HOOVER, Ala. — Mississippi State football defensive back Deontay Evans will transfer, a team spokesperson said Monday.
Evans wasn’t listed on the roster given to the media at Southeastern Conference Media Days Monday. His transfer destination is unknown.
Evans, a safety, was expected to be a contributor as a senior this season. The Bulldogs return four lettermen at safety (redshirt sophomore Brandon Bryant, rising senior Kivon Coman and rising sophomores Mark McLaurin and Jamal Peters).
In his three years with the Bulldogs, Evans played in 39 games and had 86 tackles (1.0 for loss). The McComb native had five passes defended and one forced fumble.
MSU’s contingent (coach Dan Mullen and student-athletes Fred Ross, Richie Brown, and A.J. Jefferson) will speak today at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel.
n Alabama’s Jackson named to Jim Thorpe Award watch list: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Alabama senior Eddie Jackson has been named to the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award watch list announced Monday by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Jackson is among 39 defensive backs from around the country named to the preseason list. Jackson was a semifinalist for the award in 2015. Antonio Langham previously won the award for Alabama in 1993 and is the Crimson Tide’s only winner.
Jackson, who has also been named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, returns for his final season after transitioning from corner to safety last spring and excelling in that role as a junior. His standout play earned him first-team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches and Associated Press following the 2015 slate. He also received second team All-America honors from Walter Camp and the FWAA, while being tabbed a third team All-American by the Associated Press last season after leading Alabama in interceptions with six — two returned for touchdowns. Jackson also had a forced fumble and fumble recovery to go with his 46 tackles. He had 230 return yards on his interceptions, shattering the previous Crimson Tide all-time record of 163 that was set in 1952. Jackson wrapped up the 2015 season as the SEC leader in interceptions and was tied for seventh in the national ranks.
The Jim Thorpe Award has been presented annually since 1986 by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame to recognize the top defensive back in college football. The award is named in honor of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe. The 2016 winner will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.
n Prince added to Hopson’s staff at Southern Mississippi: At Hattiesburg, Southern Mississippi football coach Jay Hopson has announced the addition of William Prince to the program as the executive assistant to the head coach.
“We are thrilled to have William Prince as a part of our staff,” Hopson said. “He is a former Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi, and that will be a valuable asset as a part of our football and support staff. His career as a player and other valuable experience in all phases of football operations will help our player development program.”
Prince will oversee the athletic, educational, and social development of the squad.
He comes to Hattiesburg by way of Alcorn State, where he was an assistant strength and conditioning coach and equipment manager from 2012-2016. Some of his achievements include decreasing team injuries by 72 percent and preparing the athletic equipment budget.
Prince previously held three jobs in the private sector, most recently working from 2011-12 as the assistant general manager/director of sales at the Fayetteville Athletic Club (Arkansas). He managed 160 employees in that role and implemented the Fast Trac sales system and increased bottom-line sales by $8,000 over a month-long period.
Prince was an All-American by three publications, including Parade Magazine, at Warren Central High School. He played at Mississippi State, where he started all four years and rushed for 15 touchdowns.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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