STARKVILLE — With the inaugural Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 7A Mr. Football award to his right and the 2022 MHSAA Class 6A state title trophy to his left, Starkville High quarterback Trey Petty had a giant smile across his face on Wednesday afternoon.
The three-star recruit had accomplished everything he could in a Yellow Jackets uniform, and this was his time to celebrate taking the next step.
Joined by family and friends, Petty signed his National Letter of Intent to play at Illinois, marking a new Starkville pipeline of sorts.
“It’s a blessing,” Petty said. “Not many people go Power Five, Division I out of high school. Most take the JUCO route, which there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s a blessing for Illinois to put their trust in me and that my skill set showed off enough for them to want me.”
Another Jacket will now be added to the quarterback room in Champaign as Petty joins former teammate Luke Altmyer, a 2021 Starkville High School graduate and recent Illinois transfer from Ole Miss.
Starkville ties at the next level continue to strengthen, but there’s definitely something extra going on with Illinois and the Big Ten.
“We already got a bond from being at Starkville together,” Petty said. “Me going up there, knowing I have a big brother, somebody to look over me, somebody to help me out when it comes to learning that university, new people, it’s big.”
His time as a Jacket was a prolific one, starting each of the last two seasons under center while putting up all-region and all-state numbers.
Petty finished his Starkville career with 5,151 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns to just 12 interceptions, adding another 1,666 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground.
As a senior, his 3,335 yards of total offense and 37 total touchdowns ranked among the best in the state.
“He’s meant a lot to this community, the school, the football program,” head coach Chris Jones said. “… To just continue to lift up that tradition of Starkville football, I think it’s awesome. The thing that I think that he did well was he made everyone else around him. Hopefully, he’ll just continue to do that at Illinois.”
From his initial commitment to the Fighting Illini in May to now, his commitment to the program never waivered, and Illinois continued to reciprocate that back.
Head coach Bret Bielema visited Starkville for a game earlier this season, watching Petty record 300-plus yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a blowout win over Madison Central.
Now, with his name signed across the dotted line, Bielema and Illinois will be able to watch that every Saturday as Petty represents the Fighting Illini and the Jackets across his chest.
“Luke’s already up there, so being able to join him just shows that Starkville is doing something good,” Petty said. “Two quarterbacks from the same high school on the same team. I think that just helps put Starkville even more on the map.”
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