 matchup against rival Delta State. It’ll mark the first time the two teams have faced each other since 2003. Valley will then travel to Alcorn State on Sept. 14 before coming back to Rice-Totten Stadium on Sept. 21 against Southern University, who the Delta Devils defeated 6-0 on ESPNU last season. Then on Oct. 5, MVSU will travel to Alabama A&M for a 2 p.m. kickoff before hosting rival Jackson State on Oct. 12. A trip to Prairie View

A&M will follow on Oct. 19 before celebrating homecoming Oct. 26 when the Delta Devils host defending SWAC champion Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Valley will begin November on the road at Grambling State on Nov. 2 before playing their final two games of the season against Texas Southern on Nov. 9 and Alabama State on Nov. 16. THE SEASON WILL BE A SUCCESS IF... With consistent quarterback play from either one of the returning quarterbacks or a newcomer, the Delta Devils could once again give its opponents headaches. MVSU has one of the most talented receivers in the conference in Julian Stafford and as long as he has someone to get him the ball, the Delta Devils should progress substantially on offense. They won’t have its two defensive leaders in linebacker Keven Woods and safety Carlos Hollis, but Kevin Eugene made a name for himself last season and should be able to keep Valley’s defense atop the conference – and possibly the nation again. - MSM 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 57

DELTA STATE STATESMEN 2012 RESULTS: 3-7 Overall; 1-4 GSC; 1-4 Home; 2-3 Away; 0-0 Neutral Post Season: None

SCHEDULE Sept. 7.............at MS Valley St. Sept. 13.....at Texas A&M-Commerce* Sept. 21....... at North Alabama Sept. 28.... FLORIDA Inst. Tech. Oct. 5............ at West Alabama Oct. 12...............................OPEN Oct. 19......... TARLETON STATE Oct. 24............. at Shorter Univ. Nov. 2................ VALDOSTA ST. Nov. 9................... CONCORDIA Nov. 16........... at West Georgia *Cowboys Stadium, Dallas

Patrick Bethley

By MARK H. STOWERS Contributing Writer

amily – a strong one – that’s what Todd Cooley is working to build with the Delta State football team. The rookie head coach is in his first season in Cleveland and has been around the Gulf South Conference as a player and assistant coach. So he understands the tradition, thirst for excellence and winning ways that have been wrapped up in Green and White. But he’s the third head coach in three successive seasons, so it’s time to reset and firm up the foundation in the Delta. And he knows just how to do it. “We do have a lot of tradition and we’re embracing that tradition,” Cooley said. “Not a lot of schools have that. Any new head coach wants to run a program his way but what I don’t want 58 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

to do is lose sight of that tradition and at the same time we’re trying to build a family atmosphere. We have a family atmosphere on our campus and we’re trying to build that into our football program.” With the new head-man taking over in the dad role, perhaps he’ll need a mix of Sheriff Andy Taylor’s wisdom, Mike Brady’s ability to meld biological and adopted siblings, Cliff Huxtable’s humor and love and Tim the Tool Man Taylor’s mechanical abilities. “Everything we talk about is family oriented. We don’t have team meetings, we have family meetings,” Cooley said. And in building this family, he’ll need the help of assistant coaches or “uncles” much like the talented Full House crew. “I think I have two of the best coordina-

tors around – Joe Williams our offensive coordinator and Charles Anthony our defensive coordinator – they’ve got a ton of experience between each other. I lean on those guys heavily and they do a good job,” Cooley said. The new headman at the Statesmen Ponderosa is bringing a fast paced look and feel to the game – on both sides of the line of scrimmage. “Our style of play is going to be different from the past. We’re going to play very, very up-tempo – aggressive on defense and uptempo on offense,” Cooley said. “That’s what we’re going to be about – and doing things right on and off the field.” Off the field: Doing Things Right You don’t build success by taking shortcuts or cheating the system and Cooley is looking and planning to get his “family” in line. “Just doing things right – going to class, community service, handling their business – getting advised early – handling their business on a day-to-day basis – just doing things the right way. It’s a lot of coach speak but we preach it ever day and that’s what we strive to do each day.” So look for the Statesmen to be on time,

in class and making a difference on and off the scoreboard this season with Cooley parenting them. Offense Cooley inherited players from two previous regimes so he’s got a lot of parts and pieces and it will take the Tool Man to figure out how to best use and adapt each one. In the spring game the team didn’t play a normal four-quarter scrimmage. They ran two plays a minute – a fast paced workout. “One hundred and three plays in about 50 minutes of scrimmage time,” Cooley said. “You can call it a niche but it’s our identity. We talk about being a family and then the way we want to play football with up-tempo and toughness. It’s a tough game and we think it’s tougher on our opponents when we play at our tempo.” Cooley informed his players to be ready for a tough spring when he was hired. “They came in and said, ‘you warned us but we had no idea.’ It’s only going to get faster,” he said. The new coach says his system isn’t necessarily complex. “We try to keep it as simple as we can and we’re going to be fundamentally sound but just do it faster than everybody else,” he said. “It’s no huddle and folks talk about Oregon and how fast they play and that’s what we’re shooting for.” The former offensive coordinator knows better than to try and call the offense as the head coach, so he’ll be coaching quarterbacks, communicating with Williams and letting him create and implement game plans. And Cooley will be working hard off the field as well to help his coaches spend more time being effective on it. “A lot of guys when they get their first head coaching job is they try to put too much on their plates and I don’t see how you can do all that,” Cooley said. “What I try to do on a daily basis is take care of as much stuff so our coaches can coach football.” Cooley will have academics, pre-game meals and “a lot of stuff that comes our way that takes away from the game of football and that’s anywhere in the country. But he’s an extraordinary coach and taught me a lot about football so why shouldn’t I let him call it. Joe and I have talked enough football over the years that we’re on the same page. And it’s the same way with Charles on defense.” DSU will dress out 115 players and will travel with 65 players – and there will be plenty of fresh new faces in that bunch. At quarterback, Dennis Robertson will be in the lead to try and win the starting position from among four vying for it. Robertson is a junior transfer from Holmes Community College.

TODD COOLEY

“There will be three other transfer quarterbacks in the fall as well so we should have a real good quarterback battle,” Cooley said. “We’ll have to make a decision pretty quickly.” Cooley and other Division II coaches will be scouring the area for players who may fall out of favor in Division I camps so his and every other DII roster can be fluid throughout the summer before school is in session. “There’s always movement and you have to make a decision, is a young man worth it and can he make a difference,” Cooley said. The offensive line has two returning players for DSU. “Dominique Hersey (6-foot, 2-inch – 250-pounds, senior) has moved to center. He did some really nice things in spring. Andre Lucious (6-feet, 340-pounds, junior) is a returning starting guard and we’re expecting big things from those guys.” In the backfield, DSU returns Richard

Freelon (6-feet, 205-pound, senior), redshirt freshman Tim Foy (5-foot, 6-inches, 195-pounds) and Bryce McBride (5-foot, 8-inches, 195-pounds, senior) will all bring their experience to the position. At receiver, Cooley is looking for D.J. Holley (6-foot, 3-inch, 190-pound, junior) and Jarvis York (6-feet, 175-pound, sophomore) to be leaders and probable starters. “I thought York had as good a spring as anybody and we’ll be bringing in new recruits at those positions as well. I’m excited about the receiving corp, our offensive line and our running backs,” Cooley said. At tight end, Reed Falkner (6-foot, 2-inch, 235-pound, senior) was the starter last year but missed spring practice. He will be competing against transfer James Johnson from Mississippi State. “I’m expecting big things from all those See DSU continued on Page 66 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 59

MISS. COLLEGE CHOCTAWS 2012 RESULTS: 2-8 Overall; 1-6 ASC; 1-3 Home; 1-5 Away; 0-0 Neutral Post Season: None

SCHEDULE Sept. 7......................MILLSAPS Sept. 14.............HUNTINGDON Sept. 21.............................OPEN Sept. 28.....at Webber International Oct. 5....... HARDIN-SIMMONS Oct. 12...........at Sul Ross State Oct. 19...........HOWARD PAYNE Oct. 26........TEXAS LUTHERAN Nov. 2......... at E. Texas Baptist Nov. 9......at Louisiana College Nov. 16....MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

Jonathon Redd

By DAVID NICHOLS

recruiting class to get the Choctaws back in contention in the ASC.

OFFENSE On the offensive side of the ball, the Choctaws had an up-and-down season. They scored 24 points or more in five games but were also shut out twice. Injuries rattled the skill positions as MC was on their 8th-string running back and 4th-string quarterback by the end of the season. The offensive line was a bright spot as all five players started 10 games, and the Choctaws will need that durability as they head into 2013. The quarterback competition should settle on the services of junior Jonathon Redd (5’11”, 195) and sophomore Stacey Dillard

MC Sports Information

he 2012 Mississippi College football season was a struggle as the Choctaws went 2-8 overall, and 1-7 in the American Southwest Conference. Injuries took their toll on the year, as MC only had nine players start all 10 games of the season. With a young team last year that had to rely on freshmen and sophomores, the 2013 season appears to be one where the Choctaws can bounce back with players that are one year older and one year wiser. Head coach Norman Joseph and his staff are hoping that a year of experience will go along with a talented 60 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

(6’0”, 205). Redd started the first six games of the year in 2012 before being injured for the final four games. The Mobile, Ala. native threw for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 58% of his passes. Redd had a career-high 338 yards and four touchdowns against Sul Ross State. Dillard played in the final five games of the year and earned a start. The McKinney, Texas native passed for 367 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 194 yards and two scores. He completed a season-high 16 passes for 186 yards in the season finale against #2 Mary Hardin-Baylor. Sophomore Therion Robinson (5’11”, 185) will come into the season as the top option at the running back position. The Fort Walton Beach, Fla. native rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but missed the final eight games of the season due to injury. His combination of size and speed makes Robinson a big threat out of the backfield. Sophomore Otis Smith (5’7”, 175) led the team in rushing in 2013, despite only playing in three games on the year. The Spanish Fort, Ala. native rushed for 257 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 85.7 yards per game and 6.1 yards per carry. In his first two collegiate appearances, Smith had the only 100-yard rushing games for the Choctaws.

At wide receiver, the Choctaws return their top two pass-catchers in seniors Alex Archer (6’1”, 180) and Les Lemons (5’10”, 185). Archer caught 48 passes for 738 yards and five touchdowns, including the gamewinning 77-yard catch in the 31-24 win over Webber International. Lemons caught 35 passes for 400 yards and two scores, while also returning 16 kick-offs for 318 yards. Junior Kirk Bryant (6’0”, 170) and sophomore Keaton Yeatts (6’3”, 170) made strides as the season progressed and are poised for breakout seasons in 2013. Junior Kris Sanders (6’1”, 180) also caught the eye of the coaching staff as they season closed out and will push for playing time this season. The tight end position is one that is very important in coach Joseph’s offense, but only produced five catches for 18 yards over 10 games. Sophomore Justin Sones (6’3”, 235) caught four passes, including a touchdown, over five starts last season. The coaches were pleased with his progress in the offseason and spring practice, giving the Choctaws another viable weapon on offense. Along the offensive line, MC will have some important holes to fill as they search for replacements for two-time All-ASC performer Cody Saxton and three-year starter Brennan Herrmann. A rarity in today’s game, the Choctaws started the same five offensive linemen in all 10 games. Saxton was the starting center for MC, while Herrmann started at left tackle. While they lose two important cogs in the line, the Choctaws return three seniors that have two years of starting experience. Sylvain Alarcon (6’0”, 250) has started 24 games in three seasons, earning a starting spot in his freshman year. Alarcon was the starting guard for MC last year but has seen action at nearly every position along the line, making him a versatile option. Also returning are Matt Casanova (6’0”, 265) and Eric Madere (6’1”, 280). Casanova is the most athletic linemen on the team and even saw action as tight end as a sophomore. Madere opened the season at center in 2013, but made the move and flourished at guard as the season progressed. The Choctaws have made a major addition in the offseason as senior A.J. Antonescu (6’3”, 290), a transfer from the University of Memphis, joins the offensive line. The Ridgeland, Miss. native played at Hinds Community College out of high school. He started five games for the Memphis Tigers in 2011 and worked over 300 snaps in nine games. DEFENSE The defense was also a roller coaster ride for the Choctaws on the season. They led the American Southwest Conference in pass defense, only allowing their opponents to

Doc Ward

pass for 224.6 yards per game. However, they ranked 8th in rushing defense as the opposing teams had over 250 yards on the ground per contest. Individually, the Choctaws had several standout performances, but a team concept will be vital as they look to improve in 2013. The defensive line returns two outside rushers that have big talent and another year of experience under their belts. Junior Williams (6’3”, 251) has started 19 of 20 games over his first two seasons and recorded 19 tackles in 2012. He tallied a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the 31-24 win over Webber International. Sophomore Joseph Comeaux (6’1”, 235) started eight games as a rookie and made waves during spring practice. His size and speed make him a threat coming from the outside. At linebacker, the Choctaws return two of their top six tacklers from 2012 in senior Doc Ward (6’2”, 245) and sophomore

Brooks Villarreal (5’11”, 210). Ward has 99 career tackles, including a career-high 67 in 2012. The Monroe, La. native had an ASC season-high 19 tackles in the loss to Howard Payne. Villarreal started all 10 games of his freshman season and finished second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. After a year in the program, the Spring, Texas native is set to do big things in 2013. The defensive backfield is where the Choctaws bring back the most talent and experience as four of five starters return. Senior Keith Villafranco (5’7”, 165) headlines the group after being named a D3Football. com First Team All-American in 2012. He led the team and finished fourth in the ASC with 76 tackles, including a league-high 59 solo tackles. Villafranco finished second in the nation with six forced fumbles and 14th in the country with 16 passes defended. See MC continued on Page 67 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 61

BELHAVEN BLAZERS 2012 RESULTS: 6-5 Overall; 4-2 SSAC; 3-3 Home; 3-2 Away; 0-0 Neutral Post Season: None

SCHEDULE Aug. 31.......... Texas College Sept. 7.....at Louisiana College Sept. 14......U. of Cumberlands Sept. 21.....Cumberland Univ. Sept. 28.........at Campbellsville Oct. 5.................................OPEN Oct. 12...... at Bluefield College Oct. 19......... at Reinhardt Univ. Oct. 26.........LINDESY WILSON Nov. 2........... FAULKNER UNIV. Nov. 9.............at Pikeville Univ. Nov. 16.............. at Bethel Univ. we want to be and where ultimately as players and staff we want to be this coming fall.”

VICTOR BYARS

By KIRK McDONNEL

Belhaven Sports Information

he Belhaven football team came within a few yards of the programs first Mid-South Conference title in 2012. The Blazers have now been on the doorstep and hope that the 2013 campaign will produce a long awaited MSC crown. Belhaven showed a tremendous amount of resiliency after a rough 0-3 start to the 2012 season, finishing with a 6-5 record. Truth be told, if a few plays here or there go differently the team could have had even more victories. The Blazers had some outstanding accomplishments in 2012 individually and as a team, but the key to a title are victories on the score-

62 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

board. The team believes the milestones gained in 2012 will translate into more wins in 2013. “We did a lot of good things statistically, but our record wasn’t where we wanted it to be,” said Head Coach Joe Thrasher. “At the end of the day playing in a conference championship is one thing, but winning a conference championship is our goal. To taste some success last year was good and too completely revamp an offense from what Belhaven has been known for and to change a demeanor of the defense was phenomenal for us. To start 0-3 and then win 6 of 8 to close the season was also big for us. I’m excited about the direction of Belhaven football, excited about the young men coming back, and I think our seniors from this past season helped lay a foundation of where

OFFENSE In 2012, Belhaven set out to transform the offense into one that possessed more balance between the running and passing game and needless to say that transition produced some incredible results. After the rocky 0-3 start to the season, the offense gelled along with the defense to produce some record setting numbers. The Blazers shattered the school record for most rushing yards in a season with 2,488 in 2012. The previous mark was set in 1999 with 1,709. Belhaven also set a new bench mark for rushing touchdowns with 27 last year. The previous school record was 19 recorded during the 2011 campaign. Belhaven was the third best rushing team in the MSC with 226.2 yards per game and fourth in the conference in scoring at 32.9 points per contest. Running back Kadero Edley had a major impact on the team last season and the Blazers look forward to having him back in 2013. Edley, a senior from Raymond, Miss, rushed for a team high 942 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2012 season. Edley averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 85.6 yards per game. Edley ranked fifth in the MSC in

yards per carry and was named to the MSC All-Conference First Team. One of Belhaven’s top recruits on offense coming into last season was running back Aaron Spikes who transferred in from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Spikes, a native of Dallas, TX, had three carries in the 2012 spring game and reeled off 89 yards in his limited time on the field. Spikes has great speed and is an explosive player in the backfield when healthy. Unfortunately, Spikes had his 2012 season wiped out due to an injury, but is expected to be back at full strength and a major contributor in 2013. Not much can happen on offense if there isn’t a solid front line to lead the way. The Blazers are fortunate to have one of the top tackles in the nation in Matt Hall returning to anchor the offensive front. Hall, a senior from Russellville, Ark, was a MSC First Team All-Conference Selection following the 2012 season. Joining Hall on the line will be junior transfer Jabari Buckley. Buckley comes to Belhaven after starting his career at Bethel University (Tenn.). Buckley attended classes at Belhaven in 2012, but due to MSC transfer rules to schools within the same conference, had to sit out last season. Buckley is set to go for this year and will be a big addition to the offensive line. The quarterback position will have a new look this year with senior and four year starter Alex Williams graduating following the 2012 season. Junior quarterback Raymond Cotton could be in the mix for the starting role after playing in nine games last year. Belhaven is also excited about redshirt freshman Darrell Williams out of Fruitdale, Ala. It should be pretty good battle in camp to see who comes out on top with the starting role. “I’m excited about what we can do offensively this season,” said Thrasher. “The key every season is to see the guys come together in camp and get everyone on the same page in anticipation for the season opener at the end of August against Texas College. That’s the first step to making a run at a conference championship.” DEFENSE The defense had one of its best years in program history in 2012, ranking in the top 10 in multiple statistical categories. The Blazers were second in the NAIA in pass defense per game, allowing just 137.1 yards through the air. Belhaven ranked sixth in total defense (271.5 ypg), and were 10th in points allowed at just 17.1 per contest. This season Coach Thrasher and Defensive Coordinator Danny White believe the defense can be even better. If that’s to be the case the play of the defense line will be a determining factor. The front four in Belhav-

KADERO EDLEY

en’s 4-2-5 scheme has the most depth and talent returning from a year ago. Victor Byers enters his junior season as one of the top players on the defensive front. Byers, who hails from Navarre, Fla., tallied 23 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and two quarterback hurries in 2012. Joining Byers up front will be sophomore Joshua Aldrin who saw time as a freshman especially late in the season. Aldrin, a native of Woodridge, Ill., totaled nine tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. Senior Roy Williams Jr. began making the transition to the defensive side of the ball during the spring and will see playing time on the defensive line as well. Williams, from Brandon, Miss, was a running back for the Blazers in 2012. “Our defensive line is the best I’ve seen it coming out of spring practice,” said Thrasher. “We might be young in a few positions but we are athletic and have an opportunity for success. I think Coach White has done

a tremendous job building our defense. We were a top 10 defense in the country last year and I expect great things from our defense again this season.” At linebacker, Darius Wren is Belhaven’s top returner after a big year during his first campaign as a Blazer. Wren, a senior from Shucktown, Miss, was third on the team in total tackles with 73 and tackles for a loss with 8.5. Wren was second on the team with three interceptions, led the team with 10 pass breakups and had two fumble recoveries. He was an MSC Honorable Mention AllConference selection. Belhaven’s defensive backfield will be led by returner Justin Mims. In this particular scheme, the backs have to be able to not only defend the pass but also the run which Mims can do. Mims, a senior from Albany, Ga., paced the Blazers in interceptions (4) See Belhaven continued on Page 67 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 63

MILLSAPS MAJORS 2012 RESULTS: 7-3 Overall; 3-1 SAA; 3-2 Home; 4-1 Away; 0-0 Neutral SAA 2012 Regular Season Champions

SCHEDULE Sept. 7............ at Miss. College Sept. 14................. LA GRANGE Sept. 21................ POINT UNIV. Sept. 28.............................OPEN Oct. 5.......................... HENDRIX Oct. 12.... at Trinity (San Antonio) Oct. 19........ at Birmingham So. Oct. 26....................at Sewanee Nov. 2..............................BERRY Nov. 9........................... CENTRE Nov. 16...................... at Rhodes

MIKE BARTHELEMY

By DANIEL GRIFFIN

Millsaps Sports Information

he Millsaps Majors begin their second season in the new Southern Athletic Association and have their sights set on a second straight regular season title. Coach Aaron Pelch led the Majors to a 7-3 mark in the first season of the Southern Athletic Association, and the Majors boasted the conferences offensive and defensive players of the year. Gone is signal caller Garrett Pinciotti but near 1,000 yard rusher Mike Barthlememy is back and expectations remain high in Jackson. The Majors’ offense led the conference at over 430 yards pet game and 36 points per contest. In addition to replacing Pinciotti, the Majors will lose the services of wide out Konner Joplin and three members of a sensational offensive line led by Nathan Quick. The Majors 64 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

defense led the conference in sacks and was second with 18 forced turnovers. While the majority of the Majors’ pass rush returns for 2013, Millsaps will have to replace tackling machine Jeb White. OFFENSE The Majors have the tough task of replacing conference offensive player of the year Garrett Pinciotti. The three-year starter threw for 6500 yards in his career as a Major. Also graduating was backup quarterback Keegan Joplin, leaving the Majors with a pair will be sophomores as the only quarterbacks on the roster and opens the doors for a wide open competition for snaps this summer. New offensive coordinator Jason Guthrie enters after a successful run at Trinity (TX). He will look to keep the Majors’ up-tempo pace and ride the legs of a pair of dynamite

backs to offensive success. Mike Barthelemy (5-9, 190) led the conference with 14 rushing touchdowns and just missed a 1000 yard season. Sharing the running duties will be Taz Watson (5-9, 185). Watson averaged over four yards a carry last year and was second on the team with three touchdowns. Taylor Morris (5-10, 208) will be the lead blocker out of the backfield for the Majors out of the fullback position. The wide-out corps will be led by Trevor King (5-9, 180). The will be junior led the Majors as a sophomore with 47 catches and was second on the team with 659 yards. Fellow will be junior Zander Romano(6-2, 205) returns after a 39 catch 5 touchdown sophomore season. Also watch for Charlie Strauss (5-9, 175) as a wide-out that was turning some heads this past spring. Anchoring the offensive line will by Kyle Skene (6-3, 240). The senior center will be a unifying force for a line that has seen great success over the past few seasons. Skene has been an All-Conference player multiple times during his Majors career. DEFENSE Zach Bell (6-0, 220) returns to the Majors as the reigning conference defensive player of the year. Bell registered eight sacks and

15 tackles for loss for a Majors defense that loves to bring pressure and wreak havoc. Joining Bell on the defensive line will be first-team All-Conference member Jeff Milner (6-0, 230). As a sophomore, Milner had 41 tackles including six tackles for loss and five sacks. Alex Stewart (5-11, 220) rounds out a stout D-line. Stewart earned secondteam All-Conference honors with a solid season in 2012 that saw three tackles for loss and four sacks. Nick Arnold returns to lead a secondary after a 63 tackle sophomore season that earned him All-Conference honors. He will be joined by Jonathan Moore who led the defense in pass deflections and registered a pair of interceptions. Also keep an eye on Alex Jackson (5-8,180), he was fifth on the team in 2012 with 53 tackles and a pair of pass breakups. The linebackers will be led by Dustin Harscher (6-0, 195). As a junior, Harscher was second behind Jeb White with 47 tackles out of the linebacker position. As a freshman, Eric Martin (6-1, 210) had 46 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. He will look improve on what was already a solid start to his Major career. SPECIAL TEAMS The kicking duties return to will be junior Beau Brady. As a sophomore, Brady connected on 35 of 38 extra points and was 4 for 7 on field goals. Brady has already made 56 extra points in his career, tied for fourth all-time. He will move into sole possession of second place this season. Kick returning duties go to speedster Zach Cart (5-9, 168). The track and field star averaged 22 yards per kick return as a freshman including a 91-yard touchdown dash against Point. Punting duties are an open competition as the Majors graduated All-Conference punter Stephen Gates. THE SCHEDULE The Majors’ schedule in 2013 employs an expanded conference schedule as the Southern Athletic Association grows to seven teams for 2013 and beyond. Conference foes in the Hendrix (AR) Warriors and Berry (GA) Vikings install first year programs. The Majorsí schedule opens in traditional fashion with the annual Backyard Brawl against the Mississippi College Choctaws. The Majors tipped the Choctaws 23-17 last year in Jackson and will look to avenge an overtime loss to Mississippi College two years ago in Clinton. Three home games follow for the Majors including return trips from LaGrange College and Point University. The Majors rolled up 108 points against LaGrange and Point in 54-7 and 54-28 wins last year and will look to do the same in the friendly confines of Harper Davis Field.

zach bell

The Majors then open up conference play and October by welcoming in Hendrix College to the Southern Athletic Association. Millsaps closes out their non-conference season with a trip back to Trinty (TX). The two schools were long-time rivals in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and Trinity hung a 35-24 win on the Majors last year in San Antonio. Payback will also be on the Majors’ mind the following weekend as they travel to take on the Birmingham Southern Panthers. The Panthers earned a share of the SAA crown last year with a 35-21 win over the Majors at Harper Davis Field. Conference play continues as the Majors will have to deal with the option attack of the Sewanee Tigers. The Majors handled the Tigers last year in a 4228 win. November starts with homecoming for the Majors will bring in another firstyear program in the Berry College Vikings. Seniors will be honored the following week against the Centre Colonels in the home finale. The Majors made the lengthy trip to Danville, KY last year and earned a hardfought 33-16 victory. The regular season closes out with a trip to Memphis to take on the Rhodes Lynx. This will be the sec-

ond straight year the Majors have traveled to Memphis due to conference expansion. The Majors went to Memphis last year and rolled to a 47-13 win. THE SEASON WILL BE A SUCCESS IF... “If we can be able to replace some seniors,” coach Aaron Pelch said. “Replacing a three-year starter like Garrett (Pinciotti) at quarterback is key.” “We also need to sure up the middle after losing Jeb White,” Pelch added. Consistency in replacing the seniors will be one of the keys to success for the Majors this season. Millsaps has the players and the system to do just that. Rushing will also be a benchmark for sucess for the Majors. Rushing the ball with Barthelemy and Watson will help whoever wins this summerís quarterback battle. And rushing the passer, Millsaps led the Southern Athletic Association with 31 sacks in 2012. Coach Pelch continues to bring in great talent from all over and the road to a Southern Athletic Association title will have to go through Jackson. - MSM

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 65

JSU continued from Page 53

(6-0, 185, R-Sr.) and Cameron Loeffler (6-0, 208, Sr.). Cox should be listed among the best defensive backs in the FCS. Last season he led the SWAC with five interceptions and had 50 tackles, two sacks and eight pass breakups. Loeffler led the team with 84 tackles from the safety position. He also had five pass break ups and 4.5 sacks. Travis Woods (5-8, 174, R-Sr.) also made an impact last season, recording 23 tackles. Antonio Sutton (5-11, 185, Jr.) finished with eight tackles last season. Joe Perry (6-1, 190, R-So.) and Mike Johnson (5-8, 190, R-So.) will both compete for the cornerback position opposite Cox. SPECIAL TEAMS JSU is expected to have a solid special teams unit in 2013. Kicker Ryan Deising (5-8, 170, So.) had a solid freshman campaign as he finished with seven made field goals with a long of 41. Red-shirt freshman Darcy Williams is proDSU continued from Page 59

guys,” Cooley said. DEFENSE An aggressive Statesmen defense will greet opponents this fall and it will also be one that won’t wear down so easily. In working each practice against Cooley’s up-tempo offense the defense should be in great physical shape. “It’s like Coach Anthony has said, ‘if we can handle what y’all are doing in practice then when a team starts breaking the huddle or a team goes to a no-huddle but they’re really not a fast tempo then its going to be easier for us.’ Plus, its not rocket science, it allows you to get your guys in shape by playing football. You don’t have to run a lot of sprints and a ton of this and a ton of that.” The key to surviving and thriving in Cooley’s system is getting his players to a point where “they aren’t thinking.” “When a team is thinking they are a step slower. We want our guys reacting,” he said. “And I know the negatives of this system – I know that you put your defense in some tough situations at times – but we’ll handle that as a family.” Jasper Williams (6-foot, 2-inches, 230-pounds, senior) will anchor the defensive line while two retuning linebackers – Ixavier Triplett (6-foot, 1-inch, 225-pound, senior) and Rory Island (6-feet, 210-pounds, junior) are expected to bring big things for Cooley’s defense. In the secondary, transfer free safety Brian Walker from Northeast Community College “caught my eye and did some big things in spring,” Cooley said. “Diego Lubin (5-foot, 11-inch, 245-pound, redshirt junior) will be 66 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

jected to serve as the punter for the Tigers this season. However, should Williams go down with injury or is in-effective, Michael Perkins will serve double duty as a receiver and punter. Before going down with a knee injury last season he had 33 punts for 1269 yards. Shaun Wilmore (6-1, 200, Jr.) will serve as the snapper for JSU. Moss and Singleton are projected to serve as the main punt and kick returners. THE SCHEDULE The Tigers offer JSU fans an exciting 11 game slate of football action, five of which are home games at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. JSU opens the season with a trip to New Orleans, LA to take on Tulane on Aug. 29. This meeting will be the first between the two programs. The Tigers will open their home schedule on Sept. 7 against the Alabama State Hornets. On Sept. 14 JSU will host the Tennessee State Tigers in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, TN. back at defensive end. We moved him from backer to defensive end. Trent Warren (5foot, 10-inch, 170-pound, senior) was a cornerback last year and he did some great things in spring practice. So we’ve got a little bit of a nucleus back on defense that we feel we can build upon. SPECIAL TEAMS Cooley will be looking to foster and adopt some new kickers and he’s got a mirror image to choose from for field goals and PATs. “We don’t have a special teams coordinator – we break that up among the coaches,” he said. “We signed two freshmen kickers. They’re both really good. One’s a right-footed kicker and one’s a left-footed kicker. They both showed up the same day and both did well in tryouts. We’re going to let them fight it out but I like having both angles and if we have to use them both, we will. Matthew Wylie and Vince Cerratta will be good kickers for years to come for Delta State. Punting will be handled by Southwest Community College transfer, Justin Hoke. “He’s a good punter and he’s very athletic,” he said. “The young man came in as a walk on but got a scholarship by the end of spring ball,” he said. “Josepsh Smith is our deep snapper and we’ve signed a freshman deep snapper. We feel like we’ve got some great talent to pick from.” Cooley will be looking to put his best athletes on special teams. “We’ll use starters. The best players will play. How a guy in that 65 gets on the bus is that you get on the bus with special teams. I’m not one of these coaches that holds back his best linebacker. You can beat on special

JSU will welcome the Texas Southern Tigers to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sept. 21 and the Tigers will close out the month of Sept. in Baton Rouge, LA against the Southern Jaguars on the 28. The Tigers will open the month of October with its third home game of the season. On Oct. 5 JSU will host the Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions in a rematch of the 2012 SWAC championship game. JSU will then travel to Itta Bena, MS to face the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils. JSU will face Grambling State for the homecoming game on Oct. 19 before traveling to Shreveport, LA to take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers at Independence Stadium. The Tigers have an open date on Nov. 2 and will return to action Nov. 9 to take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in Huntsville, AL. The Tigers and the Braves of Alcorn State will square off in the regular season finale on Nov. 16 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. - MSM

teams,” he said. THE SCHEDULE DSU has signed a four-year contract with Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena and will travel to play the Delta Devils. The second week will see DSU on the road for a special game in Dallas, Texas in Cowboys Stadium against Lone Star Conference Texas A&M University – Commerce. The game will help kickoff Hispanic Heritage Month and will be played on Friday September 13 at 5:00 p.m. The schedule also includes Gulf South Conference foes, University of North Alabama, University of West Alabama, Shorter University, Valdosta State and the University of West Georgia. “It’s a chance of a lifetime to go play in Cowboy Stadium. We’re excited about that,” he said. “We go to North Alabama and start the conference race. Our conference is tough year in and year out. I know every year you’ve got bring your best every game. Valdosta is defending national champions and West Alabama had a great run last year. We’ve just got to bring it every night. It’s what you want.” Cooley is “excited about these young men and I think our biggest challenge will be just coming together early in camp as a family and finding internal leadership.” Maybe we should keep an eye on YouTube for a remake video ala the ’79 Pittsburgh Pirates and Willie Stargell’s version of “We are Family” but one that should be shaded green and white with plenty of uptempo football action. - MSM

www.mssportsmagazine.com

MC continued from Page 61

Senior Stephen Miner (5’10”, 178) also returns after starting every game for the Choctaws at safety. Miner was second on the team with 68 tackles and led MC with five fumble recoveries. The Byram, Miss. native also had an interception return for a touchdown against Webber International. Also returning are senior Austin Gray (5’11”, 185) and junior A.J. Hardy (5’7”, 174). Gray made the move from offense to defense in the offseason and finished fourth on the team with 67 tackles. As a safety, he provides the Choctaws with leadership on the back end. Hardy was an Honorable Mention All-ASC selection after finishing fifth on the team with 55 tackles. He posted a seasonhigh 13 tackles against Sul Ross State. special teams BELHAVEN continued from Page 63

and was sixth on the team in total tackles (40). Mims had a team high 16 passes defended and played all 11 games in 2012. SPECIAL TEAMS Belhaven will have some new faces on special teams this season at the kicker and returner positions. The Blazers lost senior placekicker James “Bo” Bryan and senior returner Isiah Wiley, leaving some big shoes to fill. Sophomore Devin Williams could have the inside track at the punter position after seeing limited playing time in 2012 as a freshman. Williams, a native of Fruitdale, Ala, punted 10 times for an average of 37.4 yards per kick with a long punt of 55 yards. He pinned opponents inside their 20 yard line on three separate occasions. Redshirt freshman Caleb Wiechmann from Houston, TX will challenge Williams in camp for the starting role. The Blazers have had to hit the recruiting trail to land who they think could be the next starting placekicker. Freshman Alonso Acosta from Houston, TX is a player the coaching staff is really high on coming into training camp in August. Although he didn’t return any kicks in 2012 due to injury, senior Rashad Wynes is the leading candidate to pick up those duties in 2013 coming into camp. Wynes averaged 14.5 yards per punt return with a touchdown and boasted a 22.1 yards per kickoff return average in 2011. “Special teams are a big part of what we do and we are going to continue to focus on that,” added Thrasher. “Despite having some new faces on this area of the team, I’m confident in their talent and expect us to perform well in this very important facet of the game.”

The Choctaws will have a hole to fill on special teams as two-time All-ASC placekicker Chris Campbell graduated following the 2012 season. He was deadly on kickoffs, tallying 16 touchbacks, and opponents started at their own 28-yard line on average. He was also 17-of-32 on field goals with a long of 52 yards in his three-year career. Senior Craig McCraney (6’0”, 195) returns as the team’s punter in 2013 after a First Team All-ASC selection in 2012. The Clinton, Miss. native finished third in the league with a 40.2 yard per punt average. On the season, he had 12 out of 61 punts go over 50 yards with a long of 57. McCraney will open the season as the team’s placekicker, as well. THE SCHEDULE The Choctaws will play six out of 10 games at Robinson-Hale Stadium, includTHE SCHEDULE Belhaven will play nine Mid-South Conference opponents with five of those games counting in the West Division Standings. The Blazers will open the year with two non-conference games against Texas College and Louisiana College. Belhaven will host Texas College at H.T. Newell Field on August 31st at 7:00 PM followed by a road contest at Louisiana College on September 7th at 7:00 PM. The Blazers will then return home to entertain University of the Cumberlands (KY) at 6:00 PM on September 14th. Cumberlands is ranked 7th in the Spring NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The schedule doesn’t get any easier the following week when Belhaven opens divisional play against Cumberland University (TN) at 1:30 PM. Cumberland is ranked 20th in the NAIA spring poll. Five of Belhaven’s remaining seven games are on the road including three straight starting at Campbellsville (KY) on September 28th. After a bye week, the Blazers hit the road to play Bluefield (VA) at 1:30 PM on October 12th followed by a visit to Reinhardt (GA) SHACKELFORD continued from Page 35

you want championships, you’re going to have to sacrifice. I think that’s something that’s understood. I think that’s something that we have to address and something we have to continue to work on.” A teammate who will be helping lead by example this year is senior linebacker Mike Marry, who was honored by being named the Chucky Mullins Award winner this spring. Shackelford said he and Marry have different styles but both want the best for the team and he thinks Marry

ing the annual “Backyard Brawl” against Millsaps on September 7th to open the season. MC opens ASC play with a home game against Hardin-Simmons on October 5th, while “Homecoming” will be against Texas Lutheran on October 26th. The Choctaws close out the season with 2012 Division III semi-finalist Mary Hardin-Baylor at home on November 16th. THIS SEASON WILL BE A SUCCESS IF... With so many injuries in 2012, the 2013 year will be a success if the Choctaws can stay healthy. Several players saw significant action last season and have another year of experience under their belt. The Choctaws are poised to have a lot of depth and attempt to wear teams down throughout the season. - MSM

on October 19th. Belhaven returns to the friendly confines of H.T. Newell Field for back to back home games against Lindsey Wilson (KY) on October 26th and Faulkner University (AL) on November 2nd. Faulkner is receiving votes in the spring poll. Belhaven will wrap up the season with two road games starting at the University of Pikeville on November 9th at 1:30 PM. The season finale will take place in McKenzie, Tennessee at 9th ranked Bethel University on November 16th at 6:00 PM. THE SEASON WILL BE A SUCCESS IF... “I think the biggest key to a successful season lies in the first four or five games,” said Thrasher. “We have some really tough opponents and need to come out and establish ourselves early, move into the polls, and establish a winning culture right off the bat. When you are playing some of the best teams to start the year off, if you can get wins under your belt momentum can go your way so it’s really important how we start this year.” - MSM has really improved about taking charge. “We have different personalities but I think with the chain of events that has happened, I think it has made Mike more vocal. He’s very deserving of the award,” Shackelford said. “Mike is actually a quiet guy. Mike naturally really doesn’t say much but when he does speak, you better listen because he’s got something to be said. You can bank on it being important. That’s the type of leader he is. We have different leadership traits but the all work together.” - MSM

Subscribe online at www.mssportsmagazine.com 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 67

2013SECSCHEDULES ALABAMA

ARKANSAS

AUBURN

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

Aug. 31............Virginia Tech#

Aug. 31.............. LA-Lafayette

Aug. 31..... Washington State

Aug. 31......................... Toledo

Aug. 31.................. @Clemson

Sep. 7.............................OPEN

Sep. 7........................Samford

Sep. 7............Arkansas State

Sep. 7...............@Miami (Fla.)

Sep. 7.............South Carolina

Sep. 14.............@Texas A&M

Sep. 14...........Southern Miss

Sep. 14.................Miss. State

Sep. 14...........................OPEN

Sep. 21.......... Colorado State

Sep. 21....................@Rutgers

Sep. 21.......................... @LSU

Sep. 21..................Tennessee

Sep. 21..... North Texas State

Sep. 28..................... Ole Miss

Sep. 28................ Texas A&M

Sep. 28...........................OPEN

Sep. 28.................@Kentucky

Sep. 28..............................LSU

Oct. 5............... Georgia State

Oct. 5........................ @Florida

Oct. 5........................ Ole Miss

Oct. 5....................... Arkansas

Oct. 5................. @Tennessee

Oct. 12.......Western Carolina

Oct. 12........................... @LSU

Oct. 12...................... Missouri

Oct. 19...................@Alabama

Oct. 19..............@Texas A&M

Oct. 19...................@Missouri

Oct. 19................ @Vanderbilt

Oct. 26............................OPEN

Oct. 26...........Florida Atlantic

Oct. 26............................OPEN

Nov. 2.......................Georgia#

Nov. 2.........................Florida*

Nov. 9.....................Vanderbilt

Nov. 9......Appalachian State

Nov. 16....... @South Carolina

Nov. 16.................... @Auburn

Nov. 23..... Georgia Southern

Nov. 23.................... Kentucky

Nov. 30.............. Florida State

Nov. 30..........@Georgia Tech

#Jacksonville, Fla.

Oct. 12..................@Kentucky Oct. 19..................... Arkansas Oct. 26...................Tennessee Nov. 2.............................OPEN Nov. 9................................LSU Nov. 16............. @Miss. State Nov. 12.............. Chattanooga Nov. 30.................... @Auburn #Georgia Dome

Oct. 12............South Carolina

Nov. 2..........................Auburn

Nov. 2...................@Arkansas

Nov. 9....................@Ole Miss

Nov. 9................ @Tennessee

Nov. 16...........................OPEN

Nov. 16.......................Georgia

Nov. 23.................Miss. State

Nov. 23...........................OPEN

Nov. 30.......................... @LSU

Nov. 30..................... Alabama

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA ST.

MISS. STATE

MISSOURI

OLE MISS

Aug. 31.... Western Kentucky

Aug. 31............................TCU#

Aug. 31.......Oklahoma State#

Aug. 31............. Murray State

Aug. 29.............. at Vanderbilt

Sep. 7...................Miami (OH)

Sep. 7...............................UAB

Sep. 7.................Alcorn State

Sep. 7........................... Toledo

Sep. 7..................SE Missouri

Sep. 14.................... Louisville

Sep. 14.................. Kent State

Sep. 14.................... @Auburn

Sep. 14...........................OPEN

Sep. 14...................... at Texas

Sep. 21...........................OPEN

Sep. 21........................Auburn

Sep. 21..............................Troy

Sep. 21.................... @Indiana

Sep. 21...........................OPEN

Sep. 28................... @Georgia

Sep. 28...........................OPEN

Sep. 28..........Arkansas State

Sep. 28.................at Alabama

Oct. 5................ @Miss. State

Oct. 5.................................LSU

Oct. 5.................. @Vanderbilt

Oct. 12..........................Florida

Oct. 12........... Bowling Green

Oct. 5...................... at Auburn

Oct. 19...................@Ole Miss

Oct. 19............................OPEN

Oct. 12.................... @Georgia

Oct. 12................. Texas A&M

Oct. 26.........................Furman

Oct. 24..................... Kentucky

Oct. 19..........................Florida

Oct. 19...............................LSU

Nov. 2.............................OPEN

Nov. 2......... @South Carolina

Oct. 26............South Carolina

Oct. 26............................Idaho

Nov. 9....................@Alabama

Nov. 9...............@Texas A&M

Nov. 2....................Tennessee

Nov. 2.............................OPEN

Nov. 16...........................OPEN

Nov. 16..................... Alabama

Nov. 9...................@Kentucky

Nov. 9...................... Arkansas

Nov. 23................ Texas A&M

Nov. 23.................@Arkansas

Nov. 16...........................OPEN

Nov. 16..............................Troy

Nov. 30.................... Arkansas

Nov. 28..................... Ole Miss

Nov. 23..................@Ole Miss

Nov. 23..................... Missouri

#Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

#Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

Nov. 30................ Texas A&M

Nov. 28............ at Miss. State

Sep. 28.........................Florida Oct. 5.......... @South Carolina Oct. 12...................... Alabama Oct. 19............................OPEN Oct. 24.............. @Miss. State Nov. 2.............Alabama State Nov. 9....................... Missouri Nov. 16............... @Vanderbilt Nov. 23................... @Georgia Nov. 30..................Tennessee

S. CAROLINA

TENNESSEE

TEXAS A&M

VANDY

Aug. 29...........North Carolina

Aug. 31................Austin Peay

Aug. 31............................. Rice

Aug. 29..................... Ole Miss

Sep. 7..................... @Georgia

Sep. 7...... Western Kentucky

Sep. 7.....Sam Houston State

Sep. 7................Ausstin Peay

Sep. 14...................Vanderbilt

Sep. 14.................... @Oregon

Sep. 14..................... Alabama

Sep. 14....... @South Carolina

Sep. 21...........................OPEN

Sep. 21..................... @Florida

Sep. 21............................ SMU

Sep. 21................... @UMASS

Sep. 28....... @Central Florida

Sep. 28..........South Alabama

Oct. 5....................... Kentucky

Oct. 5..........................Georgia

Oct. 12..................@Arkansas

Oct. 12............................OPEN

Oct. 19............... @Tennessee

Oct. 19............South Carolina

Oct. 26...................@Missouri

Oct. 26...................@Alabama

Nov. 2...................Miss. State

Nov. 2....................@Missouri

Sep. 28.................@Arkansas Oct. 5..............................OPEN Oct. 12...................@Ole Miss Oct. 19.........................Auburn Oct. 26....................Vanderbilt

Sep. 28.............................UAB Oct. 5........................ Missouri Oct. 12............................OPEN Oct. 19........................Georgia Oct. 26..............@Texas A&M Nov. 2.............................OPEN

Nov. 9.............................OPEN

Nov. 9..........................Auburn

Nov. 9...................Miss. State

Nov. 16.........................Florida

Nov. 16...........................OPEN

Nov. 16.................... Kentucky

Nov. 23........Coastal Carolina

Nov. 23...................Vanderbilt

Nov. 23.......................... @LSU

Nov. 23.............. @Tennessee

Nov. 30......................Clemson

Nov. 30.................@Kentucky

Nov. 30..................@Missouri

Nov. 30...............Wake Forest

68 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Nov. 9....................... @Florida

2012SECTEAMSTATS

PUBLISHERS NOTE: Alabama finished first in the SEC in fewest penalties per game at 3.8. Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d a thunk it?

SCORING OFFENSE.........G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg 1. Texas A&M................... 13 78 69 0 1 13 0 578 44.5 2. Alabama....................... 14 71 69 1 0 15 0 542 38.7 3. Georgia......................... 14 72 63 3 0 8 2 529 37.8 4. Tennessee.................... 12 56 49 1 0 15 1 434 36.2 5. South Carolina............. 13 54 51 0 1 11 0 410 31.5 6. Ole Miss............... 13 51 49 0 0 18 0 409 31.5 7. Vanderbilt..................... 13 47 46 0 0 20 1 390 30.0 8. LSU................................ 13 46 44 1 0 21 1 387 29.8 9. Mississippi State. 13 49 47 0 0 14 0 383 29.5 10.Florida.......................... 13 39 36 1 0 24 0 344 26.5 11.Missouri....................... 12 39 33 0 0 14 0 309 25.8 12.Arkansas..................... 12 35 33 0 0 13 0 282 23.5 13.Auburn......................... 12 27 27 0 0 11 1 224 18.7 14.Kentucky...................... 12 27 27 0 0 8 1 215 17.9

PASS OFFENSE.................G 1. Texas A&M................... 13 2. Tennessee.................... 12 3. Arkansas...................... 12 4. Georgia......................... 14 5. Ole Miss....................... 13 6. South Carolina............. 13 7. Mississippi State........ 13 8. Alabama....................... 14 9. Missouri........................ 12 10.Vanderbilt.................... 13 11.LSU............................... 13 12.Kentucky...................... 12 13.Auburn......................... 12 14.Florida.......................... 13

RUSHING OFFENSE.........G 1. Texas A&M................... 13 2. Alabama....................... 14 3. Florida........................... 13 4. Georgia......................... 14 5. Ole Miss....................... 13 6. LSU................................ 13 7. Vanderbilt..................... 13 8. Tennessee.................... 12 9. Auburn.......................... 12 10.Mississippi State. 13 11.Kentucky...................... 12 12.Missouri....................... 12 13.South Carolina............ 13 14.Arkansas..................... 12

TOTAL OFFENSE................G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G 1. Texas A&M.................... 13 3147 4114 1025 7261 7.1 74 558.5 2. Tennessee..................... 12 1924 3787 890 5711 6.4 53 475.9 3. Georgia.......................... 14 2556 3991 924 6547 7.1 69 467.6 4. Alabama........................ 14 3185 3052 898 6237 6.9 68 445.5 5. Ole Miss........................ 13 2260 3249 962 5509 5.7 49 423.8 6. Arkansas....................... 12 1424 3618 826 5042 6.1 35 420.2 7. Mississippi State......... 13 1874 3091 848 4965 5.9 46 381.9 8. Vanderbilt...................... 13 2162 2774 874 4936 5.6 42 379.7 9. South Carolina.............. 13 1800 3095 856 4895 5.7 48 376.5 10.LSU................................ 13 2258 2607 883 4865 5.5 41 374.2 11.Missouri........................ 12 1662 2615 867 4277 4.9 31 356.4 12.Florida........................... 13 2440 1902 827 4342 5.3 35 334.0 13.Kentucky....................... 12 1665 2115 790 3780 4.8 26 315.0 14.Auburn.......................... 12 1781 1879 695 3660 5.3 24 305.0

Att 533 570 539 525 551 527 524 413 438 424 403 453 491 367

Yds 3147 3185 2440 2556 2260 2258 2162 1924 1781 1874 1665 1662 1800 1424

Avg TD Yds/G 5.9 46 242.1 5.6 37 227.5 4.5 22 187.7 4.9 32 182.6 4.1 25 173.8 4.3 29 173.7 4.1 25 166.3 4.7 18 160.3 4.1 16 148.4 4.4 18 144.2 4.1 13 138.8 3.7 16 138.5 3.7 19 138.5 3.9 12 118.7

Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg 492 329 10 66.9 4114 8.4 477 285 14 59.7 3787 7.9 459 272 16 59.3 3618 7.9 399 254 11 63.7 3991 10.0 411 261 18 63.5 3249 7.9 365 225 9 61.6 3095 8.5 424 249 10 58.7 3091 7.3 328 219 3 66.8 3052 9.3 414 228 14 55.1 2615 6.3 350 207 5 59.1 2774 7.9 356 208 7 58.4 2607 7.3 387 220 10 56.8 2115 5.5 257 147 15 57.2 1879 7.3 288 183 5 63.5 1902 6.6

TD Yds/G 28 316.5 35 315.6 23 301.5 37 285.1 24 249.9 29 238.1 28 237.8 31 218.0 15 217.9 17 213.4 12 200.5 13 176.2 8 156.6 13 146.3

SCORING DEFENSE.........G TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg 1. Alabama....................... 14 20 18 0 0 5 0 153 10.9 2. Florida........................... 13 21 18 0 1 14 0 188 14.5 3. LSU................................ 13 29 24 0 0 10 0 228 17.5 4. South Carolina............. 13 27 24 0 0 17 0 237 18.2 5. Vanderbilt..................... 13 27 23 2 0 18 0 243 18.7 6. Georgia......................... 14 34 30 1 0 13 0 275 19.6 7. Texas A&M................... 13 36 29 1 0 12 0 283 21.8 8. Mississippi State........ 13 37 36 0 0 15 0 303 23.3 9. Ole Miss....................... 13 44 40 1 0 17 1 359 27.6 10.Auburn......................... 12 44 44 0 0 10 1 340 28.3 11.Missouri....................... 12 45 40 1 0 9 1 341 28.4 12.Arkansas..................... 12 47 44 0 0 13 0 365 30.4 13.Kentucky...................... 12 48 41 2 0 13 0 372 31.0 14.Tennessee................... 12 53 46 2 0 20 0 428 35.7

PASS DEFENSE................G Att Cmp Int Pct. Yds Avg 1. Alabama....................... 14 397 217 18 54.7 2431 6.1 2. Georgia......................... 14 351 200 13 57.0 2459 7.0 3. Vanderbilt..................... 13 432 232 11 53.7 2493 5.8 4. Florida........................... 13 444 231 20 52.0 2498 5.6 5. South Carolina............. 13 379 213 15 56.2 2533 6.7 6. LSU................................ 13 457 254 18 55.6 2678 5.9 7. Mississippi State........ 13 414 265 19 64.0 2883 7.0 8. Auburn.......................... 12 358 235 2 65.6 2675 7.5 9. Kentucky....................... 12 367 247 5 67.3 2757 7.5 10.Missouri....................... 12 401 261 7 65.1 2897 7.2 11.Ole Miss...................... 13 427 268 15 62.8 3205 7.5 12.Texas A&M.................. 13 485 281 12 57.9 3259 6.7 13.Tennessee................... 12 446 272 12 61.0 3390 7.6 14.Arkansas..................... 12 419 262 6 62.5 3430 8.2

TD Yds/G 8 173.6 13 175.6 7 191.8 7 192.2 18 194.8 15 206.0 17 221.8 20 222.9 21 229.8 19 241.4 22 246.5 17 250.7 26 282.5 24 285.8

RUSHING DEFENSE.........G Rushes Yards 1. Alabama....................... 14 440 1069 2. Florida........................... 13 413 1229 3. LSU................................ 13 440 1321 4. South Carolina............. 13 504 1569 5. Arkansas...................... 12 440 1489 6. Ole Miss....................... 13 483 1681 7. Texas A&M................... 13 487 1814 8. Vanderbilt..................... 13 482 1848 9. Missouri........................ 12 451 1791 10.Kentucky...................... 12 481 1935 11.Mississippi State. 13 504 2153 12.Georgia........................ 14 616 2550 13.Tennessee .................. 12 477 2266 14.Auburn......................... 12 484 2371

TOTAL DEFENSE...............G Rush Pass Plys Yards Avg 1. Alabama....................... 14 1069 2431 837 3500 4.2 2. Florida........................... 13 1229 2498 857 3727 4.3 3. LSU................................ 13 1321 2678 897 3999 4.5 4. South Carolina............. 13 1569 2533 883 4102 4.6 5. Vanderbilt..................... 13 1848 2493 914 4341 4.7 6. Georgia......................... 14 2550 2459 967 5009 5.2 7. Ole Miss....................... 13 1681 3205 910 4886 5.4 8. Mississippi State........ 13 2153 2883 918 5036 5.5 9. Texas A&M................... 13 1814 3259 972 5073 5.2 10.Missouri....................... 12 1791 2897 852 4688 5.5 11.Kentucky...................... 12 1935 2757 848 4692 5.5 12.Arkansas..................... 12 1489 3430 859 4919 5.7 13.Auburn......................... 12 2371 2675 842 5046 6.0 14.Tennessee................... 12 2266 3390 923 5656 6.1

TD Yds/G 18 250.0 19 286.7 29 307.6 27 315.5 24 333.9 30 357.8 39 375.8 33 387.4 35 390.2 45 390.7 46 391.0 45 409.9 43 420.5 51 471.3

Avg. 2.4 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.3 4.1 4.8 4.9

TD Yds/G 10 76.4 12 94.5 14 101.6 9 120.7 21 124.1 17 129.3 18 139.5 17 142.2 26 149.2 25 161.2 16 165.6 17 182.1 25 188.8 23 197.6

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 69

MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

2013 HIGH SCHOOL PREVIEW 70 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Photo by James Pugh Laurel, MS

2013 2013 FOOTBALL FOOTBALL PREVIEW PREVIEW - 71 - 71

HIGHSCHOOLSPOTLIGHT

Mississippi High School Football hits the Silver Screen By MARK H. STOWERS Contributing Writer

ich with history and lore, Mississippi High School football is a treasure trove of stories. So much so that X.M. “Mike” Frascogna Jr., decided to write a book – with the help of his two sons X.M. “M3” Frascogna III and Marty Frascogna. The project began in 2007 and the process began. But how do you take the whole state and nearly a century of high school football and put it into one book? You start at the source – coaches. “We interviewed over 136 high school coaches in Mississippi and the whole point of the book was to show how Mississippi high school football is unique,” the patriarch Frascogna said. “Not saying its better than anyone else, it’s just had some very unique characteristics.” According to Frascogna, the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania partnered in a study with Football America and came to the conclusion that “Mississippi high school football was the best in America. And they based it on statistical information such as how many kids in the state played football per capita and how big high school classes were and how many kids went on to play college football.” The study piqued the interest of the Frascognas and they dove into the project. With help from the Mississippi High School Athletic Association and Dr. Ennis Proctor – who wrote the forward – the team started digging up history – and they found gold – Gridiron Gold. “It’s got great storylines,” Proctor said. Once the book was on the store shelves, the team decided to recreate it on film and put it on the big screen for all the world to see. This fall, Gridiron Gold, will premier at select high schools around the state and then will be open for screenings in movie theatres across the state – and the country. “Anybody that enjoys high school football – 72 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

and that’s most of Mississippi – will really enjoy this movie. There’s great storylines,” Proctor said. “About three years ago we started the filming part of the movie – Mississippi Gridiron Gold – brings the book to life as to the unique aspect of Mississippi high school football.”

Gridiron Gold first released in 2007.

The movie is “loaded with interviews with many coaches and film footage and old photographs and re-enactments. It starts in 1905 with the very first football game played between Yazoo City and Winona and the first ever touchdown scored. We start from there and come forward,” Frascogna said. The movie follows along with the books chapters bringing them to life. “Small Towns, Big Football,” Proctor said. “We’re not Silicon Valley, we’re blue collar, we’re hard working people in Mississippi

and that carries over into our high school athletes. And being in the Bible Belt that makes us unique and we have chapters on that – Ministers with Whistles – and many things like that.” Proctor drew on his 20 years of experience with the MHSAA and his prior coaching experience with Raymond High School and Jim Hill. “I love high school football and it’s a big part of my life,” Proctor said. “Football is the greatest game in the world and the hardest working sport as far as being successful and I think this tells that story too.” Madison Central athletic director and head football coach, Bobby Hall, also had a hand in the project. The respected coach has worked for several decades in the state and has coached high school, junior college and professional league in Mississippi. “I’ve been doing it for 35 years and – 30 years of high school – and I thought this was a very novel idea,” Hall said. “High school football is very much small town America – they roll up the streets on Friday nights and go watch football.” Hall put together some outstanding seasons including three state titles in Amory with three 15-0 seasons. Proctor’s favorite section of the book and movie is the “blue collar section. That’s one I really like and every section is interesting. I feel like the movie is good enough for national networks like ESPN to pick it up.” Frascogna explained the “book proofed up the movie or the movie proofed up the book.” One scene shot at South Panola high school showed the sparse conditions yet intense workouts that create Mississippi high school football legend. “There was nothing nice about it, just lots of iron and we watched them go through their work outs,” Frascogna said. “And they ended up doing squats with offensive and defensive lineman and one kid steps in there and knocks out three reps of 600-pounds and then three or four come in right behind them. And the whole team was cheering them on – 600-pounds is lot of weight and a lot of college kids can’t do that. The film crew had never seen anything like it.” The film takes in plenty of championship action as the Frascognas filmed champion-

Mike Frascogna (center) interviewing new MHSAA Executive Director Don Hinton at the 6A State Championship game for the Gridiron Gold movie.

According to Frascogna, the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania partnered in a study with Football America and came to the conclusion that “Mississippi high school football was the best in America. And they based it on statistical information such as how many kids in the state played football per capita and how big high school classes were and how many kids went on to play college football.”

Dr. Ennis Proctor

ship games the past three seasons. “The excitement at the championship games – which is always exciting but you add the movie cameras and its adds more excitement,” Frascogna said. And the book and movie doesn’t discriminate – schools both big and small, public and private and religious are all included. “We hit as many small schools as large schools – the public, the private the parochial the city schools the rural schools,” he said. The film shows the struggle that some schools have as they went behind the scenes at Provine to show the lack of weight room

for athletes to work out in. “For many years they just worked out in the halls of the school,” he said. “They would take the weights out of closets and set up in the halls and work out and then put everything away. The film is very motivating for any kid who has played high school football in Mississippi and especially those who are playing now – will walk away with a much deeper understanding of what they are apart of. And I think it will serve as a motivator and a source of pride not only for those who are playing now but for the old-timers who played in the 40s, 50s, the 60s - they’ll just probably grin and say ‘yep, that’s the way it was’.” The book, Gridiron Gold, was released in 2007 and will be available in paperback in October. The movie will be released this fall after its theatrical run on DVD in October. “The theatrical run will consist of a number of Mississippi schools having their own premiers,” Frascogna said. “We are working with several theatre chains to have it run af-

ter the schools have their premiers. It will be restricted primarily to Mississippi.” With the success of the high school book and hopefully movie franchise, the Frascognas created a film covering Junior College football last October. Mississippi JUCO’s Toughest Football League in America covers, well, the toughest community colleges throughout the state. The family has also put together a film on legendary Coach Bull Sullivan and one about the rivalry between Millsaps and Mississippi College Football. The documentary type films are similar to ESPNs 30 for 30 series with a “more emphasis on music. We pump them up because we have access to such great music in Mississippi.” You can learn more about projects through www.msgridirongold.com but keep your eye on your local theatre for a great movie about your favorite high school sport coming soon. Part of the proceeds from the book and movie go to the MHSAA and MAIS to support high school athletics. - MSM 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 73

2013HIGHSCHOOLPREVIEW

High School Breakdown

Will South Panola get ring number 11 in 2013? We break down each classification and separate the contenders from the pretenders heading into the upcoming season Photo by Greg Pevey

By JAY WHITE

Contributing Writer

he 2012 high school football season in Mississippi showed us that, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” A record winning streak was stopped by an arch rival in yet another chapter of a great rivalry. The king of the jungle, who had all but been left for dead, picked himself up, dusted his self off, and romped to an eighth state championship in ten years. 2013 should offer as much excitement as ever in Mississippi. The arms race of college football has trickled down to the municipal level, and we the fans are the benefactors. More turf fields, more video boards, more state-of-theart field houses and more and more schools broadcasting on radio and now video streaming on the internet has taken the game of high school football in Mississippi and made it a true “showtime” product that takes center stage each 74 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

Friday night in the fall. Now, more than ever, fans have up-close and personal ways to connect with their favorite schools and players. Unlike the past few seasons, the interior lines will not continue to dominate the recruiting talk as the season wears on. This year, a gifted group of receivers and defensive backs lead the way into the season. However, there is a very intriguing crop of quarterbacks that could blossom into a historic group of signal-callers before the season is through. 2013 will also signal some regional and division changes. Both the MAIS and MHSAA enter into a new 2 year cycle of alignment. The changes will make for many interesting new rivals. No bigger change will take place than at the very top of the mountain where Madison Central’s annual, casual Sunday drive through Region 2-6A just identified an enormous pot hole- 2012 5A Champion Starkville.

That alone should be enough to have you chomping at the bit for the third week in August. CLASS 6A Brandon made us look good last year. We chose them as our “dark horse” and low and behold the made the state championship game and had their chances to pull it off. Once again, almost all of the schools in 6A are in a constant battle for the next great coach or the next huge facility upgrade. This year, three new coaches and a second year coach really have a chance to ultimately shape how 6A plays out. Judd Boswell, in his second year at Clinton, is a big-time winner. Clinton continued to improve through his first season and it culminated with an upset win of Southaven in the 6A playoffs. Tupelo made my favorite off-season hire in former Amory coach Trent Hammond. Hammond’s pass-crazy offense excelled at Amory producing a Top-10 national passer in his time there. It will be very intriguing to see what Hammond can do with the sheer number to play with at Tupelo. Gulfport removed the “interim” term from Eddie Pierce’s job description. Pierce stepped in for the ailing and now retired Mike Justice last year and led the Admirals on an undefeated run through Region 4, capped by a hallmark win over arch-rival Biloxi. Finally, Hattiesburg hired Tony Vance away from Charleston just in time to move to a very pliable Region 4. Vance was 60-10 in his 5 years in the delta and takes over a Tiger squad that exceeded expectations with 9 wins a year ago. In Region 1, South Panola is loaded- this is a recording… With QB Rip Kirk returning and Derrell Henderson running for 1200 and 12 TD’s as a sophomore, The Tigers look to be a heavy favorite. Panola did lose their 3 top receivers, so passing continuity may be an issue early. The schedule will do them no favors as a stretch of West Point, @ Meridian, @ North Little Rock, AR, @ MUS will await them before region play. Both Olive Branch and Southaven lose 25 seniors from last year’s squads. Scott Samsel will groom his 3rd new starting QB in 3 years. Region 2 should be much more fun than in years past, unless you’re Bobby Hall. The region trades Jim Hill and Vicksburg for 6A playoff qualifier Columbus and 5A champion Starkville. Hall’s Jaguars will look to replace more than 2,000 passing yards and more than 2,500 rushing yards from last year’s squad. Starkville looks to fill the shoes of Gabe Myles by leaning on the running back tandem of Jaquez Horsley and

Darius Grayer. The most exciting group of the bunch is Murrah, with all-world athlete Malik Dear. Dear ran for 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns on an eye-popping 12.7 yards per carry. He also caught 8 touchdowns from Quarterback Vonnie Howard who returns for his senior season. Region 3 should be an all-out brawl! Brandon, Petal, Meridian, and Oak Grove give this single region four legitimate Top 10 contending squads. If Dear is the junior tailback everyone will be talking about, then Brandon junior Gardner Minshew is the quarterback everyone will be talking about. Minshew threw for 3,000 yards and 27 TD’s while leading the Bulldogs to the South Championship. Coach Brad Peterson will count on Devon Wilson to replace the 1,200 yards and 22 TD’s lost with Davien Tillis. Petal will count on receiver Jesse Jackson and running back Tyus Raine to help them through a QB transition. Meridian will

CHAMPION: SOUTH PANOLA RUNNER-UP: OAK GROVE DARK HORSE: STARKVILLE TRENDING UP: CLINTON CLASS 5A New coaches and new schools on the scene are just a part of the 5A story in 2013. Former 5A power Clarksdale made a strong statement to the rest of the state when they picked West Bolivar coach Henry Johnson to lead the program. Johnson was 142-32 in his time in Rosedale with 10 district titles and 2 state championships. I’m sure Wildcat fans have visions of Kailo Moore-like athletes dancing in their heads. Also Tavares Johnson, Sr. begins his second year at Vicksburg, now in 5A. The Burg should improve with the coaches’ super-star son, Tavares Jr. at quarterback, and a new set of region mates to deal with. As we’ve pointed out, there is no defend-

2012 5A Champion Strakville moves up to 6A in 2013. - Photo by Lee Adams

look to bounce back with uber-athlete J-mar Smith at QB. Richard McQuarley and Austin Holt accounted for more than 1,200 yard on the ground and both are returning. Safety C.J. Hampton has all the recruiters “oooing” and “ahhing.” Oak Grove QB Kirk McCarty may be the Region MVP by the end of the year. While OG does lose Johnathan McNair and his 19 TD catches, the Warriors do return 18 of their 38 TD catches from last season. Region 4 trades out Petal for Hattiesburg (for some reason). Must be a geography thing… Anyway, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, D’Iberville and Hattiesburg are the five squads that look to battle over the region’s four playoff spots. Long Beach transfer Thad Miller hopes to lift Gulfport back to the region title. Injuries have hampered his career so far, but if he can stay healthy, the receiving duo of Jevon and Richaud Floyd will make things easier. Hattiesburg may have hit the coast region at just the right time. Junior QB Tristen Walley will lead the Tigers on offense and Aikeem Coleman and his 19 tackles for loss leads the defense.

ing champion in 5A in 2013. A new 5A champion will be crowned at The Vet in December. Oxford and West Point will clash for supremacy in Region 1. Tailback Jarius Barnes looks to carry the load for the Charger offense. All-world RB Aeris Williams, who has offers from Wisconsin to Florida State, will lead a potent Green Wave attack where only a state title will suffice. Callaway looks to rebound from a disappointing 2012 campaign that ended outside of the playoffs in Region 2. That bitter pill to swallow last year will surely fuel a team returning bucket-loads of talent, including the state consensus #1 prospect, offensive guard Roderick Taylor. Defensive end Breeland Speaks anchors C-way’s defense in what could be a deep playoff run. Pearl is also looking to rebound from a season that didn’t live up to expectations. John Perry’s club will lean on Junior RB Jordan Wright to right the Pirate ship. Ridgeland will always be in the Region 2 hunt, and now will have to fend off instant Madison County rival Germantown, who qualified for the 4A playoffs last year.

Region 3-5A is the one region that probably had the biggest shake up. Pearl River Central comes up from Region 4. Natchez drops down from 6A and Laurel jumps up from 4A. Whew! Those are 3 really strong programs! Did I mention 3-5A holdovers and perennial playoff contenders Wayne County, West Jones and Brookhaven are waiting for the new guys? Good Grief! Region 4 will have a new look as well. With PRC gone to Region 3, George County drops down from 6A to fill the spot. Picayune is, no doubt, on a mission to complete unfinished business. The Maroon Tide seemed like an unstoppable force through South 5A before being derailed by Pascagoula in the 2nd round. Preston Dedeaux returns from his 1,400 yard, 20 TD campaign to lead the charge. Pascagoula will certainly be playing for a great cause in 2013. Caleb Sweeten and Brandon Rich were killed in a water accident on the Pascagoula River. Both competed for last year’s South 5A championship team. CHAMPION: WEST POINT RUNNER-UP: PICAYUNE DARK HORSE: CALLAWAY TRENDING UP: CLARKSDALE CLASS 4A 4A should be loaded for another very entertaining playoff stretch in 2013. 2012 saw an incredible laundry list of talented teams and players reach the playoffs. This year should be another loaded year in 4A. In Region 1 John David Poss returns to lead Amory for new coach Ben Ashley and Itawamba has to replace nearly TWO MILES worth of offense and 47 TD’s in Ashton Shumpert and Charles Moore. RB D.K. Buford has the Dores of Lafayette thinking about another title run in Region 2. A really talented Byhalia squad coming up from 3A and defending region champion New Albany will challenge. Region 3 will be a hard fought battle between a talented Greenwood team and Yazoo City, dropping down from 5A. Noxubee County will be beatable this year. Houston will try to topple the defending champions in Region 4, and also look for Kosciusko to rebound from a disappointing 2012. In South 4A, I liked Forrest County AHS a lot last year. I love the Aggies to come out of the South in 2013. FCAHS returns their leading passer, receiver and runner in AllState performer Dontavian Lee. FCAHS will be challenged in their own division by Greene County who looks to defend their South State Championship with a ton of key players returning. October 25th The Aggies go to Leaksville. Mendenhall is the class of Region 6, and McComb, who drops down from 5A, features QB Alex Woodall. The Tigers will battle with Purvis in Region 7. 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 75

The Tornadoes feature Florida State commit Markell Pack at receiver. On the coast, Bay high looks to follow up on a 10-win 2012 with a region title. Among their foes will be Moss Point who drops down from 5A, and Pass Christian who jumps up from 3A. CHAMPION: FORREST CO. AHS RUNNER-UP: LAFAYETTE CO. DARK HORSE: GREENE CO. TRENDING UP: BYHALIA

Meanwhile, Taylorsville looks positioned to be the team to answer the bell in Matt Caldwell’s second year. Finally, Flip Godfrey’s Madison St. Joe Bruins look to take the next step and turn division championships into playoff success. CHAMPION: BASSFIELD RUNNER-UP: CALHOUN CITY DARK HORSE: TAYLORSVILLE TRENDING UP: SOUTH DELTA

CLASS 3A The 3A playoffs are always epic. Each year you get three or four teams that come in without a loss or maybe with just one. A lot of these 3A powers run in different circles and don’t play each other in non-conference. So it’s not unusual to get East Side, Philadelphia, Forest, Hazlehurst and Charleston all at 10-0 or 9-1. Can the Charleston Tigers finish the job this year? They enough of the pieces coming back from last year to have the sting of that loss drive them. Scott Martin was promoted from within so the drive to go the extra mile will be there. Belmont and Aberdeen will be tough foes out of the north. Cleveland East Side should continue to dominate Region 3. Louisville and QB Wyatt Roberts will continue to shine. Roberts returns after throwing for 3,200 yards and 34 TD’s last year. 3A South will be shaken up by the return of Tylertown from 4A, joining West Marion in Region 8. They’ll join Forest and Philadelphia who are now region mates. Of course, defending champion Hazlehurst should handle a competitive Region 7. CHAMPION: LOUISVILLE RUNNER-UP: TYLERTOWN DARK HORSE: WEST MARION TRENDING UP: SEMINARY

CLASS 1A 1A may just be Stringer’s to lose again in 2013. Tevin Moore returns to somehow try to best what he did last year. Moore rushed for more than 2,000 yards and (make sure you’re sitting) scored 18.1 points per game… IN FOOTBALL! Moore ran for 41 touchdowns, threw for 9 more. He also scored 14 two-point conversions. He even had to tackles for loss. Bouge Chitto ran through the regular season undefeated last season and brings back their QB, 2 experienced runners, almost all of the offensive line and almost the entire defense. Both Bouge Chitto and Stringer reside in Region 4 and there’s a good shot the may play twice this season. In Region 3, French Camp, the North 1A champ from last year, has been shipped south (another one of those geography things). They’ll tangle with a senior-laden Noxapater team that won 10 games a year ago and a Pelahatchie team that will try to replace three 1,000 runners from the same backfield. North 1A will be led by Falkner, who won 9 games last year in spite of a very young club. Corey Armstrong replaces Ben Ashley who left for Amory. Smithville only lost 5 seniors off a 9 win squad, and Shaw returns most of their key players from a 10-3 team. CHAMPION: STRINGER RUNNER-UP: SHAW DARK HORSE: BOUGE CHITTO TRENDING UP: FALKNER

CLASS 2A The race for 2A may be this year’s most foregone conclusion. Bassfield is to be an absolute, undeniable and ferocious steamroller of a football squad. They are a tiny 2A school in a tiny town that has somehow amassed a ton of interest, in a number of players, from major college football programs. But, this was the script that Charleston was to follow last year. Just ask them… It doesn’t always work out like it does on paper. The new Region 4-2A is a murder’s row combining many of the best programs from the old regions 1 and 2. Ackerman, Bruce, Calhoun City, East Webster, Eupora and Okolona are now all sandwiched in one powerhouse league. Calhoun City brings almost the entire team back from a squad that won 9 last year. It leaves the new Regions 1 and 2 wide open, with West Bolivar and South Delta, led by amazing RB Hakeem Johnson, again clashing for Region 3. In the South, can anyone step to Bassfield? East Marion had a tremendous playoff run, but has to replace a ton on both sides of the ball. 76 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

MAIS AAA-D1 Is this the year a team can step in and unlock JA and Prep from this 2-man tug-ofwar atop the MAIS? MRA is getting better and better under Forrest Williams. District 1 has 3 really talented teams in JA, MRA and now Washington School. It is a true shame that the MAIS splits the AAA class up like they do. One of JA, MRA or Washington will be left out of the playoffs, but some way, somehow, some school in Louisiana, damn-near to the Texas state line will make the A playoffs with a 2-7 record because they won ONE division game. And for what? District 2 features Jackson Prep that will be talented and deep as always but lost a ton from last year. Joey Hawkins is slowly bring-

ing Presbyterian Christian into the picture on a similar parallel to MRA. MRA and PCS are no longer intimidated when running into “the establishment.” Parklane may unfortunately serve the same fate as Washington- a good squad that will be squeezed out of the playoffs by a wonky system. CHAMPION: JACKSON PREP RUNNER-UP: JACKSON ACADEMY DARK HORSE: MRA TRENDING UP: PCS MAIS AAA-D2 In District 1, Heritage, Magnolia Heights, Starkville, and Pillow (dropping down from D1) will compete for the league title. Heritage will be attempting to defend their state championship. Meanwhile in District 2, East Rankin continues to come along as a challenger. Lamar makes the jump back up from AA CHAMPION: STARKVILLE RUNNER-UP: EAST RANKIN DARK HORSE: HERITAGE TRENDING UP: PILLOW MAIS AA The AA classification looks to be real fun for high school football fans. The class is in a transitional period where a handful of schools in large population pockets have skyrocketing enrollments. Many of these schools and many schools that have won single-A hardware will now all go at it in AA. Bayou, Central hinds and Tri-County have all been successful on the A level. Park Place and Hartfield (coming from the MHSAA) are the benefactors of quickly growing enrollments…probably too quickly for the football program to keep up. As always some great old rivalries still remain like Simpson versus Brookhaven and Manchester versus Canton. CHAMPION: SIMPSON RUNNER-UP: BROOKHAVEN DARK HORSE: TRI-COUNTY TRENDING UP: NORTH DELTA MAIS A The new-look Class A is powered by two very successful teams moving down from AA; Marshall Academy and Trinity Episcopal. Benton should be hard to beat in District 3. Wilkinson County Christian and Porter’s Chapel should push Trinity for supremacy in the new District 4. CHAMPION: WCCA RUNNER-UP: MARSHALL DARK HORSE: TRINITY EPISCOPAL TRENDING UP: BENTON

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 77

HIGHSCHOOLSPOTLIGHT

A closeknit Group Oxford coach got the rare opportunity to raise his sons at home and on the football field By JOHN DAVIS

Contributing Writer

here are many things that help define a fantastic high school football coach. Having a lot of talent surely helps win games and championship trophies always seem to help define the legacy and impact of a coach. But there is a lot more to coaching high school football than just winning state championships, at least from Johnny Hill’s perspective. The current Oxford High head football coach has won his share of games — 178 to be exact — but it’s how he has taught his players, about life and football, that is most important to Hill, who started his career in coaching 37 years ago after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “I think the good Lord puts you on this earth for certain things and I think this is something he meant for me to do. I enjoyed playing all sports. I played baseball, basketball, football and ran track. I had a choice. I could stay at school and play or I could go home and work. To me that was a no brainer,” Hill said as to why he chose sports over a career on the farm. “I had a lot more fun playing than I would if I went home and mended fences or chased cows. It’s a tough life and a lot of hard work and I do appreciate my daddy teaching me how to work growing up.” A hard-working father may have gotten Hill thinking about sports but it was his high school coach, former Mississippi state representative Noal Akins, that really helped shape his mind about a future profession. Hill started his coaching career at Holly Springs then moved to Marshall Academy before heading south to Warren Central as an assistant to Robert Morgan, his brother-in-law. “I think Coach Noal Akins was a big reason I’m in coaching because he was kind of a mentor to me. He’s a great person and a great 78 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

From left, Walt Hill, oldest of the sons, Chad Hill, Johnny Hill, Jake Hill and Stan Hill. - Photo by John Davis

coach. He was probably one of the ones that helped me make a decision I wanted to get into coaching,” Hill said. “I started Holly High and I started there with O.P. White and he’s another great one. He really is a good guy and I think he’s a preacher now. He’s retired as a coach but he’s just a good guy to be around. He gave you some responsibilities. Marshall Academy, you’re limited on the amount of coaches you have so you have to coach a lot of things. “Going to Warren Central was good getting to coach with Robert. They had a really good staff down there and they turned you loose on a lot of different things. I was the passing coach and I worked with the secondary and the special teams some,” said Hill, who was a quarterback and free safety at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. “Getting to do that and then coming here to Oxford, that was just great. I was the offensive coordinator and (Robert) Youngblood was the defensive coordinator. That’s another one to kind of emulate and learn from and pick his brain.” Hill was an assistant to Dennis Dupree when he arrived at Oxford and then became head coach in 1992. It’s at OHS where Hill was able to coach three of his four sons, Walt, the oldest, Chad, and Jake. Stan, Hill’s youngest son, played quarterback under his father when he coached at Tupelo.

Already a tight-knit family, there was added excitement for the sons to play for their father. “It’s fun when you get to play with your brothers but also with your dad, which was really cool. Our dad trusted us enough because we grew up around football. We would go around his practices and play with the players and the managers. That’s what we did all day, every day, so we understood football,” said Chad Hill, who played quarterback and graduated from OHS in 1996. “The game part was easy, we could see what he wanted us to do. As far as playing the games with your brothers, we’re as competitive as any family I’ve been around. It was a really cool time to have your brother behind you at fullback and your other brother out at receiver. That was a neat experience.” Jake Hill, who graduated in 1997, is a defensive assistant to his father currently. He talked about his father being tough on his own sons compared to the other players. “It was tough playing for him because he was probably a little tougher on us being his children than anybody else. It was awesome in that I knew what he was thinking though. I felt like with me and my brothers, we were on the same page with him and what he wanted to try and do. It was a great relationship throughout the whole thing,” said Jake Hill adding it was tougher to lose when dad

was the coach. “Not only is he our father but he was our coach and that goes with any sport we played, you hate lose for your coach. When you have a big role to play with the team and you had a loss, you always second guessed yourself and felt like there was something more I could have done. It hurts, not only for yourself and your team but also for your coach.” Walt Hill, who played fullback behind his brother Chad, thought his father’s competitive nature, and ability to play chess at a high level, make him a tough adversary. “My dad is good about finding the advantage on the field. If you think you know what he’s going to do, that’s when he’s got you. He’s really crafty, he’s a crafty old man. I’ve told him that his whole life,” Walt Hill

player and whatever is beat for the team is what he’ll do. That’s something that I have taken away growing up. All kids are different and they need to be coached differently and my dad is able to have a conversation with that kid, sometimes you got to love on that kid and sometimes you got to get on to that kid and he does a good job with knowing the right mix with each of his players.” Johnny Hill admitted he was tougher on his own boys than other kids and remembers his wife, Linda, not talking to him for two weeks for the way he dealt with Chad after a fight. “She would have liked to shot me for it when Chad got into that fight and I chewed him up one side and down the other. I never would have treated somebody else’s

Photo by John Davis

said. “We play a lot of chess and if you can beat Johnny...it took me a while to beat him, I still may not have beat him. We all play chess and he taught us how to play. It’s strategy of thinking ahead, that’s what he’s good at. I’m not going to run this play but I’m going to run play action off this one when he plays Lafayette. He lets coaches see what they want to see and a lot of coaches don’t do that.” Walt felt like his dad also made a tremendous impact on the other players he’s coached. “Number one, you’ve got a bunch of different backgrounds. Some kids don’t have fathers. Some have fathers that are too busy to spend time with them. As a coach, you’re able to spend a lot of time and have a lot of influence on them. Sometimes we take it for granted but our dad is a very positive influence not only in our lives but in the lives of these other kids and the way he handles himself,” Walt Hill said. “He demands respect and he wants you to respect yourself and also respect the team. He’s a huge team

players, at the time we had 57 players, I said I’ve got 57 sons out there as far as that’s concerned. You treat them all like they are yours and they are.” Hill wasn’t ready to talk about his legacy or impact on football in the state. He said that could way until he was dead, or at least retired. “I’m still living and still plan on coaching. To be honest I don’t know what my record is. I’m just trying to win the next ballgame and trying to win a gold ball. That’s the important thing. I guess I’ll be worrying about my legacy when I’m retired and thinking about where I messed up or what I could have done better. You don’t really have time. It’s like a poker game, you got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them and don’t count your money until the game is over with. That’s kind of my philosophy. The game isn’t over yet so I don’t do any of that counting,” Hill said, before talking about the immense support he’s had at Oxford over the years. “Oxford is such a great place and got such great people in it. I think that’s the advantage that Oxford has over other schools. You’ve got great support through your school board. We’ve had some great and still have great administrators. Brian (Harvey) has replaced Dr. (Kim) Stasny and done a super, super job. These kids believe in you and what you’re trying to do. It just makes for a good working relationship.” While Hill wasn’t ready to talk about his legacy, Jake, who coached with M.C. Miller at Louisville before coming back to OHS, said his father is very well respected. “One thing that has always been said is when you play Oxford, they’re going to be

“My dad is good about finding the advantage on the field. If you think you know what he’s going to do, that’s when he’s got you. He’s really crafty, he’s a crafty old man. I’ve told him that his whole life,” Walt Hill. kid quite like that. I’ve never chewed on a kid as bad as I chewed on Chad that time,” Hill said. “I remember we had Homecoming that night and Walt came to me and said ‘dad, I thought I was going to have to take you down.’ I said ‘was it that bad?’ he said ‘it was that bad.’ I don’t think there was every a problem here at Oxford with anybody thinking they got to play simply because they were my kids because they all could play pretty well. “I never had all of them at the same time. I had three at the same time and that was really unique especially looking back. Somebody asked that it’s got to be a great feeling to coach three of your boys and I never looked at it that way because all of your

very well coached. He’s won games that he’s not even close to matching up talent wise. People around the state, they seem him and his reputation is thought of very well. Even the people that don’t like him respect him which is one of the greatest qualities I’ve seen in my dad,” Jake Hill said. “There are a lot of people that don’t like Johnny Hill and they’ll tell you that but they respect what he’s about. He always takes what he gets talent wise and he’s a straight shooter. He’s going to say what he feels and he’s going to mean what he says. Just knowing a bunch of other coaches, he’s very well respected and it’s well deserved. He’s earned every bit of it.” - MSM

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 79

HIGHSCHOOLSPOTLIGHT

Learning on the Job At the young age of 23, North Panola coach Derrick King is climbing his way up the ladder in the Mississippi high school coaching ranks Story and Photos By ANGIE LEDBETTER Contributing Writer

s far back as anyone could search Derrick King went down in the record book as the youngest head football coach hired in Mississippi. At the age of 23 King took reign of the North Panola High School football program in the spring of 2012. He embarked on a program that had won two of 18 games in the last two years and the third coach hired in three years. Along with those challenges King had to bear the brunt of a school that was under con80 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

servatorship but none of those factors cut short his determination. King calls Fairfield Alabama home. That’s where he played football at the age of nine and ten and his baseball career started in seventh grade. All his other relatives played baseball so he followed in their shoes. “Baseball was always my favorite and that was the one sport I was better at,” said King. Football was put on the back burner until his senior year. During that time he played in the band where he was drum major at

Fairfield High School. Derya Carter-Twyman was a single mother who said it was pretty tough but she got through it. “I always instilled in him character, just because the stereotypical statistics of the father not being in the home, you think you can use that as an excuse but that wasn’t going to be accepted.” She has a masters’ degree, serves on the Birmingham Board of Education and teaches sixth grade. Twyman said King was very competitive growing up and always wanted to win and had to win. King’s kindergarten principal saw he was quite ahead of the other kids so she let King go to first grade half a day. Once he got to first grade she started letting him go to second grade. Once King entered the third grade his mother didn’t want the half days stuff anymore so he was tested for the gifted and put in that class. “He excelled very well. He had a teacher that would take King out of class and taught him how to play chess and other things. All that helped start guiding him as an outside mentor.” Being part of a family where education was important helped King realize the importance of it at an early age. Twyman’s mother had a Master’s in education also. King’s daddy and other grandmother had college degrees also. King graduated third in his high school class and received a scholarship from Rhodes College in Memphis to play baseball and football. “I had the ACT score and the GPA to get me to Rhodes and it was the best academic choice plus it was the school where I could play baseball and football.” Not only was education important in King’s family but religion was. Twyman said King’s relationship with God started when he was born. “Both sets of his family went to church for everything. He also had pastors in his family. His grandmothers always made sure he was in Sunday School, prayer meetings, choir and any church gathering. He understood very early where his blessings came from and never steered away from that.” King went from an all-African American school to a college just opposite. “The only difference that made an impact on me was the academics curriculum. Socially I was fine. I went from a school that had maybe two or three white students if that many to blacks being less than five per

cent of the student body. That was different but it wasn’t a shock to me because I had dealt with all types of people.” “I think the interesting thing was it was the most black kids at Rhodes at one time and it was only two of us on the baseball team all four years.” King had to overcome some adversity

ball season once again. With a lot of hard work and determination King returned to both football and baseball. His senior year was good and his grades got better. “I needed all that. My grades were terrible my freshman and sophomore years. I had to figure out how to do the work and contemplate on whether or not to play football. I

“...My grades were terrible my freshman and sophomore years. I had to figure out how to do the work and contemplate on whether or not to play football. I decided to stay because I don’t quit anything and my senior year I made honorable mention All-Conference and the Dean’s list.” - Derrick King while at Rhodes. Two weeks after being cleared to play football due to fracturing his spine his senior year in high school, King tore his right ACL his freshman year during the Trinity University game. He had surgery and missed baseball until toward the end of the season. King didn’t give up. He stayed in Memphis, trained and got cleared for camp. Then adversity hit again. Exactly one year later at the Trinity University game King tore his left ACL. He repeated surgery and missed base-

decided to stay because I don’t quit anything and my senior year I made honorable mention All-Conference and the Dean’s list.” King said he doesn’t think any experience he’ll have in his life is going to harder than what he dealt with while at Rhodes. While at Rhodes King coached at summer football and baseball camps, taught public speaking and leadership classes at Memphis University School’s SLAM program and taught tenth grade English at Memphis Grizzlies Academy.

King said his most interesting work experience was with the Big Brothers and Big Sister of Memphis where he was a case manager. He was on the National Education Panel for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference one summer. After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in African-American Studies King joined the Mississippi Teacher Corps class of 2010 and received his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in 2012. “I knew with my mom and grandmother being teachers and my entire family valued school and education, I had some draw to education. It was only natural that after I figured out I wanted to teach I had to coach also.” During his first year he taught seventh grade English at Byhalia Middle School. King was the offensive coordinator and head track coach at the middle school while coaching wide receivers and special teams at the high school. His next stop was Coldwater High School because King wanted to teach high school. He taught 9th, 10th and 11th grade English, was the special team’s coordinator, coached receivers and linebackers and assisted powerlifting, baseball and track. King had full plate pus that was his second year of gradu2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 81

ate school. King never doubted he could become a head coach at 23 years old but says he never thought about his age. “It was more about me knowing anything that I don’t know I’d work to figure it out and anything that I couldn’t fix I figured I would fix given the time and opportunity.” King takes teaching very serious and loves being in the classroom as well as coaching. He currently teaches Honors 9th grade English and is the head track coach also. The biggest shocker after getting to North Panola was the mindset of not only football but just to work according to King. “It was kind of a twilight zone and still is. It was very interesting to come in and see it all and understand how much had to be done, how many bases had to be covered and how many we still have to cover now.” King wasn’t much older than his seniors but they accepted him. “They had no choice. Age didn’t determine the amount of work I was going to put in and the amount of work I was going to require them. I think it almost worked in my favor because I was a coach now that could run faster than them and could lift more than most of them. They couldn’t challenge me. I think they recognized I was intelligent and I think those things worked for me. I walked in with confidence and not I was five years older than some of the seniors.” King told the players it was one way and if they couldn’t get with it then it wasn’t their program. “They understood I wasn’t going to budge on that. Learning how to be consistent in my previous jobs and what I went through in college, that consistency really resonated with them and they knew I wasn’t going to change.” “I was pleasantly surprised to see the size of the kids and the natural athleticism.” It was obvious a point of concern for King because the Cougars had won two games in two years. “There was obviously a losing mentality. People say you have to learn how to win and we had to de-program them from losing. We had to learn how not to lose. It was something the coaches had to do as well. There was going to be some growing pains that hurt more than anything that any of us had been through. The kids had to understand that as well.” “All of us had to be broken to understand how to fix it,” added King. “When we played our spring game last year I think they realized we had a chance with Holly Springs and MRA. We had a lot of good things happen in that spring game and I think that’s when it really started the core group of kids to believe.” But King and the rest of the coaching staff saw a low moment during summer workouts. “It looked really bleak in June. We had like 82 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

eight kids for practice, our field was dead, the field house needed work and the kids weren’t showing up.” When seven on seven started the kids came out more added King. “Slowly we started getting more numbers and once we got to July a lot of kids showed up. We took 35 kids to camp in Alabama in mid-July. We did a lift-a-thon and that was all fun.” Then midnight madness practice came and the coaches had 45 kids. King got that idea from his high school years. “You want to be the first team to get to

work because you wait so long to have that official practice that you want to start at the stroke of midnight.” The team got to the school at 8:00, had dinner, had chapel and was on the field all dressed alike at 11:50 pm. At the stroke of midnight they clapped loud like they always did and said “Never Get Out Worked” and practice went until 2:00am. They slept in the band hall, got back up and practiced from 6:00-8:00. The kids went home and returned at 4:00. Practice went from 6:00-8:30 and food was catered. It was not all work. They stayed up playing video games, cards and everything. The last practice started at

“There was obviously a losing mentality. People say you have to learn how to win and we had to de-program them from losing. We had to learn how not to lose. It was something the coaches had to do as well...All of us had to be broken to understand how to fix it...” - Derrick King

6:00 am. King said, “We had gotten more practice in then Itawamba State and the kids were proud of that.” King came up with the “Never Get Out Worked” slogan for the team. “It was something that kind of happened as a result of what I had been through. I had to work harder than anybody else to just get by until I figured out what I was doing.” “It’s just work, us putting time in and sacrificing other things. Nothing about work is determined by your level of talent. Although I’ve been blessed and gifted with talents I was like a lot of other people. I had to want to work harder than anyone else and that was what I wanted to apply to the boys from the first time I met them in March of

last year.” It has stuck and the team starts every workout with it and every practice. The 2012 football season started off big by winning the jamboree. King said it spoiled them because they went into the Tunica Rosa Fort game a little over confident and lost. “The loss was tough but at the same time there were no expectations.” “I also pulled all of them off the bus while at Tunica and lit into them. We stayed out there 45 minutes. They knew from that night I wasn’t going to deal with any bull. We had a lot of kids that didn’t dress that game because they hadn’t made up their workouts from summer. That night they knew I’d address things immediately. I told them the minute you began to point fingers is the minute you forget that you have to be their biggest critic. If everyone would release themselves first then we could encourage each other. We rode back to Sardis in silence that night.” The Cougars finished the year with a 5-5 record, placed third in their district and earned a playoff spot where they were defeated by Water Valley in the first round. Players received scholarships and five signed letters of intent on signing day. Also a booster club has been formed. Fundraising begin and the kids have new uniforms after wearing ones that were eight years old. A new 3,000 square feet addition

to the field house is in the process and an irrigation system for the field. Not only was King young when hired but all of his coaching staff are. The staff consisted of two 23 year olds, two 24 years olds, two 26 years olds and one 28, making the average age to be 24. The Cougars had 60 out for spring practice and finished strong in the spring games. They defeated Lewisburg 6-0 and the game with Senatobia ended scoreless. The biggest thing was King wasn’t able to coach the spring game due to his grandmother’s passing. “They did well and the effort was very ob-

vious on film,” said King. “Since its spring there were obviously very encouraged by the team’s progress.” “I never thought that things couldn’t go on well if I wasn’t present. It was comforting to know that I have a group of guys around me that who also appreciate doing things the right way. Moreover they don’t deviate from the normal way we’ve done things since we all came on board. That speaks to the integrity and dedication to the coaches. I hope no one tries to take them away from me because I need them. They’ve helped to build and cultivate a culture of hard work, sacrifice and success.” - MSM

2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 83

FANTASTIC 4

Front: Ron Walker; Back (L to R): Roderick Taylor, Dayall Harris, Breland Speaks

84 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

2013RECRUITING

CALLAWAY’S

FANTASTIC By JON WIENER Contributing Writer

ogether they seem more like a group of rock stars than recruits. That’s the impression one gets spending a few hours hanging out in the bustling Callaway field house one afternoon with the Chargers’ Fantastic Four: Rod Taylor, Ronald Walker, Dayall Harris & Breeland Speaks. Each enjoys the high football profile of a three or four star recruit in Mississippi with multiple standing SEC offers. Each wields a distinctive personality that would light up Beasley Road. All of them have been hitched together since middle school. Now, the highly-touted group four years in the making, is on stage. “It’s epic, man,” Taylor oozes. “You ain’t gonna find this anywhere else.” The collection of talent in the room is certainly impressive. Taylor is the headliner, a sleek, devastatingly quick 6’3 310 lb. guard with long-standing offers from Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss & Mississippi State. Walker and Harris make up literal wingmen, a pair of tall, fast, and rangy two-way WR/ DB’s nicknamed “Thing 1” and “Thing 2. “ Each committed to Ole Miss in the span of two months this winter. Speaks is the late bloomer of the group. With a bulked up 6’3, 270 lb. frame and an impressive camp circuit showing, he’s shot up recruiting charts and now holds offers from MSU, Ole Miss & South Carolina, according to 247sports. com. Together it’s one of the most acclaimed Mississippi school classes in recent memory. But it’s the Core’s unique bond of friendship, fame, and flamboyance – and riotous fun it

Callaway’s quartet of highly recruited seniors are making history their way – together – on Beasley Road breeds – that makes them something more. “We’re real close. It’s like we’re all brothers. We play fight, and it’s like when we go out of town, it’s like we’re with our family,” Harris says. “Everywhere we go we get recognized as “the Callaway four,” Speaks says. They are every bit the traveling family band, each member playing his fitting part in the spotlight act. Taylor gets top billing, but is the most laid-back and unassuming of the bunch—a soft-spoken funnyman with a mega-watt smile. Walker plays the flamboyant front man, famous for his asymmetrical hairdos and jet-black shades indoors. (“Too big,” Harris says of Walker’s style; “Too big

for all of us!” Taylor cracks.) Harris is the dreamer and entertainer. One minute he imitates a Speaks football dance, the next he talks of making a movie about the group. Speaks, for his part, stands as a bit of the black sheep, a complex and sharpwitted thinker. Yet, once overlooked, he comes across as the hungriest of the four. It’s an eccentric and entertaining mix, with one constant: the four tease each other mercilessly. That afternoon, Speaks’ outfit of loafers, khakis and a teal striped button-up shirt, along with Walker’s current hairstyle which Taylor says “looks like a bunch of little spiders,” are the prevailing subjects of ridicule. And, always, the question of supremacy on the gridiron. “You know what college coaches really don’t know about me?” Taylor asks me with a mischievous grin, knowing the reaction he’s about to provoke. “I can get at D-end and beat the best offensive-lineman in the state.” Speaks jump out of his chair, interrupting Taylor before he can finish. “No he can’t, no he can’t!” he shouts as Taylor laughs. This elite defensive lineman is not standing for Taylor’s affront to his hard-earned territory. Speaks turns to me and shakes his head: “His technique is so horrible!” “Yea but my feet!” Taylor responds, rising out of his chair like a bouncing child. “I’ll get that thing… (Taylor chops his feet furiously in place and supplies vocal sound effects, ‘ah, ah, ah’) … You better ask him! He knows about that spin move.” Everyone, including me, is laughing uproariously by the end of the interplay. It’s clear the guys are having the time of their lives together, the hard-forged bonds growing stronger with every smile and snipe. It’s 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 85

a powerful connection, and a heck of a show. “It’s crazy. You mix all of us in one together, you don’t know what you’re gonna get. You’ll get…,” Taylor trails off…“You don’t know!” he finishes with a smile, happy with his conclusion. “Hey, it’s crazy man.” HARD-CORE COMPETITION The Fantastic Four may be a walking magazine feature, but they present a two-fold challenge for Callaway head coach Daryl Jones. It’s his job to keep the rock stars in-sync with the rest of the team. And with four SEC-ready starters on the field every Friday night, Jones and his staff also know they have to win. “We talk about it all the time. It is definitely special, we believe that, but the thing with that is, as a coaching staff, there’s more pressure,” said Callaway offensive coordinator Otis Riddley. “I think any coach in the state would say if you can’t win with four D-1 guys, you’re not doing your job.” “You could have been a blind man and seen that this was a special group when they came in as 9th graders,” Jones said. “We shouldn’t have to do a whole lot of coaching with this group because they’re talented enough and by now they should know what the expectations are. So our job should be as more of not necessarily coaches, more facilitators; they know what we expect, they know what I expect as a head coach, so it’s just for them to do it.’ Jones says he’s waiting on the four to “do the little things.” But he doesn’t have to worry about them slacking off. The internal competition between the Core is more than enough. Each star credits competition from one of the others for his share of the spotlight. Walker says he was originally recruited first, but Taylor’s meteoric rise two years ago pushed him to catch up. “Aww, he’s just a fat boy,” Walker says smilingly, nodding across the table at a bemused Taylor. But then he continues in his muffled twang: “I was really the first one being recruited. (Rod) jumped me. I think we went to the Alabama camp and he got offered and I didn’t get offered, and I was super skinny then, so I was like, ‘Man ,I gotta work hard and get bigger and faster.’” Counters Harris: “You come out there, the way me and Ronald are, you wouldn’t even believe it. We fight every time we go against each other. He doesn’t go against anybody but me and I don’t go against anybody but him…. You’d think at camps it’d be different, but at camps, we’ll lock everybody else up.” “Yea, we don’t go against each other in camps,” Walker interjects with a foreboding laugh. Speaks’s story trumps all. It’s one Taylor tells gleefully in a private conversation, with an unmistakable tinge of pride. “When Breeland first got here, he was in the band. I’d see him and say, ‘Man, you too big to 86 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

be in the band. You need to come out here on the football field.’ He’d say, ‘Naw, I’m trying to get a band scholarship.’ Then he started to say he might play. So, 9th grade summer, I seen Breeland…he didn’t’ even look like the same person. He put good weight on, he looked taller, and mean…maan, what? I love Breeland.” THE SHOW MUST GO ON The boys’ deep bonds and their willful identification as a group begs the inevitable question: will they take the Core Four show to college? Taylor says the Ole Miss commits Walker and Harris pressure him to join them in Oxford “everyday,” and Speaks says it’s a dead-even heat for him right now between the Rebels and the Bulldogs.

as is his wont: “I just say, at the end of the day, it’s all gonna be determined on each of us having to put the work in.” The future is unknown for the Core Four. It’s likely that five years from now, they will not all still be together; recruiting, football careers and life are predictably unpredictable. But the future is still just a thought, and clearly a distant one, to the group in the room. And why wouldn’t it be? With the talks of epics and movie, I ask them if they feel like they’re making history. All respond plainly and in unison, “Yes sir!” “Why?” I ask. “Because it’s epic, man,” Taylor whispers again. Almost everything the massive Tay-

(L to R) Walker, Harris, Taylor and Speaks. - Photo courtesy Rivals.com

“We talk about it all the time. It is definitely special, we believe that, but the thing with that is, as a coaching staff, there’s more pressure,” said Callaway offensive coordinator Otis Riddley. “I think any coach in the state would say if you can’t win with four D-1 guys, you’re not doing your job.” “I want ‘em too, but I don’t want ‘em to go somewhere they don’t want to go,” Walker shrugs, his voice trailing of. “We talk about it a lot, but they don’t tell us nothing,” Harris adds. “Wherever they decide to go I’m good with it.” Both “Things” say so with a tone of resignation; clearly, neither is a big fan of the diplomatic option. Taylor sums up the question dismissively,

lor says comes with a wink, but they’re all right in a way. What they have together on Beasley Rd. this fall is unique. And fleeting. There will be plenty football Saturdays ahead of them, and plenty of star recruits behind them, but they’ll never be in the spotlight together like this again. It’s not entirely lost on the Fantastic Four. They’re just having too much fun rocking out to care. - MSM

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What makes Mississippi so Special?

RICK CLEVELAND

hat is that makes Mississippi high school football so special? How did small-town Mississippi high school football produce the leading passer in NFL history (Brett Favre), the leading receiver (Jerry Rice), the leading scorer (Rice again), the second leading rusher (Walter Payton) and the patriarch of the first family of American football (Archie Manning)? And while we’re at it, let’s throw in the all-time leading yardage producer in NCAA history (Steve McNair). These are small-town guys who grew up in Kiln, Crawford, Columbia, Drew and Mount Olive and they have set the standard for people from much larger, more populous states. How could this happen in a rural state, so small, so relatively poor? What is it? Is there something in the water, the soil? How has Mississippi produced so many Pro Football Hall of Famers, so many legends of the fall. What makes Mississippi high school football so special? So glad you asked. It’s the dimly lit, small-town field, carved and leveled from a cow pasture or a bean field, and surrounded by wooden bleachers that sag toward the middle on a Friday night. It’s the bugs, by the millions, that swarm in the stadium lights. It’s the mamas who wince and cover their eyes every time their boy gets hit. It’s the dads who fidget and fret, just as they did in a hospital waiting room 16, 17 or 18 years ago. It’s the grandmas and grandpas, aunties and uncles who scream themselves hoarse. It’s the railbirds, too nervous to sit, who prowl the sidelines shouting encouragement to the players and advice to the coaches. It’s the rivalries: Brandon-Pearl, Mendenhall-Magee, LaurelHattiesburg, Forest-Morton, McComb-South Pike, Jackson Prep-Jackson Academy, and so many more. It’s the cheerleaders, smiling, bouncing, clapping and squealing. They live for this night, and it shows. It’s the managers and ballboys, often small boys with towels wrapped around their necks, who eagerly race onto and off the field with water bottles throughout the night. 88 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE

It’s the bands, some large, most small. It’s an often off-key version of our national anthem that fans on the visitors’ side can’t hear. It’s the majorettes shivering on a chilly November night. It’s the little boys, behind the bleachers, playing their own spirited games with footballs made of crumpled paper cups, dreaming of their turn on the striped field on the other side of the bleachers. It’s the little girls who watch, wondering what all the fuss is about. It’s the homecoming court, daddies escorting daughters, praying their darling’s name will be called. It’s the smoky aroma of hamburgers and hot dogs grilling just outside the concession stands. It’s a steaming cup of hot chocolate on that first brisk, late October night. It’s the explosive crack of a linebacker’s shoulder pads crashing into a fullback’s gut. It’s the coaches, some who act as generals and others more like drill sergeants. More often than not they are as edgy as a cat in a dog kennel. Wouldn’t you be if your job depended on the capricious bounces of an oblong ball and the fickle focus of teen-aged boys? It’s coaching legends such as Jim Drewry, Mike Justice, Ed Steele, Jack Bailey, Stanley Blackmon and so many more. It’s those teen-aged boys, themselves, pounding each other’s shoulder pads, shaking their fists, bouncing on the tips of their toes just prior to kickoff. It’s the big-bellied, gray-haired head linesman in a striped shirt, telling the 10th grade receiver he needs to back up a little bit. It’s that last Friday in August when everyone is undefeated and everyone’s expectations are so high. It’s that first Friday and Saturday in December when the best of the best come to Veterans Memorial Stadium and whole towns follow them. It’s so rich a heritage: a skinny wide receiver named Rice, a drum major-turned-running back named Payton, a frecklefaced redhead named Archie, a coach’s son named Favre, a mama’s boy named Stevie McNair. It’s all those broad-shouldered, rangy, raw-boned country boys named Poole. “Boys, have I found us a game to play,” Buster told Ray and Barney, and, boy, had he. . . It’s the sports writers, from big daily newspapers and small weeklies, thanking heaven someone actually pays them to write about these weekly passion plays. It’s how important it all is. It’s how entire communities rally around the team. It’s our culture, part of our fabric. It’s a fall Friday night in Mississippi. And it doesn’t get any better. Anywhere. Heavens, aren’t we thankful, it’s all about to start again? MSM

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Life Is A Sport.

Mississippiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Orthopaedic Specialists Since 1984

Austin M. Barrett, M.D. Hip and Knee Specialist

Graham C. Calvert, M.D. Neck and Back Specialist

Next Generation and New Services Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Austin Barrett and Dr. Graham Calvert. Dr. Barrett specializes in lower extremity injuries to the hip and knee, and is the son of one of our founding physicians, Dr. Gene Barrett. Dr. Calvert in an orthopaedic neck and back specialist. His expertise with neck and back pain and conditions such as degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis brings an unprecedented new dimension of specialized orthopaedic care to our practice.

Jeff D. Almand, M.D. Gene R. Barrett, M.D. Austin M. Barrett, M.D. Jamey W. Burrow, M.D. Graham C. Calvert, M.D. Jason A. Craft, M.D. Chris Ethridge, M.D. Larry D. Field, M.D.

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Toll Free (800) 624.9168 or (601) 354.4488 - www.msmoc.com Scan the QR code to the right with your smartphone to get Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center website information. While you are there be sure to click on our facebook link and Like Us and Follow Us on Twitter. Now download the MSMOC Mobile Application on your smartphone! 90 - MISSISSIPPI SPORTS MAGAZINE