The Columbus High School football team celebrated one its best seasons in recent memory Friday with the announcement that three players were named to the Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 6A All-State team.
Senior running back Damian Baker, senior free safety Byerson Cockrell, and junior offensive lineman Jake Thomas were named to the All-State team.
Other local players earning postseason all-state honors included Starkville offensive lineman Jawaon Johnson, quarterback Gabe Myles, defensive end Cory Cannon, defensive tackle Eric Rogers, strong safety Johnny Smith; West Point offensive lineman Romia Wilson, defensive tackle Freddie Reed, linebacker Brandon Edwards and specialist Tez Lane in Class 5A.
Myles also earned Class 5A player of year honors.
Class 4A honorees included Caledonia offensive lineman Cole Carter, as well as Noxubee County wide receiver Terrance Barron and defensive end Javancy Jones.
Aberdeen defensive end Channing Ward was the lone local player chosen in Class 3A.
In Class 1A, West Oktibbeha quarterback Von Smith and wide receiver Dwight Quinn were chosen, as well as East Oktibbeha inside linebacker Arthur Gillispie.
For the Falcons, these honors capped a season that saw the squad finish 7-4 and lose a tiebreaker for the fourth and final playoff spot in Region 1.
Despite not making the playoffs, Columbus coach Tony Stanford said all three players were instrumental in helping the program continue its building process.
“It is a great feeling knowing you did something to help your team have a great season,” Baker said. “It is also a great feeling to know somebody in the world thought you were good enough to make All-State.”
Said Thomas, “It is an honor to get your name out there with the top players in the state. It is great to know that people recognize all of your hard work.”
Baker paced the offense with a hard-charging running style that made him appear bigger than his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame. He rushed for 1,404 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 20 passed for 239 yards and another touchdown.
“Damian Baker carried us all year,” Stanford said. “We didn’t have him as one of our leaders because of some things going on in the spring, but he took it over and as the year went became the leader of the ballclub.”
Baker felt he had an “OK” season and that he emerged as a leader who helped set the example for a program that wants to get back to the playoffs. He hopes his improvement in seeing the field will help him realize an opportunity to play at the next level.
He declined to discuss which schools he was interested in, or which ones have shown an interest in him.
Cockrell, who missed all of his junior season with an injury, returned to lead the Falcons with 69 tackles (40 solo). He also had seven interceptions, seven pass deflections, one caused fumble, and three touchdowns.
“He got in the weight room in the offseason and really worked hard,” Stanford said. “He took over and controlled the secondary. He had a tremendous season back there.”
Cockrell wasn’t available for comment Monday afternoon, but Baker and Thomas praised their teammate’s efforts on defense.
“He is a big playmaker,” Thomas said of Cockrell. ” He is definitely a hard worker. You can tell he doesn’t slack off. It is fun to see him come out of nowhere and make big plays.”
Said Baker, “He is quiet and laid back off the field, but once he hit the field he is a totally different person. He can stay calm outside of football, but when he takes the field his personality changes to a hard-working athlete. He is a good kid to know.”
Thomas, a former tight end who is 6-5, 280, anchored the offensive line at left and right tackle. He said he hoped he would get recognized for his efforts, and wants to continue his improvement next season, even if he will be blocking for a new running back. He believes he matured a lot mentally thanks to more repetitions, which helped his confidence.
“Jake matured and became a good offensive lineman,” Stanford said. “He will be a great offensive lineman next year. There will be a lot of schools in here looking at him.”
Thomas said he likes Mississippi State and that he is “open-minded” about the recruiting process. He also said he has received interest from the University of Alabama and the University of Mississippi. He said Southern Mississippi and MSU have given him scholarship offers.
“I am just talking it easy right now and, hopefully, I will have a pretty good idea (where I want to go) around this time next year,” Thomas said.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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