SCOOBA – East Mississippi Community College coach Buddy Stephens knows what kind of player he’s getting when they played at Starkville High School.
Stephens is in his eighth season with the Lions and every player that has come through the Yellow Jacket program that has played for him, has been ready to compete from day one.
This season, Stephens adds two freshmen from SHS and he is not worried about them. Running back Jacquez Horsley and linebacker Alonzo Flowers will carry on the tradition of Jackets turning into Lions. Sophomore Jawon Johnson is also an SHS graduate on the EMCC roster for this season.
“Our Starkville guys always come prepared,” Stephens said. “You can tell a Starkville kid, a South Panola kid, when those kids come in, you can tell they’ve played at a very high level. Some people put a lot of credence in it, some people don’t put a lot of credence in it. I think it’s wonderful. The more guys you can get at the level that can come in and play, that’s real important.”
Top-ranked EMCC opens the season Thursday when it welcomes Southwest Mississippi Community College to Sullivan-Windham Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Lions enter the season with 24 straight wins and are looking to become the first National Junior College Athletic Association program to win three straight national championships.
Even with all the preparation he had for the next level at SHS, Horsley knew when he graduated in May that he was going to have to put in more work in during the summer to make sure he was even more prepared for junior college football. He pushed himself to the brink during June and July and got his body in shape to be an immediate contributor at running back this season for the Lions.
“I’ve been working very diligently this summer,” Horsley said. “A lot of running and a lot of competing. Every guy on the team is a great player and everything’s just been hard.”
Flowers said the weight room and conditioning was really hard for him during the summer, but he knew he had to do it if he was going to make the cut with a program like EMCC. The Lions have won three titles overall, with the other coming in 2011.
That was the driving force behind him pushing himself this summer.
“It pushed me very hard,” Flowers said. “When you come here, you’re thinking it’s just going to be another junior college, but you see why they’re the best. They outwork everybody. Nobody did this in the summer like we did.”
Even though Starkville prepared Flowers for the next level, he isn’t quite there yet according to Stephens and that may lead to him being redshirted this season. But Stephens has seen Flowers put in the work this summer and he will compete this fall for more and more reps in practice.
“Alonzo is really working to get stronger and faster,” Stephens said. “Right now he’s learning the scheme. He’s working to get more reps.”
Flowers led the Yellow Jackets with 108 total tackles last season. The linebacker also had 14 tackles for loss and one interception.
Horsley won’t be redshirted this season. Instead, he looks to be one of three running backs that the Lions use in a rotation. Sophomore D.J. Law will be the main running back, but Horsley will get his chance in the offense.
“I think he’s going to be a great back,” said the Florida native Law. “Give him about a year to progress and with all of the talent that I’ve seen. He can cut, he’s lowering his shoulder, and he has a little speed on him.”
Law is poised to have a breakout season, but Horsley is ready for the challenge.
“It’s going to be great,” Horsley said. “Every back we have is strong, fast and powerful, but when my number’s called I’m just here to do my job.”
Horsley was bothered by injuries during his final season with the Jackets, but he rushed for 497 yards and five touchdowns.
Lion offensive coordinator Marcus Wood is impressed with what he’s seen from Horsley so far.
“He is able to run inside and has great hands,” Wood said. “He’s big enough to give you kind of a powerful run presence inside. He’s a difference maker.”
Several Starkville running backs have found their way to EMCC after graduating from high school. Before Horsley there was Preston Baker. Baker spent two years with the Lions before heading to the University of Tennessee Martin this fall.
Horsley is the next in line.
“This is one of the long lines of running backs that we’ve gotten from Starkville,” Stephens said. “Boy is he good.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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