WEST POINT — Brandon Lairy learned what it’s like to be on the winning side of a championship football game at West Point High School, which won the MHSAA Class 5A state title his last three seasons as a Green Wave linebacker.
Now that Lairy is headed to Louisiana’s Nicholls State University to finish his college football career at the NCAA Division I level, he sees more titles in his future.
“They won two conference championships in 18, 19,” Lairy said of the Colonels’ Southland Conference titles. “And we feel like we can win two more while I’m there.”
There were no championships during Lairy’s time at East Mississippi Community College, but the Lions did just finish a 9-1 season during which Lairy made 54 tackles (second on the team), including 6 for losses with 2 sacks. He also had 4 pass breakups, an interception (with a 48-yard return) and a fumble recovery.
The Lions’ defense with Lairy at linebacker was phenomenal. EMCC led NJCAA Division I teams in scoring defense (12.8) and ranked fourth in the nation in total defense (230.5 yards per game) while holding seven opponents to fewer than 10 points.
Lairy’s performance made him a second-team All-MACCC North Division selection after being named a Class 5A all-state second-team pick during his last two years at West Point.
But Lairy insists the player headed to Thibodaux, Louisiana, is different from the one who headed to Scooba three years ago.
“When I signed with EMCC, I didn’t feel like I was the player I am today,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready to be where I am now,” citing speed, strength and mindset as things that have improved since he left West Point.
There was one thing Lairy made clear he did not need to work on coming out of high school, saying it was instilled in him while playing for Green Wave coach Chris Chambless.
“The work ethic, really, how much work they put in to get to where they go every year, the state championship,” Lairy said. The Green Wave have reached six consecutive 5A championship games, winning four of them.
Chambless watched his former linebacker play at EMCC whenever he could, whether driving down to Scooba or catching games on livestream.
“He became a total player, a better player, and he’s ready for this moment because of that,” Chambless said. “I’m proud of what he’s accomplished and proud of what he’s going to accomplish.”
Chambless said Lairy brings more than his skills as a linebacker and his work ethic to Nicholls State; he’s bringing a suitcase full of intangibles.
“He’s not only a great player, but he’s a better person,” Chambless said. “He’s going to be a good teammate, and he’s going to do all of the little things it takes to get better, and he’s going to make everybody around him better. That’s what’s so special about him.”
Nicholls State’s coaching staff must have seen something special, too, as Lairy is one of only two players the Colonels inked during the early signing period. But they will lose only 11 seniors and return eight all-Southland Conference players from a team that went 6-5, going 1-3 against ranked FCS teams and losing to Memphis and Louisiana, two bowl teams.
Still, Lairy is confident he won’t be waiting behind anyone else to get on the field and contribute.
“They want me to play a will linebacker spot,” Lairy said, using a common name for weak-side linebacker. “It’s the right place for me to go. I can go there and start and have a great two seasons and possibly play in the NFL.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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