History will be made in May for the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools and Winston Academy is right at the forefront.
For the first time in the six-year history of the Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association All-Star game, there will be a player from the MAIS take part in the event. WA linebacker and running back Nash Vanlandingham was chosen by South coach Stephen Edwards of Eupora to compete in the game.
The ball game that’s held on May 15 has grown significantly since its start in 2013 and it culminates at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville every year. Over 80 players now compete in the game and it’s earned players opportunities on the next level with late football offers. WA head coach Pat Byrd is hoping it does the same for Vanlandingham who was the heart and soul of the Patriot team this year.
“Nash is just a tough kid. A lot of players act tough, but he’s the real deal,” Byrd said. “He’s a strong, resilient player who I think has his best days ahead of him. He’s also a great student and I think that makes him a lot more appealing than some other players.”
The game won’t be the end of the road for Vanlandingham who has already seen interest from Northeast, Northwest, East Central and many other junior colleges, but it’s a chance to play high school football again and cement his legacy on the field.
Versatility is something that is going to appeal to teams around the state in regards to Vanlandingham. He rarely came off the field for the Patriots, playing offense, defense, and special teams and also starred on the basketball court where he was the team’s’ leading rebounder and produced eight double-doubles this year.
“I think that he could fill that H-back or fullback role on the next level. He’s a great lead blocker and a tough guy to bring down,” Byrd said. “You could also use him out of the backfield because he has such soft hands he can catch some balls out of the backfield as well. Add in the fact that he’s a long snapper and there’s a lot of different things that he can do.”
Byrd wants to see his player get an opportunity on the next level but he’s also excited to see him compete in one final high school game in May.
The Seventh Annual All-Star Classic will take place at 7 p.m. on May 15 at NEMCC as it continues to gain traction across the state of Mississippi. Byrd said he believes that this year is just the beginning and Winston County could soon leave its mark on the game after Vanlandingham broke the barrier.
“They’ve started to expand the footprint down to us this year and try out a couple of private school players. It’s a game that has really grown over the last few years and has given a lot of kids opportunities that weren’t seen during the season. We’re hoping that we can get Louisville, Nanih Waiya and Noxapater in there next year and see where things go.”
