When the going was tough at Southern Mississippi Elite Camp, Columbus High School senior defensive end Tahj Sykes needed a push.
“I was ready to tap out because my thighs had given out,” Sykes said. “My dad (Timothy) told me I couldn’t quit then. He told me I had come too far to quit halfway through (the camp). He really pushed me to finish the day. I am glad he did.”
Sykes impressed at the one-day event, open to ninth graders through college sophomores, held earlier this month. Within hours of completing the camp, he had a scholarship offer.
On Friday night, Sykes accepted that offer when he announced a verbal commitment to the Golden Eagles on his Twitter page.
“The commitment is because they really liked me and they told me I could be a great asset to their team,” said the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Sykes. “The coaches there talked about the brotherhood. When you have brotherhood, you are never apart from one another. You have a strong connection and a strong bond.
Sykes said a follow-up conversation with USM coaches helped push him over the top.
“I went back down there (Friday),” Sykes said. “I had been talking about (the offer) all week. And my dad asked why I was going ahead and committing early. However, I thought it was the right thing to do. When I processed the decision, I pulled the trigger.”
Columbus finished 8-4 and advanced to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A playoffs last season. Sykes was credited with 32 tackles, two sacks, and four quarterback hurries for one of the classification’s strongest defenses.
With the leadership light now focused more on squarely on him, Sykes took to heart the advice of Columbus coach Randal Montgomery and worked hard to make himself into a Division I player.
“I tried to take a more active leadership role during spring practice,” Sykes said. “In the summer, I focused on how I could make myself a better player for my team. Each of us have individual goals, but you have to make sure they are part of the bigger picture, the team goals.”
Sykes attended camps at Mississippi State, LSU, USM, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
“The main thing coaches want to see at camp is are you coachable,” Sykes said. “In each camp, I went in with an open mind. My goal was to learn as many as things I could to make myself a better player. If you don’t learn anything, you have wasted your money. I try to learn better technique and leadership skills.”
Sykes has been recruited primarily by recruiting coordinator Desmond Lindsey and has been working with defensive line coach Derek Nicholson.
Players can sign Division I scholarship offers, beginning Feb. 1, 2017. While the wait for that date takes place, Sykes will work on helping carry the Falcons to new places.
“We have a lot of young guys on defense that are eager and ready to go,” Sykes said. “I think we will pick up where we left off a season ago. We just try to be physical and try to have 11 hats on the ball each time it is snapped.”
Columbus shook off non-region losses to Noxubee County and West Point to win six of seven region games to play a first-round playoff game at home for the first time.
“I think people got caught up the excitement,” Sykes said. “This was new for Columbus. We had a great season, and everybody should be proud of it. We really have just done what coach Montgomery told us to do since he was hired.
“This year, we will have more of a business approach. We feel like we can be one of the best teams in (Class) 6A.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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