The coming out party for Noxubee County football player Kyziah Pruitt was slightly delayed.
In the New Hope Jamboree, Pruitt was ready go for his first varsity action as a ninth grader prior to the start of the 2015 season.
However, that day’s play came and went without Pruitt getting any playing time.
“After that game, (Noxubee County) coach (Tyrone) Shorter told me to be patient and to wait my time,” Pruitt said. “He told me they would need me that season. He told me big days were ahead.”
Sure enough, Pruitt earned more and more playing time throughout his team’s run to the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A state championship.
In the state championship game, Pruitt scored a late touchdown to help put away a win over St. Stanislaus.
“From the first practice, we knew he was going to be something special,” Shorter said. “The sky is the limit for this kid. He has all the potential in the world. It’s one thing to have the ability. It’s another to work hard to make the most out of that ability.”
The yards, touchdowns, awards and honors have piled up since that freshman year. Even another state championship (2017) has followed.
Wednesday, Pruitt celebrated his birthday with a verbal commitment to Mississippi State University.
“Making a decision early was important so that I could get it out of the way and concentrate on my senior season,” Pruitt said. “The coaches have made me feel at home. They have made me feel like this is a place where I can really put my talent on display and help the team achieve success. It’s an exciting opportunity.”
The 6-foot, 190-pound Pruitt presently holds three starts by 247 Sports and is also rated as the state’s 19th best prospect in the Class of 2019. He is the 13th commitment in MSU coach Joe Moorhead’s second recruiting class.
Former MSU coach Dan Mullen extended the original offer to Pruitt. Moorhead’s staff, with Mark Hudspeth as Pruitt’s primary recruiter, upheld the offer.
Pruitt attended the 7-on-7 camp this past weekend on the MSU campus. Friday, he visited personally with Moorhead and told him a school would receive his commitment on his birthday.
“The (new staff) has welcomed with open arms,” Pruitt said. “You never know when change takes place, what that means. The entire recruitment process has been fun. I have been blessed to have numerous offers. It’s been fun getting to know the coaches. It’s great to see guys staying in-state. If we can get enough of them, we can do some really special things.”
As a junior, Pruitt had 83 receptions for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also plays cornerback for the Tigers on defense.
“Type of player who is smart and can pretty much step in and play any position on the field,” Shorter said. “His physicality helps him on defense and also allows him to win those 50-50 balls on offense.”
Per 247, Pruitt is holding 12 offers, including Indiana, Memphis, Marshall, Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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