Jarious Hathorn has signed to play football at Itawamba Community College after an outstanding career at Noxapater.
Hathorn was a four-year starter on the defensive line for the Tigers, earning 1A first-team all state his junior and senior years and being named Defensive Player of the Year for Region 5-1A as a senior. During his four years, Noxapater was 34-17.
As a senior, Hathorn also played on the offensive line, but was recruited for defense by Itawamba. “If you have a kid as good as he is, he doesn’t need to be on the sideline,” said Noxapater coach Casey Orr.
Hathorn, 6-2 and 260 pounds, said he signed with Itawamba because he wants to get away from home. His goal is to graduate.
Hathorn totaled 255 tackles in four years, with an increasing number each year, from 39 as a freshman to 51 as a sophomore, 76 as a junior and 89 his senior year when he had 18 tackles for losses, three sacks, one fumble recovery and three forced fumbles. He has played defensive end and tackles, but mostly tackle.
“He has been a key component on what has been a really good defense the last two years,” Orr said. “He is someone the other team has to game plan for. If you are not sure he is blocked, he is going to make the tackle.
“He is a kid who has taken over some football games for us and changed the outcome of games.”
Although Hathorn will graduate, his brother, Raheem, has another year at Noxapater as a two-way star. As a junior, Raheem totaled 788 yards running and receiving and made 92 tackles.
“That family has been good to us,” Orr said.
