The recruiting interest in senior defensive back Ryan Melton picked up as the West Point High School football team advanced deeper in the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A playoffs
“We had several game-changing type players on our defense,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “To have that on offense is not out of the ordinary. To have that on defense is unique. We had several guys on defense that could change the whole outlook of a game with just one play.”
Melton epitomized the big-play defense for the eventual state champion Green Wave. On Wednesday, he signed a scholarship offer with South Alabama.
Melton will participate in a signing ceremony in February at the school. However, he made his commitment to the Jaguars official early Wednesday morning on the first of two National Singing Days for football.
“South Alabama did a great job of recruiting me,” Melton said. “It’s a place where I can fit in. The recruiting process has been fun. It has been great going through this with my teammates, especially while we won another championship.
The 6-foot-1, 173-pound Melton finished with 46 tackles and three interceptions. He also had three blocked kicks, including a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in a 27-12 victory against West Jones in the state championship game.
South Alabama confirmed Melton’s signing in a release Wednesday afternoon.
The West Point senior class won three-straight Class 5A State championships and finished with a 43-2 record in the past three seasons.
In other news from the Green Wave, senior safety Tyler Rupert announced a verbal commitment to East Mississippi Community College on his Twitter page Wednesday morning. Rupert is expected to sign in February.
Two Starkville High standouts also announced Wednesday their next destinations. Running back Rodrigues Clark and defensive lineman Jalil Clemons signed with Memphis.
Both will participate in a signing ceremony in February but signed letters of intent, according to a release from Memphis.
Clark announced a verbal commitment to Memphis during the summer. Around that time, Clemons verbally committed to Tennessee. His decision to play at Memphis was considered a mild surprise by many.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Clark ran for 1,262 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, while the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Clemons had 57 tackles, including 18 for loss, and seven sacks.
According to the 247 Composite rankings, Clemons is Memphis’ highest-ranked signee at No. 545 overall and No. 20 in Mississippi. He took an official visit to Memphis on Dec. 7-9. Fellow Starkville High teammate linebacker Zach Edwards has an official visit set for Memphis on Jan. 11, 2019, according to the Memphis 247 web site.
For Clark, Wednesday was the culmination of a lengthy love affair with the Tigers.
“I love (Memphis running backs) Coach (Anthony) Jones, and I can’t wait to learn from him, and I know (running back) Patrick (Taylor) will be able to teach me some things, too,” Clark told the Memphis 247 web site. “Even with all that, though, I’m still coming for the number one spot next season. I want to be the starter as quick as I can.”
Starkville finished 11-2 and advanced to the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.
The 15-member Memphis signing class also included Noxubee County defensive back Maliek Stallings. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Stallings played running back, wide receiver, quarterback, and defensive back for the Tigers throughout his varsity career. He also gave Memphis a verbal commitment before the season and will participate in a signing ceremony with his high school teammates in February.
This season, Stallings threw for 293 yards, rushed for 327 yards, had 438 receiving yards and had 10 touchdowns.
Noxubee County finished 7-6 and lost in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Stallings, Clemons, and Clark were selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama Shrine Classic.
The 247 Sports Team rankings listed the Memphis class as No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference and No. 58 overall.
East Mississippi Community College also had several members of its national championship Lions team find new homes.
Former West Point standout defensive lineman Everitt Cunningham signed with Memphis, while former Starkville High standout defensive back JaQuez Akins signed with Tennessee-Martin.
Other notables from EMCC included wide receiver Dontario Drummond (Ole Miss), wide receiver Kalem Reddix (Louisiana-Lafayette), linebacker Kaleb Gentry (Campbellsville), defensive lineman Darel Middleton (Tennessee), defensive back Keilos Swinney (Louisiana-Monroe), DJ Clayton (Mississippi Valley State), and defensive lineman Eriq Kitchen (Southern Mississippi).
In other local news, former Noxubee County High School standout Kalmorris Robinson capped his Itawamba C.C. career by signing with Kentucky State. The 5-foot-9, 195-puond Robinson played linebacker for the Indians.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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