Bobcats sign quality talent

By Shawn Wansley

JCJC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE – Ray Perkins has 26 years of coaching experience in the NFL and on the senior college level.

But he experienced his first junior college signing day on Wednesday as head coach of the Jones County Junior College Bobcats.

“We signed a good mixture of guys that will fill some need spots,” Perkins said during a live telecast of the annual “Bobcat Football Recruiting Special,“ which aired on JCJC-TV. “Overall, we got a good class of students, which is important to us, and I’m very much looking forward to working with these players.

“I think we’ve got a good group and I’m excited about it.”

The Bobcats signed 24 players, including six defensive linemen, two linebackers, four defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two running backs, three athletes, a quarterback, a kicker and a deep snapper.

Locally, the Bobcats signed Jamarcus Blanks, a defensive lineman from South Jones; linebacker Artis Thigpen and offensive lineman Corey Starcher of West Jones; defensive lineman Ben Benison, offensive lineman Jalen Beavers and defensive back Bre Gavin of Stringer; defensive lineman Fred McGruder of Quitman; linebacker Sam Howard of Wayne County; safety Lawrence Hopkins of North Forrest; offensive lineman Jaryd Whitman of Petal; athlete Victor Jenkins of Lumberton; defensive lineman Ryan Myrick of Oak Grove; kicker Grant McLaurin of Forrest County AHS; and deep snapper Jamie Stuart of Purvis. Taylor Higgason, a wide receiver from Mississippi State University, is transferring to JCJC.

Players from outside the area include offensive lineman Terrance Williams, defensive lineman Justin Lloyd and defensive end Jacorey Lee, all of West Bolivar; Morton running back Justin Harris; defensive back D’Andre Jackson of Bailey Magnet School in Jackson; Noxapater quarterback Ethan Hamilton; Jackson Lanier athlete Jarret Smith; Foley, Ala., running back Kalif Koen and athlete Roderick Harris of Sumter Central High School in Livingston, Ala.

New MACJC recruiting rules allow schools to recruit statewide, instead of just concentrating on their districts. But Perkins said it’s important for the Bobcats to still be able to recruit strong locally.

“When it’s all said and done, we’ve got about five or six coaches that can recruit,” he said. “You take the entire state of Mississippi and quite frankly, I don’t think six guys can cover the entire state. So, we are looking at a 75-mile radius of the campus that we will recruit really hard and spot-checking other parts of the state, so that we don’t leave out student-athletes who are prospects that meet our criteria.

“But we want to recruit our own area real hard. One of the things I’ve learned about junior colleges, for the most part, is that people tend to kind of stay close to home. That’s an advantage for us because a 75-mile radius of our school takes in a lot of schools that play really good football.”

David Thornton, JCJC’s recruiting coordinator, was pleased with the day’s results.

“Obviously, we have some needs on both sides of the ball,” he said. “We tried to address those needs with this signing class. I think a really good part with this class is that several of those young men that are listed as athletes. Those are guys who are good enough that can play on either side of the ball, whether it is at free safety or corner or receiver. A lot of these kids have some versatility.”

Thornton, who will also serve as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks/running backs coach, said the coaching staff looks at several factors when evaluating talent.

“Obviously, you want to get the best possible player that’s available, but you will always have specific needs you have to target,” he said. “We may have looked at 60 or 70 kids, but then you narrow that list down and go from there.”

The Bobcats will try to add more players as the weeks go along.

But with the bulk of the 2012 recruiting class in the books, Perkins and his staff will turn their attention towards workouts with the returning players and preparing for spring practice.

“We will be doing a lot of meetings as a staff,” Perkins said. “We have our players going through a three-day-a-week strength and conditioning program, which is something we need very much. We will be having meetings on both sides of the ball – offense and defense – talking about what we are going to do and how we are going to do it. Things like techniques, practice schedules and game schedules.

“I’m in the process now of trying to get what we are going to wear on gameday and the day before games, things like that. There is a lot to do because we are all together for the first time as a staff. But it’s enjoyable and I’m learning a lot of new stuff.”

Perkins said he has not set official dates for spring practice.

To view the “2012 Bobcat Football Recruiting Special,” go to www.jcjc.tv.