FULTON — Ladarius Gallion figured out quickly what it was going to take to excel in college.
“I had to get bigger, faster, and stronger,” said Gallion, a former standout at West Point High School who is now sophomore
defensive lineman on the Itawamba Community College football team. “In high school, you are the big guy. Here, you are simply one of the big guys. I slimmed down a lot and put the weight where it needed to be most. You learn so much when you play junior college ball. It’s an exciting time knowing your sophomore year is your last year here, so it’s a big year.”
This season, former West Point High standouts Tyler Logan and Kadarius Forside will join Gallion at ICC. All three players, their
teammates, and the ICC coaches met the media Thursday at school’s annual Media Day. The 2015 Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges regular season will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, when ICC will play host to No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln C.C. at Eaton Field.
“We open the season with Co-Lin and Jones, two of the powers in the South Division,” ICC second-year coach Sean Cannon said. “Both of those teams are in the top 20. Fortunately, those are home games. The key to our season will be starting strong. A year ago, we didn’t do that. We finished strong, but we didn’t play well early. This year, with 26 sophomores on the roster, we really need to come out of the gates strong and ready to go.”
ICC finished 4-5 in Cannon’s first season. The Indians were 4-2 in North Division play, losing out on a playoff berth by a tiebreaker. ICC last made the postseason in 2013, which was Jon Williams’ final season as head coach.
“This team has a lot of weapons,” said Logan, a freshman linebacker. “You can tell everybody is ready to play. There is a lot of togetherness on this team. It’s a close family. Some of the older guys said last year’s team wasn’t this tight, so hopefully, we can turn that into some more wins.
“I am just trying to learn every day. On every play, there is a coach in one ear and another person in your other ear. You just have to absorb all you can as quickly as you can.”
Forside, a freshman running back, said learning the playbook has provided a huge challenge. The Indians lost essentially all of their backfield production from last season. As many as six backs, including several freshmen, could get carries in the opener.
“There is a lot of competitiveness on this team,” Forside said. “The biggest thing to me is there a lot of plays. I am trying to get a handle of the playbook. It’s been hard trying to figure things out. You just have to stick with it, though, and keep competing. Each day gets a little better.
“You have to believe in yourself and your abilities. When your time comes, you have to make the most of it.”
Gallion worked through the same adjustment period last season. As the year progressed, he stepped into more playing time as a tackle. Now he is ready to take his game to another level in hopes of landing a senior college scholarship offer when the season ends.
“I tried to play my role as a freshman,” Gallion said. “I really looked up to the guys in front of me. I took what I needed to do from them. When the season ended, I got in the weight room and tried to build my body more. I also worked on my speed. I knew I had to be a little faster.
“I knew when the summer came and the new guys came, I had to be the guy. You have to grow up quickly in junior college ball.”
Cannon said three players, including Aberdeen freshman Josh Williams, are getting looks at quarterback. Greenwood native Kwanda Griggs threw for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Former South Panola standout Rip Kirk also is in the competition.
ICC has experience on the offensive line but will be young in the backfield and at wide receiver. A veteran line will lead ICC’s defense.
Competition has been the buzz word in fall camp.
“Through the first couple of months here, I have learned how to push myself,” Forside said. “Here you are really on your own. I have just tried to do what I have got to do. Players and coaches have pushed me, too. It’s a big brotherhood here.
“The competitiveness will help us become a good team.”
ICC knows No. 1 East Mississippi C.C. is in its division. ICC last beat EMCC in the final game of the 2012 regular season. The Indians will need some young offensive players to grow up in a hurry to have a chance to make the playoffs or to break EMCC’s stranglehold on the division title.
“The optimism is high for this group of guys,” Gallion said. “We have a lot of guys who love to compete. That is the biggest thing. Every day at practice coach Cannon talks about competing. We are really hungry.
“If you look at the schedule, we feel like we can anybody on our schedule.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.