Coahoma County High School graduates and cousins Jeff Fisher and Martin Williams will be once again playing football together at North Park University in Chicago, Ill.
Fisher, a 2019 CCHS graduate, is going into his second year at North Park University. He played football for MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., in 2019, but transferred when the school closed. He encouraged Williams, a 2021 CCHS graduate, to join him at North Park University.
Williams has played all positions on the offensive line. Before leaving home Sunday night, he said he does not know where on the offensive line he will play in college.
Athletes who played in 2020 did not lose a year of eligibility due to the COVID pandemic, but Williams was still able to sign.
“I had different colleges (interested), but I ended up choosing there because I wanted to play with my cousin, Jeff,” Williams said. “I always wanted to play with him again.”
Fisher, a defensive back, expressed similar sentiments.
“It’s a blessing that I could have family go to the same school as me,” Fisher said. “It’s just a blessing.”
Fisher is originally from Chicago.
“I told him (Williams) you can’t beat the big city, the big city of Chicago,” Fisher said. “That’s what sold it right there. You’re in Chicago. That’s one of the best cities in the United States.”
After MacMurray College closed, North Park coach Todd Taylor recruited Fisher.
“I just like the coaching staff,” Fisher said. “They treat you like a family. It’s like a family, sort of like Coahoma County basketball. It’s like a family.”
Williams said he and Fisher had a little and big brother relationship in high school. He was also a basketball player in high school.
“I like football because it has more contact,” Williams said. “I like to get physical.”
With Williams on offense and Fisher on defense, the cousins will be rooting one another on from the line.
“We tell each other go hard every time and we compete against anyone,” Williams said. “We always shoot for the sky.”
Fisher, who is a starter, expressed similar sentiments.
“In practice, it’s still family, but I can’t take it easy on him because the opponent’s not going to take it easy on him, but once we suit up on Friday, it’s all family,” Fisher said. “It’s all love again. No harm done. I’m cheering for him. He’s cheering for me. Through the week, I’ve got to get him better and I pray that he gets me better. If I’m going in there on a safety blitz for something to that matter, he needs to get me right. If he comes out to me, I’m going to have to get him right. It’s just we’ve got to get each other better if we want to be great.”
Williams and Fisher both praised the CCSD.
“They showed a lot of love,” Williams said. “I love the staff. I love the coaching staff. I love everybody in Coahoma County. I just like Coahoma County.”
Fisher has played defensive back, all cornerback and safety positions. He credits the Red Panthers football program with helping him become more well-rounded on the field.
“Now, I feel like I’m more comfortable with playing different positions that I thought I wasn’t comfortable playing with,” Fisher said. “At Coahoma County, it’s 2A. As a senior, I had to play quarterback, running back, wide receiver, corner and sometimes linebacker. It strengthened my football IQ a little bit more.”
Williams played on the offensive and defensive line in high school.
“It helped me better as a player and better as a teammate,” Williams said.
Williams said the system at North Park University will be different.
“I’m running with people that are athletic, big and strong,” Williams said. “That’s how it’s going to be different. You’re going to have competition every day.”
Fisher agreed.
“The system is very different,” Fisher said. “That’s what I was trying to tell Martin. You have to wake up early. At college, football is like a job. At Coahoma County, it was more of a sport. You’re just playing for fun, going out there and playing with your buddies. Now, it’s serious on the college level. It’s a very big difference on nutrition and everything.”
Williams played for three coaches at Coahoma County. As a senior, he played for current Red Panthers coach McKinley Scott. He also played for Mario Lane and Malcolm Jones.
“It’s always a mental thing,” said Williams of playing for three coaches. “You’ve always got to be strong in the mind before everything.”
Williams’ favorite team is the Denver Broncos because his favorite quarterback Peyton Manning played there. He will be majoring in agriculture and be a farmer is he does not make the NFL.
“It’s a little emotional sometimes,” said Williams on the eve of leaving. “I’ll get through it. Hopefully, everybody will get through it.”
Fisher is double majoring in special education and sports medicine.
“That’s how I balance everything out,” Fisher said. “I have a great support system from my family in Mississippi to my mom (Linda Fisher) and dad (Jeff Fisher Sr.) here.”
Fisher plans to graduate in four years, but since he did not lose a year of eligibility in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, he is not ruling out playing for North Park an extra season.
Family congratulated Williams before he left Sunday.
“It’s going to be a little different sometimes, but I’m going to get through it,” said Williams’ brother Gedarius Ratliff. “I want to congratulate my brother.”
Ratliff is a 2019 Coahoma County High School graduate.
“I just want him to do well,” said Williams’ grandmother Barbara Robinson. “He wanted to go. I didn’t want him to go to Chicago, but he felt like this was the move he wanted to make. I just try to tell him to stay out of trouble. It’s going to be different and it’s going to be a lot of pressure. I just pray for him, hope he stays safe and keeps his head on straight.”
Robinson is the older sister of Fisher mother Linda Fisher.
Williams had surgery on his appendix and will have to sit out a couple of weeks at the beginning of the season.
“It’s a mental thing,” Williams said. “You’ve got to be strong in the mind.”
