Coming off a fourth National Junior College Athletic Association football championship in seven years, East Mississippi signed 26 players, with all but one being from Mississippi high schools.
“We feel we have some guys who can help us immediately, who can come in here and start,” said EMCC head coach Buddy Stephens. “It might be the most talented class we have signed in awhile.”
Many of the player had impressive senior seasons.
Rashad Eades caught 59 passes for 1,223 yards and 14 TDs for MHSAA Class 4A champion Noxubee County. Keon Moore ran for 1,701 yards and 10 TDs for Harrison Central. Jason Brownlee had 42 receptions for 967 yards and 11 TDs for 5A champion West Point, Mississippi's top-ranked team, and was named to the 5A All-State team by the Mississippi Association of Coaches.
Terrence Cherry, a 6-2, 260-pound defensive end from West Point, had 48 tackles, with 10.5 sacks for West Point in earning MAC all state honors. Pervis Frazier caught 56 passes for 842 yards and 11 TDs for Louisville and was on the MAC 4A first team.
Taemaus Glass ran for 1,907 yards and 27 touchdowns for MHSAA 1A runne-rup Nanih Waiya and was named to the MAC 1A all state team. Austin Morphis had 58 receptions for 782 yards and 13 TDs for Pontotoc.
Chris Scott of Natchez, a 6-4 quarterback, was 99 of 165 passing for 1,421 yards and 10 TDs and ran for 156 yards. C.J. Terrell, a defensive back from Oxford, had 66 tackles, six interceptions and a fumble recovery. Esaias Fudge, a defensive back for Clarksdale, was named 4A defensive player of the year. He had 45 tackles and two interceptions.
The Lions signed two kickers. Josh Smith of Tupelo was 9 of 11 on field goals and 46 for 47 on PATs and was MAC 6A all state. Johnny Moss of Germantown connected on 10 of 13 field goals tries and was 39 of 44 on extra points.
The only out of state signee is Mackie McNeal, a 6-5, 308-pound defensive end from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala. He had 87 tackles for a team that finished 12-1, ranked third in the state.
“We look for talent. And we look at the student-athlete,” Stephens said. “What type of person is he and is he going to fit in at East Mississippi? Does he make us a better football team and a better college?”
Other signees are: William Barnett, offensive line, Meridian; J.D. Beall, offensive line, Hartfield Academy; Jeremiah Braziel, defensive line, Gulfport; Brett Burton, long snapper, Ocean Springs; Tyrese Cooley, wide receiver, Heidelberg; Shavoke Herrington, defensive back, Natchez; Fred Hervey, linebacker, Charleston; Phe'Quan Johnson, offensive line, Provine; Curtis Latham, offensive line, Cleveland Central; Jamarcus Quarles, running back, Lafayette; Montavious Thomas, defensive line, Cleveland Central; Baylee Trusty, offensive line, Grenada; and Ernest Woods, linebacker, Natchez.
