SCOOBA — East Mississippi Community College sophomore wide receiver Dontario Drummond enjoys surfing social media.
Drummond reads phrases “best receiver in the country” and “one of the top prospects in the nation” and takes it in stride. Instead of basking in the praise, it’s all about getting better for the next day.
Drummond will take his talents to the biggest stage in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) at 7 p.m. Thursday when No. 1 EMCC (11-0) faces No. 2 Garden City C.C. (Kansas) (10-0) in the national championship game at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas. The game will be broadcast nationally on the CBS Sports Network. It can be heard locally on WFCA-FM (107.9).
“You have to focus on the mission,” Drummond said. “If you get caught up in the off-the-field stuff, someone will take your place. My coaches have always told me work ethic is what pushes you to the top. I have tried to get there by challenging myself every day to get better.”
EMCC offensive coordinator David Boykin said Drummond demonstrates his leadership skills through work ethic.
“He is not a big talker,” Boykin said. “There is not a lot of flash. When the lights are on, you see a player ready to make big play after big play. It’s that way in practice. You are going to play how you practice. He is certainly an example of that.”
Drummond is ranked the nation’s fourth-best junior college prospect at wide receiver and the seventh-best overall prospect in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC).
As will be the case with so many EMCC players, the end of the season is a whirlwind. The end of the semester and the season coincide with a chance to sign in December and for December graduates to move to the senior college level in January.
“It’s a credit to the coaches here they take care of us,” Drummond said. “You have to close out those things because school and winning a national championship are the top priorities. It just seems like it happens so fast for all of us. The thing you have here is a brotherhood for life.”
Drummond leads the team with 52 receptions for 818 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is third in the nation in touchdown catches and seventh in receiving yards.
In a 19-14 victory against Jones College to capture the MACJC State championship, Drummond was on the receiving end of two touchdowns from TyQuan Ulmer, his teammate at Laurel High School.
In his two-year career, Drummond owns the school record with 21 touchdown receptions.
“(Ulmer) and I go way back. We have been doing this together since seventh grade,” Drummond said. “A lot of summer nights have been spent running pass routes together. He is a dedicated, hard-worker and a great leader. The two of us can make some great things happen.”
The season has been a challenging one at quarterback for EMCC. Messiah deWeaver began the season as the starter before Vijay Miller replaced him. After Miller was hurt against East Central C.C., deWeaver returned as the starter and Ulmer was moved from wide receiver back to quarterback, where he played in high school.
Drummond admits catching balls from three quarterbacks has been unique.
“It’s a credit to the coaches and also to the offensive line. They are a big reason why this is all successful,” Drummond said. “When one player goes down, someone else steps up. The difference from high school ball to junior college ball is that replacement is going to be a great player, too, so in our offense, we don’t miss a beat. We just keep going.”
Ulmer understands the importance of a 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver who can win almost any jump ball.
“He is just a big-time player,” Ulmer said. “I have to admit I have a comfort level with him. We are always up to something on the football field. If you throw it in his general area, he is going to make a play. That’s quite a relief for a quarterback.”
A win Thursday would help EMCC repeat as NJCAA national championship and give the Lions a cumulative record of 23-1 in two seasons.
“The program hadn’t won a championship in a couple of years when we got here,” Drummond said. “It means a lot to go out and play one last time, knowing you helped bring the standard back.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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