Rugged MACCC awaits No. 7 Bulldogs’ talented squad
PERKINSTON — The MACCC football landscape doesn't get any easier in a bounce-back year from 2020's COVID-shortened campaign.
There will be third-year players scattered across rosters all over the league, including seven on Jack Wright's No. 7 Mississippi Gulf Coast squad.
"The league is going to be the best it's ever been this year," he predicted. "There are a lot of teams bringing back double-digit third-year players, and in the past, the teams that have had a lot of second-year players have been the best teams. You're adding another element this year. Those third-year guys are going to make for a very competitive league."
Gulf Coast had 25 players from last year's squad sign with four-year schools last year. Wright is proud of that fact, but it means he will have to plenty of spots to plug in new talent.
The Bulldogs unveil the new lineup Sept. 2 at Holmes. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. in Goodman. The Bulldogs play their first two games on the road before the home opener Sept. 16 against archrival Pearl River
OFFENSE
Gulf Coast lost a lot of talent on the offensive line over the last calendar year, including three late departures for Division I schools.
"Being able to put a group together under those circumstances was going to be a challenge, but I think we have the pieces there," Wright said. "They're getting better every day. We've got a lot of talented players."
The headliner up front is Percy Lewis (So., Sallis/McAdams), who didn't have any other offers coming out of high school. He's gone from a nose tackle/blocking back to the No. 1 junior college prospect in the country. At 6-feet-9, 350 pounds, he's hard to miss on the field.
Jacob Cox (So., Amory/Amory) returns at center, and the group has benefited from full summer and preseason camps to improve communication and gel.
They're protecting for returning quarterback Philip Short (So., Flowood/Madison-Ridgeland Academy), who finished second in the NJCAA last year averaging 255.7 yards per game in the air. He threw for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in six games.
"Anytime you have a second-year quarterback, you expect him to be more efficient," Wright said. "You expect him to be able to process faster, make few mistakes, and he's done that in practice. We'll need to translate that to Thursday nights."
The Bulldogs' leading receiver from last year returns, as well. Jalen Bracey (So., Jackson/Murrah) will be back for a third year after finishing second in the country averaging 98.2 yards per game. He also had four touchdown catches.
K.T. Hicks (So., Petal/Petal) is also back. He turned up on campus as a walk-on last year and earned a scholarship before the season began. He caught 21 balls for 370 yards and 3 TDs.
Wright praised Bracey's work ethic and leadership working with a group of young receivers. The Bulldogs have a number of freshmen led by Rico Dorsey (Fr., Hattiesburg/Presbyterian Christian), who transferred from Southern Miss. The corps fills out a two-deep roster at four receiver spots and then some with the ability to create space and make acrobatic catches.
Micah McGowan (So., Petal/Petal) and Cam Thomas (So., Picayune/Picayune) are returning running backs who will have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves.
DEFENSE
The Regulators allowed just 73.8 yards per game last year on the ground last year, sixth-best in the country. They were eight-best in total defense, and Wright said this year's group has great energy. The group gets off blocks and flies to the football.
There's an experienced front seven returning, with three third-year players starting on the defensive line. Jace McCoy (So., Summit/North Pike), Hydee Barlow (So., Forest/Scott Central) and Jae'Vien Gill (So., Philadelphia/Neshoba Central) are joined by John Brown (So., Jackson/Provine). That foursome combined for 85 total tackles and five sacks last year.
Linebackers Mike Smith (So., Flora/Ridgeland) and C.J. Williams (So., Taylorsville/Taylorsville) are third-year players, as well. Smith already has 158 tackles and seven sacks to his credit at Gulf Coast.
"They know this league, and that's going to be a huge edge for us having that experience," said Wright.
Jashon Baker (So., Tylertown/Tylertown) returns in the defensive backfield. Baker broke up six passes last year and had a fumble recovery. Wright is expecting big things from him there, and defensive coordinator Dr. Brett Shufelt will need him to keep things in shape on the back end.
"He's going to have a lot of responsibility back there in the secondary," Wright said. "We've been leaning on him in training camp. We need him to continue that role."
That group has gotten an infusion of talent from the offensive backfield. DeCarlos Nicholson (So., Petal/Petal) has shifted from quarterback and has already drawn a slew of Power 5 attention because of his speed and length.
Cam Threatt (Fr., Lewisburg/Lewisburg) is a Mississippi State transfer who has been added to the DB room.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bulldogs have a Division I-transfer at punter. George Caratan (So., Pacific Palisades Calif./St. Thomas More) punted 16 times for 45.4 yards at Arkansas last season.
Dylan Wasson (Fr., Madison/Germantown) is the new kicker, with Collen Penton (Fr., Carriere/Picayune) at long snapper.
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