MGCCC football rolls into 2014 with new head coach, same challenges

  PERKINSTON---Chad Huff's goal as head football coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is simple...keep the team's winning tradition intact, and also a develop a new legacy in Perkinston.

   Since 2005 the Bulldogs made an MACJC record seven straight trips to the post-season, six straight trips to the MACJC title game (2007-2012), and six MACJC South Division titles. In the 2007 National Championship campaign, Gulf Coast went 12-0 and also won its first state title since 1986. Gulf Coast has been ranked in the NJCAA football poll for 115 straight weeks and has finished the last eight seasons ranked in the NJCAA's top 10. Also since 2005 Gulf Coast has produced 28 NJCAA All-Americans, 19 Academic All-Americans, and currently six former Bulldogs are on NFL rosters. Off the field the Gulf Coast athletic program has won the Halbrook Award for two straight seasons, an award for having the highest graduation rate among all of Mississippi's community college athletic programs.

   After becoming the Bulldog's head coach in late 2013, Huff has signed an impressive freshman class while inheriting a stable of talented sophomores for the 2014 campaign.  Gulf Coast begins 2014 ranked #9 in both the NJCAA and JCGridiron.com's pre-season polls.

OFFENSE

   What this group lacks in game experience, it makes up for it with size and speed. Leading the way at quarterback will be Auburn commitment Jason Smith (6-1, 185, McGill-Toolen High School-Mobile, AL), who's considered one of the Nation's top prospects. Smith will have plenty of competition from incoming freshmen Thad Miller (6-2, 215, Gulfport), and Tyler Allen (5-11, 175, St. Stanislaus).

    Joining Smith in the Bulldog backfield is a stable of running backs that can pound away for tough yards or take it the distance on any given play. Back for 2014 are T.J. McCann (30 carries, 160 yards, 3TD'S in 2013), and Rod Williams (59 carries, 563 yards, 4TD'S in 2013). They'll get lots of help from signees Preston Dedeaux (5'9, 200, Picayune), and Chris Robinson (5'9, 175, Franklin Co.).

    Also back from injury is wide receiver Tyrone Williams (34 catches, 437 yards, 5TD'S in 2012), who missed all of 2013. Williams leads a group of wideouts including sophomores Jamaar Cole (6'6, 190, Columbia), Ishmel Morrow (6'0, 175, Ocean Springs), and Tevaris McCormick (5-10, 180), who sat out 2013 due to injury. Freshmen signees Josh Stowars (5'11, 200, Brandon), and Jevon Floyd (6'2, 190, Gulfport) should see lots of playing time in 2014.

    Sophomore Easton Marshall will once again play as fullback and tight end along with freshman signee Seth Batton (6'2, 230, Simpson Academy).

   Up front the Bulldogs bring back a load of experience highlighted by sophomore Martinas Rankin (6'4, 275, Mendenhall), who's being recruited by several high-profile college teams. Rankin's joined by fellow sophomores Alex Horn (6'3, 285, Ocean Springs), Kyle Reid (6'4, 340, Greene County), Cody Vaughn (6'3, 290, George County), and freshmen signees Fiante Weir (6'4, 280, St. Martin), Malik Moore, 6'1, 305, Stone), Jumaane Warren (6'3, 290, Long Beach), and Anthony Santos (6'3, 330, D'Iberville).

DEFENSE

   A solid mix of youth and experience highlights a Bulldog defensive unit that returns six key players from 2013. In the secondary, sophomore defensive back  Tony Bridges (6'2, 175, Auburn commit) and safety Justin Evans (6'0, 185, Texas A&M commit) standout at their positions. Bridges also returns kicks and punts while Evans picked off five passes in 2013 and recovered two fumbles. Fellow sophomores Brandin Knight (5'11, 185, Pearl), and Braden Byrd (5'11, 185, George County) return with help from sophomore wide receiver turned defensive back Jeremy Cutrer (6'2, 170, LSU commit). Freshman signees Rojae Raine (5'10, 185, Picayune), Alex Feazelle (6'4, 200, Hancock), George Watts (6'0, 190, Greene County), and Cedric Spencer (5'11, 175, Jackson Murrah) will provide depth for Gulf Coast in the secondary.

   Linebacker Craig Murphy (39 tackles in 2013) leads a group of young but dynamic players, including Adrian Mullins (5'10, 210, Gulfport), Romello Riley (6'3, 205, Ocean Springs), Rod Sims (6'0, 210, Oak Grove), Chris Booth (6'3, 190, Oak Grove), and Lorenzo Fields (6'2, 230, Daphne, AL).

   Up front on defense, the Bulldogs will get more work from Phalen Booker (6'0, 240, Waveland), an NJCAA Academic All-American who led the team with five sacks in 2013.  Booker's path to the quarterback will be joined by sophomores Maurice Swain (1 sack in 2013), Jon Wilson (1 sack in 2013). Freshman signees Chris Johnson (6'2, 265, Gulfport), nose guard Jarvis Lofton (6'0, 320, Mendenhall), Joe Green (6'2, 230, Madison Central), Joe Sanders (6'4, 270, Troup County, GA), and Reyjon Simes (6'6, 240, Stone Mountain, GA) are all expected to contribute in 2014.

  SPECIAL TEAMS

    Sophomore kicker Tristan Reynolds (7-13 FG, 35-37 XP) and sophomore punter Kevin Phillips (39.2 average) are back, and will work with incoming freshman long snapper Austin McIntosh (5'10, 180) in the kicking game. Several Bulldog skilled players will compete for kick and punt return duties in 2014.

   The Bulldogs open 2014 at home against Northeast Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.