Coahoma County’s population has decreased by close to 3,000 residents since 2010, according to U.S. Census data, and local high school coaches are feeling the impact with fewer talented athletes on their teams.
The estimated population was 26,145 in 2010 and it dropped to an estimated 23,154 in 2017.
Clarksdale High School has been affected as much as any school, going down from Class 5A in the Mississippi High School Athletic Association football classification system to 4A status due to the decline in enrollment.
Wildcats coach Henry Johnson said 80 athletes regularly come out to play football, but the team has still suffered from the shrinking population.
“I think we have less talent because my first year here, I was fortunate and blessed to have two SEC football players on the same team, Juantavius Gray and Elgton Jenkins,” Johnson said.
Gray and Jenkins both signed with Mississippi State. Gray is now with the New Orleans Saints trying to make their opening game roster while Jenkins is a senior at Mississippi State.
Regardless of the decline in talent, Johnson said he still only has a select few who play offense, defense and special teams.
One of the Wildcats who is on the field for much of the game is senior Kevin Smith. Copiah-Lincoln and Coahoma community colleges have both expressed an interest in the senior standout.
Smith is an outside linebacker, strong safety and long snapper on special teams.
“I play the whole game,” Smith said.
Conditioning makes it possible.
“I do a whole lot of 110s (meter run),” he said.
Population issues extend throughout the Delta.
Clarksdale finished in second place in the Region 3-4A standings in 2017, while Greenwood was the district champion.
Senior linebacker and safety Jay Stanley, who has committed to play for Ole Miss in 2019, transferred from Greenwood to Brandon during the offseason.
“It’s not just Clarksdale,” said Johnson, who has been a head coach at both Clarksdale and West Bolivar high schools.
“I’m going to be the head coach of the Mississippi team in the Mississippi/Alabama game this year. We’re looking at talent in the whole state of Mississippi. Right now, the Delta has less talent than any other area in the state of Mississippi.
“People are moving and those talented families are playing in DeSoto County now. It was unheard of Horn Lake to be where they are now. Even Batesville is losing kids that way. You see it in Batesville, but it has affected this area.”
Johnson said the number of high schools in Coahoma County also hurts the talent pool for each team.
“You’ve got four schools where your talent is spread out even thinner,” he said.
During the 1990s, the Wildcats had several Division I prospects at one time in each senior class. Mario Haggan, Trumaine McBride and Terrence Metcalf are all in the Wildcats hall of fame and went on to play in the NFL. Michael Vaughn played for the University of Alabama after Clarksdale.
“Those genes might not be in Clarksdale,” Johnson said. “All we can do as coaches is take what is enrolled in our schools and try to develop.
“We just take the kids that we have and we develop them and work them and get them ready to play, but I wish I had more D-One players. Twenty years ago, Clarksdale probably had 10 to 20 D-One kids on one team.”
Everyone goes two ways for Lee
Rick Johnston is going into his second season as the Lee Academy football coach, but he has been with the school for a few years.
There has been a decline in enrollment during that time to the point where Lee’s elementary school closed.
The Colts currently have 26 athletes on the roster and the number was much higher several years ago. More athletes are playing offense and defense as a result.
“Ten years there were a lot more football players here, but that was a long time ago,” Johnston said. “In the last five or six years, our numbers have been between 20 and 25. We’re a little bit above the curve this time, so we just want to keep everybody healthy.
“I’m sure there would be less people going two ways. If you’ve got 40 people, there’s a lot more competition for jobs and I’m sure that there would be less people going two ways.”
Senior Evan Watts is a wide receiver, outside linebacker and is in the game on kickoffs.
Watts prefers playing defense.
“I hate offense,” he said.
“With a less amount of players, you’ve got to sacrifice playing more plays.”
However, Watts’ No. 1 priority is to put the team first.
“You’ve got to put the team first to win,” he said.
Watts said he comes out of the game every five plays or so and drinks water to avoid cramps. He added he prepares himself to play in all three phases by going 100 percent in practice.
While the program may not have as many athletes as it did 10 years ago, the Colts did see a little boost going into the upcoming season.
“Actually, in high school, we’re fortunate we’ve got the most players we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Johnston said. “We’ve got 26 out, but there is some decline. As coaches, you’ve got to be in the hallway with them every day. They’ve got to trust. You’ve got to do things to make the game fun. First and foremost, you’ve got to work hard. You’ve got to have something invested. If you’ve got something invested, you’re not going to give it up as easy.”
There were 22 players on the roster his first year, but whatever the number is, Johnston said he always has his athletes prepared to go two ways.
Coahoma Early College’s roster not suffering from population issues
Coahoma Early College High School is expected to have close to 40 athletes on the roster by the season opener at home against Simmons this week.
Third-year Tigers coach Jeremiah Brassell said more players have committed to the program than in his first two years at the helm.
“I have a large junior class and they just kind of bought into the program and those sophomores also,” Brassell said. “I only have five seniors, but we’re junior and sophomore loaded.”
One of those juniors is utility player Chris Russell, who is a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, safety, punter and kick returner. He expects to see the most action at running back on offense.
“Honestly, you’ve got to be determined that this is what you want and put your all into every day – lifting, running,” he said. “Whatever you do, just perfect your craft.”
The Tigers started a few different quarterbacks last season, but in 2018, junior Willie Eagins is expected to see the majority of snaps under center.
“Willie is an efficient player,” Russell said. “Willie can ball.”
Russell said having Eagins at quarterback will help him spend more time at running back. Whatever happens, do not expect to see Russell come off the field much.
“It’s real rare,” Russell said. “There is no point to come out. If you are trying to be seen, you’re going to be seen. If you take days off, you aren’t going to get it.”
Brassell said there are more students at the school since it the name changed from Coahoma Agricultural High School to Coahoma Early College High School. Students came over from Quitman County and Tunica, but none of them are able to play football.
Whatever the size of the roster may be, Brassell hopes to eventually have enough athletes so not many have to play both offense and defense.
“We’ve got quite a few going both ways, but that’s one of the things I’m trying to eliminate because we lost a few games because of that,” he said.
Red Panthers with 22 on roster
Just 22 athletes have come out to play football for Coahoma County, but first-year coach Mario Lane has his sights set on increasing those numbers.
“I think that’s small,” Lane said. “I think the average for a 2A, you want to have at least about 35. You want to be in that 32 to 45 range. I think 35 is a good number, so we’re trying to get those numbers up.”
Lane did not feel the population was the cause for a lack of interest.
“I think we’ve just got to build an interest up in football,” he said. “Football is one of those sports you just don’t walk out of the house and play. You have to grow guys into football and they have to have a passion for it. It takes a different guy to get out there on that football field than any other sport. That’s a special kid out there. I think we’ve just got to do things out here and promote the program and recruit guys in and motivate them to stay.”
One athlete who does a little bit of everything for the Red Panthers is senior Jeffery Fisher, who had seven interceptions last season at cornerback, and is also a wide receiver and long snapper.
Fisher, who transferred to Coahoma County from Chicago before his junior year, has been a long snapper since freshman year.
Alcorn State, Jackson State, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Copiah-Lincoln Community College have all expressed an interest in Fisher.
“Me and my cousins, we run a long mile each day on a country road,” Fisher said when discussing how he stays in shape.
His cousins include CCHS graduate Derrick Moore Jr., who is now a freshman wide receiver for Coahoma Community College, junior tackle Keshawn Thomas and sophomore cornerback and wide receiver Tony McCray.
“We have a very small team, so it’s unlikely that I come out, so I just give it my all every play,” Fisher said.
Lane hopes, at some point, his athletes will be able to rest during the game.
“That’s the ultimate goal is not to have so many guys going three ways,” Lane said. “Depth is always good in football. Depth is good in any sport. The more eligible guys that can contribute to your program, the better off your program is going to be.”
Coahoma County’s population has decreased by close to 3,000 residents since 2010, according to U.S. Census data, and local high school coaches are feeling the impact with fewer talented athletes on their teams.
The estimated population was 26,145 in 2010 and it dropped to an estimated 23,154 in 2017.
Clarksdale High School has been affected as much as any school, going down from Class 5A in the Mississippi High School Athletic Association football classification system to 4A status due to the decline in enrollment.
Wildcats coach Henry Johnson said 80 athletes regularly come out to play football, but the team has still suffered from the shrinking population.
“I think we have less talent because my first year here, I was fortunate and blessed to have two SEC football players on the same team, Juantavius Gray and Elgton Jenkins,” Johnson said.
Gray and Jenkins both signed with Mississippi State. Gray is now with the New Orleans Saints trying to make their opening game roster while Jenkins is a senior at Mississippi State.
Regardless of the decline in talent, Johnson said he still only has a select few who play offense, defense and special teams.
One of the Wildcats who is on the field for much of the game is senior Kevin Smith. Copiah-Lincoln and Coahoma community colleges have both expressed an interest in the senior standout.
Smith is an outside linebacker, strong safety and long snapper on special teams.
“I play the whole game,” Smith said.
Conditioning makes it possible.
“I do a whole lot of 110s (meter run),” he said.
Population issues extend throughout the Delta.
Clarksdale finished in second place in the Region 3-4A standings in 2017, while Greenwood was the district champion.
Senior linebacker and safety Jay Stanley, who has committed to play for Ole Miss in 2019, transferred from Greenwood to Brandon during the offseason.
“It’s not just Clarksdale,” said Johnson, who has been a head coach at both Clarksdale and West Bolivar high schools.
“I’m going to be the head coach of the Mississippi team in the Mississippi/Alabama game this year. We’re looking at talent in the whole state of Mississippi. Right now, the Delta has less talent than any other area in the state of Mississippi.
“People are moving and those talented families are playing in DeSoto County now. It was unheard of Horn Lake to be where they are now. Even Batesville is losing kids that way. You see it in Batesville, but it has affected this area.”
Johnson said the number of high schools in Coahoma County also hurts the talent pool for each team.
“You’ve got four schools where your talent is spread out even thinner,” he said.
During the 1990s, the Wildcats had several Division I prospects at one time in each senior class. Mario Haggan, Trumaine McBride and Terrence Metcalf are all in the Wildcats hall of fame and went on to play in the NFL. Michael Vaughn played for the University of Alabama after Clarksdale.
“Those genes might not be in Clarksdale,” Johnson said. “All we can do as coaches is take what is enrolled in our schools and try to develop.
“We just take the kids that we have and we develop them and work them and get them ready to play, but I wish I had more D-One players. Twenty years ago, Clarksdale probably had 10 to 20 D-One kids on one team.”
Everyone goes two ways for Lee
Rick Johnston is going into his second season as the Lee Academy football coach, but he has been with the school for a few years.
There has been a decline in enrollment during that time to the point where Lee’s elementary school closed.
The Colts currently have 26 athletes on the roster and the number was much higher several years ago. More athletes are playing offense and defense as a result.
“Ten years there were a lot more football players here, but that was a long time ago,” Johnston said. “In the last five or six years, our numbers have been between 20 and 25. We’re a little bit above the curve this time, so we just want to keep everybody healthy.
“I’m sure there would be less people going two ways. If you’ve got 40 people, there’s a lot more competition for jobs and I’m sure that there would be less people going two ways.”
Senior Evan Watts is a wide receiver, outside linebacker and is in the game on kickoffs.
Watts prefers playing defense.
“I hate offense,” he said.
“With a less amount of players, you’ve got to sacrifice playing more plays.”
However, Watts’ No. 1 priority is to put the team first.
“You’ve got to put the team first to win,” he said.
Watts said he comes out of the game every five plays or so and drinks water to avoid cramps. He added he prepares himself to play in all three phases by going 100 percent in practice.
While the program may not have as many athletes as it did 10 years ago, the Colts did see a little boost going into the upcoming season.
“Actually, in high school, we’re fortunate we’ve got the most players we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Johnston said. “We’ve got 26 out, but there is some decline. As coaches, you’ve got to be in the hallway with them every day. They’ve got to trust. You’ve got to do things to make the game fun. First and foremost, you’ve got to work hard. You’ve got to have something invested. If you’ve got something invested, you’re not going to give it up as easy.”
There were 22 players on the roster his first year, but whatever the number is, Johnston said he always has his athletes prepared to go two ways.
Coahoma Early College’s roster not suffering from population issues
Coahoma Early College High School is expected to have close to 40 athletes on the roster by the season opener at home against Simmons this week.
Third-year Tigers coach Jeremiah Brassell said more players have committed to the program than in his first two years at the helm.
“I have a large junior class and they just kind of bought into the program and those sophomores also,” Brassell said. “I only have five seniors, but we’re junior and sophomore loaded.”
One of those juniors is utility player Chris Russell, who is a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, safety, punter and kick returner. He expects to see the most action at running back on offense.
“Honestly, you’ve got to be determined that this is what you want and put your all into every day – lifting, running,” he said. “Whatever you do, just perfect your craft.”
The Tigers started a few different quarterbacks last season, but in 2018, junior Willie Eagins is expected to see the majority of snaps under center.
“Willie is an efficient player,” Russell said. “Willie can ball.”
Russell said having Eagins at quarterback will help him spend more time at running back. Whatever happens, do not expect to see Russell come off the field much.
“It’s real rare,” Russell said. “There is no point to come out. If you are trying to be seen, you’re going to be seen. If you take days off, you aren’t going to get it.”
Brassell said there are more students at the school since it the name changed from Coahoma Agricultural High School to Coahoma Early College High School. Students came over from Quitman County and Tunica, but none of them are able to play football.
Whatever the size of the roster may be, Brassell hopes to eventually have enough athletes so not many have to play both offense and defense.
“We’ve got quite a few going both ways, but that’s one of the things I’m trying to eliminate because we lost a few games because of that,” he said.
Red Panthers with 22 on roster
Just 22 athletes have come out to play football for Coahoma County, but first-year coach Mario Lane has his sights set on increasing those numbers.
“I think that’s small,” Lane said. “I think the average for a 2A, you want to have at least about 35. You want to be in that 32 to 45 range. I think 35 is a good number, so we’re trying to get those numbers up.”
Lane did not feel the population was the cause for a lack of interest.
“I think we’ve just got to build an interest up in football,” he said. “Football is one of those sports you just don’t walk out of the house and play. You have to grow guys into football and they have to have a passion for it. It takes a different guy to get out there on that football field than any other sport. That’s a special kid out there. I think we’ve just got to do things out here and promote the program and recruit guys in and motivate them to stay.”
One athlete who does a little bit of everything for the Red Panthers is senior Jeffery Fisher, who had seven interceptions last season at cornerback, and is also a wide receiver and long snapper.
Fisher, who transferred to Coahoma County from Chicago before his junior year, has been a long snapper since freshman year.
Alcorn State, Jackson State, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Copiah-Lincoln Community College have all expressed an interest in Fisher.
“Me and my cousins, we run a long mile each day on a country road,” Fisher said when discussing how he stays in shape.
His cousins include CCHS graduate Derrick Moore Jr., who is now a freshman wide receiver for Coahoma Community College, junior tackle Keshawn Thomas and sophomore cornerback and wide receiver Tony McCray.
“We have a very small team, so it’s unlikely that I come out, so I just give it my all every play,” Fisher said.
Lane hopes, at some point, his athletes will be able to rest during the game.
“That’s the ultimate goal is not to have so many guys going three ways,” Lane said. “Depth is always good in football. Depth is good in any sport. The more eligible guys that can contribute to your program, the better off your program is going to be.”
