northeast mississippi community college
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Vance Witt
Christie Holly
Kathy Shappley
Tenure of Service: 1983 Tishomingo County Banker
Tenure of Service: 2014 Tishomingo County Superintendent of Edu.
Tenure of Service: 2016 Tippah County Retired Educator
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Secretary
Students, Fans, Alumni,
John Anderson
Ken Basil
Larry Greene
Tenure of Service: 2016 Alcorn County Educator
Tenure of Service: 2008 Union County Retired Educator
Tenure of Service: 2022 Tishomingo County Retired Educator
Douglas Jackson Tenure of Service: 1995 Tippah County Retired Educator
Tracie Langston Tenure of Service: 2004 Prentiss County Businesswoman
Sam McCoy Tenure of Service: 1988 Prentiss County Businessman
Larry Mitchell
Katie Moreland
Lonnie Murphy
Tenure of Service: 2015 Alcorn County Retired Educator
Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Retired Educator
Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Retired Educator
On behalf of Northeast Mississippi Community College, welcome to the greatest institution in the United States! Here at NEMCC, we have a tradition in all sports of exhibiting not only a championship atmosphere, but one of class, integrity, and professionalism. We are proud of the student/athletes that have chosen to attend Northeast. We are thankful each of you have chosen to attend this athletic event. While our students are here, our goal is to provide opportunities of personal growth through cutting edge instruction in the classroom and athletic programs. Northeast recognizes that its primary commitment is to the education of our student-athlete. Our vision is to develop one of the premier athletic programs in the nation. To that end, the completion of our Baseball/Softball complex was certainly a step in the right direction. In addition, the beginning of our Game, Set, Match capital giving campaign for our state of the art tennis complex shows our continued commitment to excellence. Recently Northeast was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School. Receiving this coveted honor exhibits to the world our commitment to cutting edge technology within our instructional process. I hope you will have time prior to or after this athletic event to walk or drive around our campus and get a small glance at what we have to offer. You are welcome to visit anytime with our students, faculty, and staff. We are happy to have each of you as part of the Northeast family. Please feel free to contact me should the need ever arise. As you leave campus after this event, we wish you the very best and safe travels. Sincerely,
Bubba Pounds Tenure of Service: 2020 Prentiss County Chancery Clerk
Mike Staten
Luzene Triplett
Tenure of Service: 2021 Union County Bank President
Tenure of Service: 2002 Prentiss County Retired Educator
2 | NEMCCATHLETICS.COM
Dr. Ricky G. Ford, Northeast Mississippi Community College President
2023 tiger football
Football Head Coach
Sean Cannon Defensive Coordinator
Ryan Steadman Trevathan Campbell Offensive Coordinator
Defensive Backs Coach
Cedric Shell
Linebackers Coach
Cole Rotenberry
Greg Davis
TIGER FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Reed Davis
Wide Receivers Coach
Volunteer Coach
ATHLETIC SUPPORT STAFF
Kent Farris Athletic Director
Brenda Mayes
Assistant Athletic Director
Ziggy Marro
Director of Sports Medicine
Anna Bolton Assistant Athletic Trainer
Blake Long
Sports Information Director
Ryan Elijah Chasity Jody Moreland Brooks Moore Presley Sports Information Specialist
NEMCCTV Cheerleading Producer & Coach A/V Associate
“Voice of the Tigers” NEMCCTV.com
Carter Smith
Erica Miller
“Voice of Student-Athlete the Tigers” Success NEMCCTV.com Coach
Leigh Treloar
Student-Athlete Success Coach
NORTHEAST FOOTBALL ALUMNI UPDATE The following is an update on how Northeast Mississippi Community College football alumni have fared at the end of one full month of the 2023 campaign. Deantre Prince (Charleston) is in his third season at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He was tabbed as a Preseason All-SEC selection by Athlon Sports and named to 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List. Prince has 16 total tackles, one interception and two pass breakups this season. He had a season-high five tackles against the University of Alabama. Offensive lineman Will Derico (Montgomery, Ala.) has appeared in all six games this season for the University of North Alabama. UNA averages 171 rushing yards and 251 passing yards per game. The Lions ran for a seasonhigh 246 yards against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and threw for
a season-high 425 yards against Eastern Kentucky University. Alfernee Hankins (Charleston) is in his second season at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He has 26 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks through five games for the Weevils. Hankins had one of his better statistical games against East Central (Okla.) University with six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Javian Gipson-Holmes (Oxford) is in his first season at Midwestern State (Texas) University. He has posted 26 total tackles and two forced fumbles. Gipson-Holmes recorded a season-high nine tackles against Eastern New Mexico University. He has recorded six or more tackles in three of his four contests so far this season. Kevin Hurley (Walnut) is in third season at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Hurley threw his first
touchdown pass a Miner against the University of Arizona. He ran for 41 yards against Louisiana Tech University. Former Academic All-America® selection Jamarcus Smith (Saltillo) is in his second season at the University of West Alabama. He leads the team with 38 total tackles through five games. Smith recorded a season-high 10 tackles in their opener against Angelo State (Texas) University. He recorded 1.5 tackles for loss against both Delta State University and Limestone (S.C.) University. Jamal Ellis (McDonough, Ga.) joins Smith at West Alabama. He has totaled 12 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks in five games. Two of his sacks came against Limestone. Ellis finished with 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks while being named second-team AllGulf South Conference (GSC) last season. Ellis was also named to the 2023 Preseason All-GSC team.
NEMCCTIGERS |
3
northeast mississippi community college
NORTHEAST TIGERS 2023 ROSTER #
NAME
CLASS POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT
HOMETOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
0_____ Cashe Shows ___________ Freshman_____ WR_______ 6’2”_______ 190_______ Oxford, Miss._______________________ Oxford 1_____ Jeremiah Augustin ________ Freshman_____ WR_______ 6’5”_______ 200________ Jupiter, Fla.__________________ Jupiter Christian 1_____ CJ Barney _____________ Sophomore______LB_______ 6’1”_______ 220_______ Madison, Miss.________________ Madison Central 2_____ Justin Kowalak __________ Freshman_____ QB_______ 6’0”_______ 205______ Crystal Lake, Ill.______________ Crystal Lake South 3_____ Chris McMillian __________ Freshman_____ RB_______ 5’9”_______ 195_______Fort Valley, Ga.__________________Peach County 4_____ Jalik Yancey ____________ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 5’11”______ 180_______ Marietta, Ga.______________________Campbell 5_____ Jayden Robinson _________ Sophomore_____ RB_______ 5’9”_______ 175______ Nashville, Tenn.___________________ Pearl-Cohn 5_____ Dorrian Smith ___________ Sophomore_____ DB________6’0_______ 180_______Fort Valley, Ga.__________________Peach County 6_____ Wesley Corbitt __________ Sophomore_____ WR_______ 6’0”_______ 180_______ Jackson, Miss.______________________ Callaway 7_____ Zach Dennie ___________ Freshman______ K_______ 6’1”_______ 180______ Hernando, Miss.____________________ Lewisburg 7_____ Tyrell Randall ___________ Sophomore_____ WR_______ 6’0”_______ 175________ Ocala, Fla.______________________ Vanguard 8_____ Jacob Foster ___________ Freshman______LB_______ 6’2”_______ 205_______ Greenville, Ala._____________________ Greenville 9_____ Mitchell Woodard ________ Sophomore_____ WR_______ 6’3”_______ 190______ Columbus, Miss._______________Heritage Academy 10____ TJ Fields ______________ Sophomore_____ WR_______ 6’1”_______ 190______ Aberdeen, Miss.____________________ Aberdeen 11____ Keaton Thomas _________ Freshman______LB_______ 6’2”_______ 230______ Jacksonville, Fla.________________ Trinity Christian 12____ Cameron Dill ___________ Sophomore_____ QB_______ 5’11”______ 195______ West Point, Miss._______________ Oak Hill Academy 13____ Clifton Young ___________ Sophomore______LB_______ 6’0”_______ 220______ Yazoo City, Miss.__________________Yazoo County 14____ Kylen Vaughn ___________ Sophomore_____ WR_______ 6’1”_______ 195_______ Oxford, Miss.______________________Lafayette 15____ Quay Edwards __________ Sophomore______DL_______ 6’2”_______ 250_______ Tupelo, Miss._______________________ Tupelo 16____ Guy Gillespie ___________ Sophomore_____ K/P______ 6’0”_______ 200_______ Baldwyn, Miss._____________________ Booneville 17____ Jermaine Ray ___________ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 6’0”_______ 185_____ Olive Branch, Miss.________________DeSoto Central 18____ Carsyn Day ____________ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 5’8”_______ 180_______ Canton, Miss.__________________ Velma Jackson 19____ Anthony Brown __________ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 6’0”_______ 185______ Yazoo City, Miss.____________________ Yazoo City 20____ Matt James ____________ Freshman______LB_______ 6’7”_______ 215_______Lake Park, Fla.________________ Jupiter Christian 21____ Jordan Herring __________ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 6’1”_______ 180_______ Tupelo, Miss._______________________ Tupelo 22____ Mykel Randall ___________ Freshman_____ DB_______ 5’11”______ 185________ Ocala, Fla.______________________ Vanguard 23____ Keion Mays ____________ Freshman_____ RB_______ 5’10”______ 200______ Coldwater, Miss._________________ Independence 24____ Broderick Alexander ______ Freshman_____ DB_______ 5’10”______ 180_______ Corinth, Miss._______________________ Corinth 25____ Jordan Jackson __________ Freshman______LB_______ 6’2”_______ 220_______ Montrose, Ga._________________Wilkinson County 26____ Jerico Smith ____________ Freshman_____ DB_______ 5’11”______ 180______ Hernando, Miss.____________________ Hernando 27____ AJ Hill ________________ Freshman_____ DB_______ 6’1”_______ 175_____ Olive Branch, Miss._________________ Olive Branch 28____ Chazton Crudup _________ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 5’9”_______ 165________Ripley, Miss.________________________Ripley 29____ Cortavious Rogers _______ Sophomore_____ DB_______ 6’0”_______ 190_______ Benton, Miss.___________________Yazoo County 30____ Jordan Pratt ____________ Freshman______LB_______ 5’11”______ 205_______ Houston, Miss._____________________ Houston 32____ DJ Burnett _____________ Freshman______LB_______ 5’11”______ 225_______ Oxford, Miss.______________________Lafayette 33____ Michael Brown __________ Freshman______LB_______ 6’0”_______ 210_______ Benton, Miss.___________________Yazoo County 34____ Justin Wilson ___________ Sophomore______LB_______ 5’11”______ 225_______ Tupelo, Miss._______________________ Tupelo 35____ Antonio Kennedy ________ Freshman_____ RB_______ 5’11”______ 230________ Weir, Miss.__________________ Choctaw County 38____ Octavion Gillespie ________ Freshman______LB_______ 6’3”_______ 215_______ Tupelo, Miss.______________________ Shannon 41____ Jenari Bell _____________ Sophomore______DL_______ 6’3”_______ 250______ Aberdeen, Miss.____________________ Aberdeen 44____ Alex Jones _____________ Freshman______DL_______ 5’11”______ 300_______ Oxford, Miss.______________________Lafayette 45____ Taylor Ford ____________ Freshman______LS_______ 5’11”______ 200_______ Corinth, Miss.______________________ Kossuth 48____ Carlos Robinson _________ Freshman______LB_______ 5’9”_______ 220______ Coldwater, Miss.____________________ Coldwater 52____ RJ Whitehead ___________ Sophomore______OL_______ 6’5”_______ 270______ Horn Lake, Miss.____________________Horn Lake 53____ Omarius Winfrey _________ Freshman______OL_______ 5’10”______ 300_______Grenada, Miss._____________________ Grenada 54____ Holder Usry ____________ Sophomore______OL_______ 5’11”______ 290_______ Decatur, Miss.__________________Newton County 55____ Walter Rodgers __________ Freshman______DL_______ 6’0”_______ 320_____ Olive Branch, Miss._________________ Olive Branch 56____ Jaylon Lewis ____________ Freshman______OL_______ 6’2”_______ 280______ Columbus, Miss.____________________ New Hope 62____ Seth Ross _____________ Freshman______OL_______ 6’1”_______ 300_______ Oxford, Miss.______________________Lafayette 72____ Cameron Stancil _________ Freshman______OL_______ 6’5”_______ 275_______ Madison, Miss.________________ Madison Central 74____ Jacob Hemphill __________ Freshman______OL_______ 6’4”_______ 330_______Starkville, Miss.______________ Starkville Academy 75____ Neil Sledge ____________ Freshman______OL_______ 6’4”_______ 310______ McDonough, Ga.________________________ Ola 77____ Breylan Sanders _________ Sophomore______OL_______ 6’5”_______ 370______ Cleveland, Miss._______________ Cleveland Central 78____ Jalen Lairy _____________ Sophomore______OL_______ 6’3”_______ 350______ West Point, Miss.____________________ West Point 81____ TJ Brown ______________ Freshman_____ WR_______ 5’11”______ 175______ Booneville, Miss.____________________ Booneville 82____ Grant Fleming __________ Freshman______LS_______ 6’2”_______ 205______ Columbus, Miss.____________________ New Hope 83____ Sentavius Hunt __________ Freshman_____ WR_______ 5’10”______ 165________Ripley, Miss.________________________Ripley 88____ Jaydon Allred ___________ Freshman______TE_______ 6’2”_______ 240______ Aberdeen, Miss.______________________ Amory 89____ Gunter Scott ___________ Sophomore______TE_______ 6’2”_______ 250______ Carthage, Miss.________________ Leake Academy 90____ Brandon Watkins _________ Freshman______DL_______ 5’11”______ 290_______ Houston, Miss._____________________ Houston 92____ Zach Crawford __________ Sophomore______DL_______ 5’11”______ 260_______Hamilton, Miss._____________________ Hamilton 94____ Chris Gilliland ___________ Freshman______DL_______ 6’2”_______ 320_____ Olive Branch, Miss.____________ Northpoint Christian 95____ Kenneth Yates __________ Freshman______DL_______ 6’2”_______ 320______ West Point, Miss.____________________ West Point 97____ John Jackson ___________ Sophomore______DL_______ 6’1”_______ 290______ Columbus, Miss._______________Heritage Academy 99____ Corey Clark ____________ Sophomore______DL_______ 6’3”_______ 290______ Birmingham, Ala._______________________ Minor
4 | NEMCCATHLETICS.COM
HEAD COACH
Greg Davis (9th year - Texas Christian University)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Ryan Trevathan (1st year - Arkansas State University)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Sean Cannon (1st year - Delta State University)
DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH
Steadman Campbell (1st year - University of Arkansas)
LINEBACKERS COACH
Cedric Shell (6th year - Alcorn State University)
WIDE RECEIVERS COACH
Cole Rotenberry (3rd year - Mississippi College)
VOLUNTEER COACH Reed Davis
PRESIDENT
Dr. Ricky Ford (9th year- Mississippi State University)
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Kent Farris (9th year- University of North Alabama)
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Brenda Mayes (2nd year - University of North Alabama)
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
Blake Long (11th year - University of Mississippi)
SPORTS INFORMATION SPECIALIST
Ryan Moreland (3rd year - Mississippi State University)
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC TRAINING
Ziggy Marro (2nd year - University of West Alabama)
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER Anna Bolton (1st year - University of Alabama)
2023 tiger football
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
COAHOMA TIGERS 2023 ROSTER
Terrence Metcalf
Mike Stannard
#
TIGHT ENDS/ PASSING GAME COORDINATOR
0_____ Jerell Erving_________________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-2_________ Freshman_________________Kosciusko, MS 0_____ Marlon Palmer_________________ Running Back________________ 5-9_________ Freshman_________________ Greenville, MS 1_____ Mark Dorsey Jr_________________Defensive Back_______________ 6-0_________Sophomore____________________ Shaw, MS 1_____ Terrick Latham_________________ Wide Receiver________________ 5-7_________ Freshman___________ Northside High School 2_____ Marquis Willis__________________ Wide Receiver________________ 6-3_________ Freshman___________________ Atlanta, GA 3_____ Immanuel Griffin________________ Running Back________________ 5-9_________Sophomore____________________Ripley, MS 3_____ Davarius Pilcher________________Defensive Back_______________ 6-1_________ Freshman________________ Greenwood, MS 4_____ Quardeqrious Walls______________Defensive Back_______________ 5-10_________ Freshman______________ North Sardias, MS 5_____ Brandon Harris_________________ Wide Receiver________________ 5-9_________ Freshman__________________Memphis, TN 5_____ Jadarian Webb__________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-9_________ Freshman_________________ Greenville, MS 6_____ Devin Hymes Jr_______________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-0_________ Freshman_______________ New Orleans, LA 6_____ Jaryn Kelly____________________ QuarterBack________________ 5-11_________ Freshman_________________ Cleveland, MS 7_____ Marcus Newson_________________ Wide Receiver________________ 6-2_________ Freshman______________ North Sardias, MS 7_____ Clay Taylor____________________Defensive Back_______________ 6-0_________ Freshman________________ Charleston, MS 8_____ Emeka Iloh__________________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-9_________ Freshman______________ Peachtree City, GA 8_____ Andrew Moore_________________ QuarterBack________________ 5-10_________ Freshman_______________ Southhaven, MS 9_____ Tymon Wells_________________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-1_________ Freshman________________ Hollandale, MS 9_____ Christian White_________________ Wide Receiver________________ 6-4_________ Freshman______________Ocean Springs, MS 10____ JaShun Simon___________________ Linebacker_________________ 5-10_________ Freshman_________________ Vicksburg, MS 11____ Jackson Allen__________________ Quarterback________________ 5-11_________Sophomore_____________________ Petal, M 12____ Nicholas Taylor_________________ Wide Receiver________________ 5-8_________ Freshman_________________ Cleveland, MS 13____ Nicolas Townsend_______________Defensive Back_______________ 6-0_________ Freshman__________________ Ponotoc, MS 14____ Martez Williams_________________Defensive Back_______________ 6-4_________ Freshman________________ Clarksdale, MS 15____ Livingston Coaty Jr________________ Tight End_________________ 6-2_________Sophomore_________________ Columbia, MO 16____ Rahmaan Rinkin________________Defensive Back_______________ 6-0_________ Freshman__________________ Bartlett, TN 17____ Logan Myles____________________ LineBacker_________________ 5-11_________ Freshman_________________ Vicksburg, MS 18____ Kobi Smith_____________________ LineBacker_________________ 6-0_________ Freshman_________________ Cleveland, MS 19____ Reginald Richardson_____________Defensive Back_______________ 6-3_________ Freshman_________________ Shannon, MS 20____ Jessie Sudduth_________________ Running Back________________ 5-10_________ Freshman__________________ Eupora, MS 21____ Anotonio Trone_________________ Running Back________________ 5-11_________ Freshman_______________ Montgomery, AL 22____ Tyree Bridges__________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-11_________ Freshman___________________Mendenhall 23____ Brenton Hall___________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-11_________ Freshman____________________ Shaw, MS 24____ Brandon Hall__________________Defensive Back_______________ 6-0_________ Freshman____________________ Shaw, MS 25____ Ryan Kirkwood_________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-10_________ Freshman___________________ Oxford, MS 27____ Davion Sampson________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-10_________ Freshman__________________ Ponotoc, MS 28____ Malachi Brown_________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-11_________ Freshman__________________ Ponotoc, MS 29____ Marco Tyson___________________Defensive Back_______________ 5-11_________ Freshman__________________ Bartlett, TN 30____ Samuel Jackson__________________ LineBacker_________________ 6-1_________ Freshman__________________ Summit, MS 32____ Austin Donald_____________Long Snapper/Defensive Back__________ 5-11_________ Freshman_______________ Philadelphia, MS 33____ Dontavis Lanier_______________ Defensive Lineman______________ 5-11_________ Freshman__________________ Newton, MS 34____ Jerrell Goodlow__________________ LineBacker_________________ 5-11_________Sophomore_________________ Huntsville, AL 40____ Ja’Keen Bowdery_________________ LineBacker_________________ 6-0_________ Freshman______________ North Sardias, MS 42____ Blade Privett____________________ LineBacker_________________ 5-10_________ Freshman_____________Lake Cormorant, MS 44____ Byron Keys__________________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-3_________ Freshman______________ North Sardias, MS 45____ Raymond Morales__________________Kicker__________________ 5-11_________ Freshman_______________ Bay Springs, MS 48____ Jordan McDaniel_________________ Linebacker_________________ 5-10_________ Freshman____________________ Shaw, MS 54____ Robert Daniels________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-0_________ Freshman__________________Grenada, MS 55____ Amarian Smith_________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-1_________ Freshman_________________ Greenville, MS 56____ Jaylin Barnes_________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-1_________ Freshman_________________ Magnolia, MS 57____ Walker Whatley________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-0_________ Freshman__________________ McComb, MS 60____ Deonte Boyd__________________Offensive Linemen______________ 6-0_________ Freshman________________ Charleston, MS 65____ Harlem Trent_________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-1_________ Freshman__________________ Bartlett, TN 68____ Tad Walker___________________Offensive Lineman______________ 5-11_________ Freshman__________________Florence, MS 70____ Branden Hollis________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-8_________ Freshman_________________ Baltimore, MD 77____ Tylan Sherdon_________________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-4_________ Freshman_________________ Greenville, MS 78____ Jaquavious Payne______________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-3_________ Freshman_______________ Germantown, TN 79____ Jason Carothers_______________Offensive Lineman______________ 6-3_________ Freshman________________Water Valley, MS 80____ Makel Avery____________________ Tight End_________________ 6-2_________ Freshman_____________________ Troy, AL 81____ Andre Haynes__________________ Wide Receiver________________ 5-9_________ Freshman_______________ Baton Rouge, LA 85____ Destin Wheeler_________________ Wide Receiver________________ 5-11_________ Freshman_______________ Southhaven, MS 87____ Deshaun Carton________________ Wide Receiver________________ 5-11_________ Freshman__________________ Bartlett, TN 88____ Draten Norwood_________________ Tight End_________________ 6-2_________ Freshman__________________Richland, MS 90____ Trey TRIGG__________________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-0_________ Freshman__________________Brandon, MS 91____ Joshua Eaves_____________________Kicker__________________ 5-10_________Sophomore_________________ Starkville, MS 99____ Kwaveon Tucker______________ Defensive Lineman______________ 6-1_________ Freshman___________________Cornith, MS
Alan Cross
WIDE RECEIVERS COACH Tommy Feazell
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/ LINEBACKERS COACH Nathan Wiggins
DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH Shaune Holiday
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH
Shaune Holiday
PRESIDENT
Dr. Valmadge T. Towner
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Selina Reid
HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER Jason Cooper
ATHLETIC TRAINERS
Akerria Dowthard Adrianna Flowers Darnecia Hubbard Sania Riley Treshor Mickens
NAME
POSITION
HEIGHT
CLASS
NEMCCTIGERS |
HOMETOWN
5
HEAD COACH
northeast mississippi community college
WORLD-RENOWNED
KOWALAK DEVELOPED QB SKILLS GROWING UP IN ENGLAND American football is quickly gaining popularity in England thanks to the NFL’s annual London Games. There were three regular season contests played in the capital of the United Kingdom earlier this fall. Just like many Englishmen are now, Northeast Mississippi Community College freshman quarterback Justin Kowalak developed his love for the game while living for six years in the town of Darlington. Darlington is situated approximately three hours north of London in County Durham. Its primary sports fixtures are track, football – the association version played with a round ball by millions of people around the globe – and cricket. However, the city is also home to the Darlington Steam American Football Club. It is with this organization that Kowalak started to fine tune the skills that his dad, Jay, had already introduced to him. “When I was eight years old, me and my brother, we were like couch potatoes. We really didn’t do much,” said Kowalak. “My dad was like, ‘I’ve got to get these kids outside.’ He got us back into the Americantype stuff by introducing us to football. “We went to the local team they had with like five other kids because obviously it wasn’t that popular. I really appreciate those coaches up to this day because they’re the ones that really instilled the passion for football. They made it a lot of fun.” The Darlington Steam participated in five-on-five flag football matches. Kowalak did not compete in his first tackle game until returning to the United States ahead of his freshman year of high school. “Me and my dad sat down one night. He asked me, ‘Do you really want to do this?” I was like, ‘Yeah,’” Kowalak said. “We made the decision to move back and honestly it kinda was a little different. “I had never (seen) Friday night lights or anything like that. I remember going and seeing the stadium. I kinda got excited when I first got there to see what was to come.” Kowalak was on the junior varsity squad during his inaugural campaign back
stateside. However, he earned the role of QB1 for Crystal Lake South (Ill.) going into his sophomore season in 2019. The 6-0, 205-pounder went on to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns at the prep level. He earned honorable mention all-state honors in Class 6A as a junior from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA). Kowalak’s productivity landed him a scholarship to NCAA Division I Eastern Illinois University. He was redshirted as a true freshman, but did appear in one game for the Panthers against Southeast Missouri State University. The latest stop in Kowalak’s worldwide journey is the Magnolia State. He arrived from Eastern Illinois over the summer and has started behind center in six of seven games so far for Northeast. The southpaw has completed right at 50 percent of his passing attempts (70 of 139) for 865 yards. Kowalak has accounted for six total touchdowns between passing and rushing. He had a season-best 254 yards through the air during the Tigers’ week two victory at Pearl River Community College. Two of his four passing scores came in the thrilling comeback win over rival Itawamba Community College. Kowalak’s efforts helped Northeast go
6 | NEMCCATHLETICS.COM
unbeaten through five games for just the fifth time in program history. The Tigers also rose to as high as No. 9 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I rankings. “I’ve enjoyed it a ton,” said Kowalak. “Our defense has been doing a great job all year. Offensively, we never give up. There’s been times this year where we’ve had setbacks. We’ve kept fighting and ended up getting a W.” Kowalak’s international passport includes another European destination as well. He was born in Plainfield, Ill., which is just under 50 miles south from his present hometown of Crystal Lake, to parents of Polish descent. They decided to move back to their native country to be closer to their family when Kowalak was six. He lived in Poland for only two years, but still retains a little bit of their language. “Ja mówie po polsku. That just means, ‘I speak Polish,’” said Kowalak with a grin. Kowalak, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom, has special memories of growing up across the pond that will stick with him forever. “In Poland, obviously my grandparents were living there so I think just kinda spending time with them was definitely something that I enjoyed. That was a good memory,” he said. “Living in England was actually pretty cool. That’s where I spent the majority of my life. I have so many memories from people that I met that I still talk to, to this day. Going to camps with my dad, who would drive me three hours to Scotland to go to this quarterback coach and train with him. Going to different places is definitely something that I look back on a lot.” Where will Kowalak’s frequent flyer miles take him next? That part of his incredible story is still to be written, but he wants to continue chasing glory on the gridiron for as long as possible. “The goal is just to keep playing,” Kowalak said. “I feel like you’ve got to live in the now. I really just kinda focus on every single day. God has a plan for me and whatever happens is going to happen.”
2023 tiger football
Securities offered through Allen C. Ewing & Co., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Langley Wealth Management, LLC an SEC-registered investment advisory firm.
Family & Sports Medicine Erik Dukes, MD Sean Reynolds, MD 662-728-2071 NEMCCTIGERS |
7
WATCH THE TIGERS LIVE AT WWW.NEMCCTV.COM NOW AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING ON THE FOLLOWING APPS:
2023 TIGER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
9-7 9-14 9-21 9-28 10-5 10-12 10-21 10-26 11-2 W, 20-7
W, 19-3
W, 20-14
W, 40-0
W, 37-20
L, 28-21 (OT)
L, 38-31
Northeast Mississippi Community College is celebrating its 75th anniversary during the 2023-24 school year. We will pay tribute to our rich history in athletics with throwback promotional materials for each sport. The front cover of this program is adapted from the September 12, 1970 game program when the Tigers hosted the Pearl River Wildcats. The image on the right is a scan of the exact cover.
6:30 PM VS COAHOMA
7:00 PM AT NORTHWEST