STARKVILLE — When Starkville Academy senior Carter Wood was ready to pick a college, he had a large support group to consult.
Wood played three varsity seasons under coach Jeff Terrill, who had previously coached in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges at Itawamba Community College. Wood also knew he would have the love and support of parents, Bart and Rebecca Anne Wood.
“Coach Terrill had coached for a long time at Itawamba, so he really knew the league well,” Carter Wood said. “He has always been there for me as a role model and mentor. I learned so much about football from him, but I also learned a lot about life. He was able to give me some advice about (playing in the MACJC). Several schools offered and each coach that did was great to me.”
Early Wednesday morning, Wood kicked off National Signing Day by signing with Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.
“When I took my visit, I just fell in love with the campus,” Wood said. “Each of the coaches went out of their way to make me feel special. The guys on the team were real supportive. You could tell it was like a family. I am excited about this opportunity. When you play high school ball, you always dream about playing on the next level. You put in all of the extra work because you hope one day you can achieve that goal. That is why (Wednesday) was so special to me. It was a culmination of all of that hard work.”
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Wood anchored the offensive line for first-year head coach Chase Nicholson’s Starkville Academy squad, which finished 11-2 and advanced to the second round of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA playoffs.
As a junior, Wood helped lead Starkville Academy to the Class AAA, Division II state title game for the second time in Terrill’s five seasons at the helm.
“It was very rewarding to help bring Starkville Academy football back,” Wood said. “(In 2009), the team went winless. To be able to go from that to playing for a state championship was very gratifying. Nowadays people can’t look at Starkville Academy as an easy game. When they see us on their schedule, they circle the game and they know it is going to be hard-fought.
“They are going to have to play well to take the win from us. Coach Terrill and then coach Nicholson helped establish that mind-set. Coach Nicholson has been with me the whole time because he was an assistant before becoming the head coach. He has meant a lot to me as both a football player and person, as well. He really taught each of us to strive for the best. There is no reason why you can’t set the highest goals possible. I really learned about hard work and discipline and what it takes to achieve those goals.”
Nicholson said the togetherness of a small senior class helped push the Volunteers through the tough times and also made the change in coaches a smooth transition. He said Wood played a big role in helping provide the type of leadership needed to keep the program going strong.
“Gulf Coast is getting a great football player,” Nicholson said. “Beyond that, they are getting a great person. They are getting someone who is going to work hard every day. He is the type of player who sets a standard.”
Gulf Coast has been a power in the South Division of the MACJC and a regular in the national rankings. Playing for a champion, plus the lure of a new multi-million dollar field house facility set to open in April, proved to be the tipping point.
“The field house is going to be outstanding,” Wood said. “It goes to show the priority the school places on the football program, It is an opportunity to work hard in the classroom and an opportunity to work hard on the football field. Gulf Coast has always been one of the top programs. It is an honor to be part of that tradition.”
Wood said he hadn’t missed football after finishing his high school playing career in the MAIS All-Star Game in December. That changed Wednesday.
“The recruitment process was fun,” Wood said. “National Signing Day is a big deal. To be part of that is special. I am excited about the sport again. I am ready to go down there and get started.”
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Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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