Inez Temple better get ready.
If word gets out about her pork chops, rice, biscuits and the rest of her culinary delights, Darron Temple might have to fight for a spot at his grandmother’s dinner table.
As it is, the New Hope High School senior said he is going to rely on his grandmother to help him gain weight for the next step in his life: college football.
On Wednesday, Temple and New Hope High football teammates Bryson Ellis, Cornell Gandy, Jeremy Newton, and Tyler Staples finalized those plans when they signed their National Letters of Intent in a ceremony in the school library. Gandy, Staples, and Temple will take their talents to Holmes Community College in Goodman, while Ellis will go to Jones Junior College in Ellisville and Newton will attend East Mississippi C.C. in Scooba.
Before they go, all five should ask Inez Temple if they can get a send-off dinner. Odds are Temple and Gandy, who both said they likely will have to gain weight to prepare for the next level, might spend a lot of time chowing down to help them bulk up for the rigors of playing against the best the state of Mississippi has to offer.
“My grandmother cooks good every day,” Temple said laughing.
Temple, a 6-foot, 170-pound safety, said he hopes to get a chance to play in the secondary. With that thought in mind, Temple said he has been trying to gain weight for a while. As much as he loves his grandmother’s food, though, he understands he has to balance biscuits and bar bells and pork chops and pushups to be ready for a chance that not everyone gets.
“It is going to motivate me to go harder and keep praying to God that He will take me far and a long way,” said Temple, a four-year member of the football program and a Class 5A All-State performer this past season. “I probably will have to prove myself, but I am just going to keep working hard and stay humble and push myself even harder.”
Gandy, a 5-9, 165-pound defensive back, said he, too, needs to gain weight to get ready for his chance.
“It’s going to be pretty hard, but I believe I can do it and I can get it,” Gandy said.
New Hope football coach Kris Pickle said Gandy has overcome the odds before and sees no reason he can’t do it again.
“Cornell is a good athlete,” Pickle said. “He is someone you will look to come in and play corner because he has long arms and he is rangy. Cornell is a great kid. He battled through a lot the day he was born, so I am glad to see him get an opportunity to play.
The challenge of playing in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges, which is regarded as one of the nation’s best leagues, might be a little tougher than putting on weight, but Gandy feels he is ready to take that step.
“I believe it is going to be challenging, but I can overcome it,” Gandy said. “I just have to keep God first and stay focused and I think I can make it.”
Ellis, who played running back last season, moved to wide receiver and led the team in catches (49), receiving yards (907) and touchdown catches (nine). He accomplished that even though he said he is 5-8, 160 pounds.
Pickle said Ellis’ experience at running back helped him make the transition.
“He is really explosive when he gets the ball in his hands,” Pickle said. “You could tell he has been a running back because he runs like a running back with his first step when he comes out of his breaks.”
Pickle feels Ellis found a good fit because Jones’ offense relies on the passing game, which means plenty of receivers should have an opportunity to contribute.
Ellis credited God for his athletic ability he used to combat bigger and taller defensive backs. He said his work ethic helps him make up for what he might not have in inches and pounds.
“Everything I did I did my best,” Ellis said. “I know I had the talent to play at the next level, but I am concerned about my education.
“There are going to be guys bigger than me and stronger than me, but I am just going to have to turn it up a notch.”
Pickle also believes Staples has the potential to grow into a Division I player.
If all of the Trojans eat enough of Inez Temple’s meals, there’s no telling how far they will go.
“Each one of them has a great work ethic,” Pickle said. “Their schools are going to get guys who are going to come in and compete and who are not going to quit because they have been through three coaches in four years and they have been battle tested.”
Ellis said he and his classmates, who were a driving force behind the Trojans’ 10-3 finish and push to the second round of the Class 5A North State playoffs, dreamed about playing football in college for as long as he can remember. Now that he and his friends have realized their goals, Ellis takes pride in all of the things they have overcome to help get the New Hope High football program back on track.
“(Signing) is all we talked about when we had meetings for football,” Ellis said. “It is a little different (now that they have signed). I figured since I was a short guy I wouldn’t even sign, but I guess God made a way.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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