Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in a series that will feature some of the area’s top prep football players. These players are expected to receive the most attention from college coaches/scouts. The Dispatch will profile a player each day leading up to the start of the regular season Friday, Aug. 17.
STARKVILLE — Chris Jones’ question to Malik Brown was simple: “What do you want to do?”
After leading the Starkville High School football team to the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A State championship game last season, Brown knew the Yellow Jackets had the potential to return to the title matchup in 2018. He also knew Starkville High had another option — Luke Altmyer — who could step in if Brown wanted to play another position.
Neither option was bad, but Jones realized a decision had to be made so Brown and the Yellow Jackets could move forward. Jones also wanted Brown to understand he didn’t lose his job as the team’s starting quarterback.
Brown considered all of the choices in the spring. A couple of days before the team started practice in May, Brown let Jones know he wanted to play wide receiver.
The move unlocks myriad options for Brown and the Yellow Jackets as they prepare for a 2018 campaign in which they are the preseason favorite of many, including Mississippi Gridiron, which picked the Yellow Jackets as their No. 1 team.
Brown already has benefited from the decision, as Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is recruiting him as a receiver.
“It’s been great to me,” Brown said. “I’m getting used to it, running and drills.”
Jones said he was determined to do what was best for the team at quarterback, and it is clear he never cast Brown keeping the position as a bad thing. Brown completed 61.2 percent of his passes and threw for 1,928 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.
Jones also was uniquely qualified to lead Brown through this decision-making process because he had to do it himself.
“I played quarterback in high school up until my senior year,” Jones said. “I probably should’ve done it earlier but I couldn’t. We didn’t have anybody. I was speaking to him from experience.
“I gave him the pros and cons of playing quarterback and playing receiver and, at the end of the day, this is his decision. A couple of days before we officially started spring ball, he came to me and said he wanted to focus on being a receiver, and that was it. We didn’t put a bunch of pressure on him.”
The move worked out for Jones, who went to Jackson State as a receiver and turned that into three seasons in the NFL, one in the Arena Football League, and two in the Canadian Football League.
“How many quarterbacks look like him at the next level? Not color, but how many quarterbacks are 5-foot-8, 160, 165 (pounds), versus how many receivers are 5-8, 165?” Jones said. “To me, there’s no size limit on playing receivers. They want guys that can make plays. We’re trying to get these kids to the next level. I look at the big picture of winning championships and getting kids to the next level.”
With Brown in the fold, Starkville has options. While Altmyer will be the starting quarterback, there likely will be packages where Brown can be a wild card at quarterback. He also could play multiple roles as a receiver following the graduation of Cameron Hines (Jackson State) and Cameron Gardner (Mississippi State), who combined for 1,372 of the team’s 2,396 receiving yards and 21 of its 32 touchdowns.
Rufus Harvey (517 yards, seven touchdowns) returns, but Starkville could use more big-play potential. Jones plans on using Brown to create it.
“I think he’ll be a productive football player the way we’ll use him,” Jones said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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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 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
