CALEDONIA — You never know when someone is looking.
You also can’t tell when one off those people standing on the sidelines or sitting in the stands is a college soccer coach in need of a versatile, experienced player who can contribute to his program.
Dylan Mims realized his chance to play with the Midsouth Soccer Club in Memphis, Tenn., would help expose him to soccer coaches in the region, but he couldn’t be sure if he would get any offers to play soccer in college.
When one finally came, Mims jumped at the chance — even if he wasn’t the first player that Northwest Mississippi Community College coaches Peter Jarjoura and Charlie Baldwin came to scout.
On Friday, Mims made it official when he signed a scholarship and a letter of intent to play soccer at Northwest Mississippi C.C.
“I am surprised I have an opportunity,” Mims said. “I have always wanted to play college ball. I actually wanted to be a professional soccer player for a while, but I found out that that is probably not going to happen, so college ball is something I have always wanted to do. I never knew if I promoted myself enough, so when they came and watched us play, I didn’t play too well and I didn’t think I had a shot.
“When they contacted me, I was like, ‘OK, I guess I have a shot’ and they offered me and I was like, ‘I am going.’ ”
Mims went to school in Caledonia through eighth grade before transferring to Heritage Academy for his ninth- and 10-grade years. He spent last year at the Mississippi School for Math and Science before moving to Caledonia High for his senior year.
Mims has eased into a role as center back for the Confederates. The move was made easier by the fact he played that position this past club season at Midsouth.
He admitted he isn’t always comfortable making split-second decisions, but he feels his knowledge of the game and his instincts have helped make the change from midfield.
Mims also honed his skills playing club soccer in Starkville and Tupelo and with the state’s Olympic Development Program.
“I think going to Northwest will be a lot of fun,” Mims said of the Senatobia campus, which is more about two hours from Caledonia. “The academics look really good, and they have the major — exercise science — I want to get into. I didn’t want to go somewhere the coaches didn’t care about academics.”
Baldwin, who was an assistant coach this past season, said the Rangers were looking at another player, an out-of-state player, on the Midsouth team when they found out about Mims. He said he and Jarjoura, the head coach, watched Mims play and didn’t know where he was from. They figured he was from Memphis, Tenn., and were pleasantly surprised when they discovered he was from Mississippi.
“We got real excited about trying to get him to come play for us,” Baldwin said. “We don’t normally come this far down. If he hadn’t shown some interest in us, we may not have found him. He contacted us, also.”
Baldwin said the folding of East Mississippi C.C.’s soccer program hadn’t resulted in Northwest C.C. being able to extend its recruiting boundaries until this year. As it stands for 2012, the Rangers, who went 5-7-3 last season, will bring in a host of players from north Mississippi, including players from DeSoto Central, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, and Lewisburg.
Baldwin said the Rangers anticipate bringing in 14 freshmen who all will compete for playing time. He said Mims will be in that mix and should expect a more aggressive brand of soccer that is even tougher than the club level soccer he has played for most of his soccer career.
Baldwin likes Mims’ knowledge of the game and his versatility. After seeing him play at center back, Baldwin is confident Mims also will be able to compete for playing time in the midfield and at forward. Regardless of the position, the opportunity will be there for Mims to take it.
“We feel like he can do just about whatever we ask of him,” Baldwin said. “It will be a very young team. Even the players we’re bringing back aren’t guaranteed starting spots. The best players play.”
Mims hopes his experience gives him an edge in transitioning to the next level. He said he is excited to have the opportunity and plans to make the most of the chance to continue his soccer career. After considering Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C., Mims will show up for preseason and see what need the Rangers have and do his best to fill that position.
“I have played forward growing up and I was just kind of dropped into center mid and then center back came,” Mims said. “It all just kind of evolved.”
That’s the same way things have worked out for Mims to realize his goal of playing soccer in college.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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