NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Northeast Mississippi Community College alumnus is getting an opportunity to shine in the national spotlight ahead of a promising senior campaign.
Deantre Prince will represent the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) at the 2023 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Football Kickoff Media Days on Thursday, July 20 at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Music City.
In addition, Prince has secured a pair of Preseason All-SEC selections from magazines published by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele after leading the Rebels in passes defended one season ago.
"Deantre's a very talented kid athletically, but personally he's a pretty good kid too," said Northeast head coach Greg Davis. "He's going to be draftable this year. He's focused and obviously working hard for it."
Prince was widely considered as Ole Miss's best cornerback by the end of his junior season. He placed in the top five of the SEC with 11 pass break ups while helping the Rebels rise in the rankings to as high as No. 7.
His lone interception of the year came during a home victory over Auburn (Ala.) University. Prince had 39 total tackles, including a season-best six takedowns in a win at Vanderbilt (Tenn.) University.
The 6-0, 185-pounder has now participated in 38 games in an Ole Miss uniform. Prince has made 23 starts, including in the Rebels' appearances at the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the TaxAct Texas Bowl over the last two years.
Perhaps his most memorable play at Ole Miss to date was a leaping pick against Vanderbilt in November 2021. Prince somehow kept his left foot in play before landing out-of-bounds to preserve a two-possession lead for the Rebels late in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers went 5-1 and finished as the runner-up in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) North Division with Prince on its roster during the coronavirus shortened 2020 campaign.
He was well decorated during his lone season at Northeast with first-team all-conference honors and Fall All-America second-team accolades from the Rivals recruiting network publication JCGridiron.
Prince accumulated 25 takedowns, three takeaways, three pass break ups and two tackles for loss that year. Both of his interceptions resulted in touchbacks that stopped potential scoring drives by the Tigers' opposition.
He recorded a career-high 11 takedowns versus Northwest Mississippi Community College. His cumulative statistics between Northeast and Ole Miss are 135 tackles, 19 pass break ups, seven interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Prince was a four-star recruit and the No. 16 overall prospect in the Magnolia State coming out of Charleston High School according to ESPN. This is his second consecutive Preseason All-SEC recognition.