It was a proud day for Noxapater High School in early February when Kyler Carter, Raheem Hathorn and Ryan Whitfield all sat at the same table in the school library announcing their intentions to play football for Northeast Mississippi Community College. Then Noxapater head football coach Casey Orr said the school has had its share of signees before be never a trio of this magnitude all going to he’s game place. The former coach called each of the trio difference makers and said he expected good things out of them both on the field and in the classroom for Northeast. He called them young men that were a joy to coach and to be around. Noxapater posted an impressive 12-3 record in 2019, reading the MSHAA class 1A North State title game before dropping a heartbreaker to homestanding Nanih Waiya, 21-20. Carter, who was listed at 6-foot-4, 255 this season, is expected to play on the defensive line for Northeast. He recorded 65 tackles, including 20 for a loss for Noxapater this season, while forcing three fumbles and recovering four. Whitfield, who at 5-10 and 225, will likely work at defensive end or linebacker or in a hybrid position posted 85 tackles for Noxapater, with 34 of those being for a loss. He also had six sacks, four blocked kicks, and two forced fumbles. Hathorn, who is currently 6-3, 185, but can easily put on enough weight to play at 220, is expected to be linebacker for NEMCC. He recorded 120 tackles last season, with 23 for a loss. He also had three sacks and five pass deflections.
