The Starkville High School football team’s 12-2 season featured plenty of contributions from younger players, but National Signing Day served to remind football fans that the Yellow Jackets had some outstanding seniors as well.
Three of them — JaQuez Harris, Jordan Mitchell and Karsten Upchurch — , “signed to continue their careers at Mississippi community colleges on Wednesday, an event marked by a ceremony on Wednesday in the school’s auditorium.
“Lessons learned from football prepare our student-athletes for life,” Yellow Jackets coach Chris Young told the audience. “Today is a day for them to cash in on their talents as football players to continue education.”
Two of them will continue their education together, as Harris and Upchurch have signed with East Mississippi Community College in Scooba. Mitchell is headed for Hinds Community College in Raymond.
“I think he has a chance to be a Power 5 back,” Jones said of Mitchell, a 6-foot, 205-pounder. “I’m looking forward to seeing him in the future.”
Upchurch, who stands 6-5 and 260 pounds, is an imposing presence whom Jones expects to grow even more imposing.
“Karsten is a big kid,” Jones said. “He’s really aggressive, and he’ll get bigger and stronger. He has a chance to be really good on the next level.”
The lanky Harris was expected to be the Jackets’ starting quarterback this season, and when sophomore Trey Petty’s play pushed him into the starting lineup, Harris continued to contribute to the Yellow Jackets’ 12-2 campaign.
That spoke volumes about two things: the depth Starkville enjoys to have a quarterback good enough to get scholarship offers on the sidelines, and the character of the 6-5, 170-pound Harris to find other ways to help his team win.
“He accepted his role,” Jones said. “It shows the kind of person he is and the kind of player he is.
“He has a lot of potential to be a college quarterback. I think he’ll do well.”
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