WEST POINT — Carson Miller and Brandon Edwards have dreams of playing on a team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
After nearly getting offers to play at that level, the West Point High School standouts are more than ready to make a name for themselves in the fertile Mississippi junior college ranks.
Miller, a lineman, signed with Pearl River Community College Wednesday, while Edwards signed with reigning Mississippi Junior College Athletic Association champion and national champion East Mississippi C.C.
Miller drew interest from Delta State, a Division II school, and Ohio University, an FBS school. However, he turned down further recruitment by both schools because he wants to play football in the Southeastern Conference.
“I didn’t think bad of Ohio, but I believed I could take another season or two of JUCO and really get an offer to a bigger D-I school,” Miller said. “I told them how I felt and basically didn’t give them the chance to offer. I’d love to go in the SEC, or a more well-known D-I school.
“In the meantime, it’s going to be a real comfortable environment at Pearl River.”
Miller had offers from EMCC, Northeast Mississippi C.C., Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C., and Hinds C.C.
The 6-foot-3 tackle said he wants to improve his pass protection and strength before jumping to the four-year level.
Edwards, a linebacker, nearly landed an offer to play at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but the program’s interest in him waned after assistant coach Lorenzo Constantini, who recruited Edwards, was fired with the rest of the staff.
“They were after me,” Edwards said, “and they had to shuffle some things, so I’m going down to Scooba to prove a point.”
Edwards had 70 tackles, three and a half sacks, and two forced fumbles this season. He joins a defense that returns starting linebackers D.J. Jordan, of Starkville, and Noxubee County High graduate Corey Williams. Edwards also will play with former Green Wave standouts Xavier Hogan, Deismen Robinson, and Justin Cox.
“We’re going to go hard,” Edwards said.
Jonathon Jones, who started on the offensive line, will join Edwards and former Green Wave teammates in Scooba.
Linebacker Charles Heard rounds out the strong West Point contingent heading to Scooba. Heard had 74 tackles and three sacks this season.
“EMCC offered several of our guys,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “Charles and Brandon are two linebackers that can play up on the line. They’re strong and fast. They’re going to help them out tremendously, I believe, in their first year on campus.”
West Point quarterback DeQuinten Spraggins signed with Northeast Mississippi C.C. In his first year as a starter after backing up close friend Cox on two state title teams, Spraggins rushed for 1,130 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged more than 10 yards per carry and threw for 1,023 yards.
Senior guard Romia Wilson also expects to sign with a junior college soon, Chambless said.
“Spraggins and Wilson will have to have a great summer,” Chambless said. “Continue to work now, be patient, and willing to accept change — different coaching, schemes and being able to learn all that stuff. They’ve got ability but going to have to be willing to do it.”
West Point’s 2012 senior class won back-to-back Class 5A state championships in 2009 and 2010. It lost to eventual state runner-up Starkville in the second round of the playoffs this season.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.