National Signing Day may be a little less than one month away on Feb. 3, but Clarksdale High School senior linebacker De’meric Strong did not wait to announce where he would be playing college football.
Strong announced on Facebook at 8 p.m. Saturday his decision to play for Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia. His words read, “First off I would like to thank the man above for putting me in this position I’m in today. Also, I would like to thank my parents and coaches for making me the person I am today. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends, teammates, and most of all my family for pushing me to be the best I can be. With that being said, for the next couple years I will be attending Northwest Community College.”
Below his announcement, Strong posted, “#GoRangers” and “#RangGang4L.”
Strong finished his Wildcats senior season with 77 tackles, seven tackles for losses, 12 hurries, five-and-a-half sacks and one fumble recovery. He also played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game in December where he had around 10 tackles and felt that helped him earn an opportunity to play for the Rangers.
“I chose (Northwest Mississippi Community College) because I felt like it was the best college for me and my family, academically and athletically,” Strong said.
“It’s a good school. The last 10 years, they had 100 percent student/athlete graduation rate.”
Strong currently holds a 3.0 GPA, plans to major in physical education and go into coaching.
Strong’s former high school teammate Kevin Smith, an outside linebacker, played for the Rangers the past two seasons.
“They just came off a great season last year winning the state championship and the national championship and they are a great football program,” Strong said.
Strong said Smith told him, “It’s a great program and they’re going to treat you like family.”
He said the early decision to play for Northwest Mississippi Community College was “just to go ahead and close my recruitment now and take the stress off me.”
As National Signing Day approaches, it is possible Strong will not be the only senior Clarksdale Wildcat heading to Senatobia for the 2021-22 school year.
“I’m trying to get a couple of them down here now,” Strong said.
Strong plans to exercise and stay in shape and has a scheduled visit at Northwest Mississippi Community College Jan. 19. He has not received a reporting date for the summer, but he will be ready to go and make an immediate impact.
“That’s the plan,” Strong said. “I’m going to come in and work so I could have a starting spot.”
Strong’s senior season ended in disappointment. The Wildcats won Region 3-4A and the first round of the playoffs, but were forced to forfeit the second round due to a COVID outbreak on the team.
“I feel I had a good high school career, but it could have been a lot better,” Strong said.
Strong still has unfinished business of trying to win a championship at Northwest Mississippi Community College as the Rangers did this past season.
After his two years playing for the Rangers, Strong hopes to continue his career at Ole Miss or Mississippi State.
“I just want to give a shout out to God for putting me in this position,” Strong said.
Strong hopes to make it to the NFL and his favorite team is the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks finished the 2020 season with a 12-4 record to win the NFC West. The Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams in the wildcard round of the playoffs at 3:40 p.m. Saturday.
“I think they’re on the right track to make a trip to the Super Bowl,” Strong said.
