Editor’s Note: The Dispatch continues its series titled “Pieces of a Dynasty,” which examines the East Mississippi Community College football team’s rise to national prominence. Today, The Dispatch analyzes how the elimination of the recruiting districts in the state of Mississippi has helped EMCC become the state of Mississippi’s most dominant program, and win national titles three of the past four seasons.
In the final weeks before National Signing Day, Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter estimates he works an extra full day per week.
In 2011, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) eliminated recruiting districts. Now high school seniors can sign with any of the 14 member institutions around the state.
While the change has resulted in an increase in the junior colleges’ recruiting budgets, it has all but doubled the work load of area coaches, who have to sort through more offers for their players.
“It is great for the kids and great for the program,” Shorter said. “Players are now getting more looks than ever before. Hudl (a video hosting service) is the best thing ever. It is an opportunity to get more kids exposure. When I first started, we would deal with three or four junior college coaches on a regular basis. Now we could deal with all 14 at some time or another.”
Shorter remembers fondly his MACJC days as a player at Hinds Community College. Gene Murphy coached Shorter at Hinds C.C. and remains the Eagles’ coach today. He has seen lots of changes in two decades and in two stints as a head coach in the association.
“Each school has really addressed the elimination of the recruiting districts in different ways,” Murphy said. “You have to go in there with a plan. It is real important you protect your home base. You have to keep your own kids at home. At the same time, you have to balance that with bringing in the right players for your program.”
For the previous 20 seasons prior to 2011, each of the MACJC’s institutions could protect 22 student-athletes within its district. For example, EMCC could claim the rights to any player attending a high school in Lauderdale, Clay, Kemper, Oktibbeha, Lowndes, or Noxubee County counties.
Protected players were required to attend the school that protected them or to play out of state. With no junior college football in Louisiana or Alabama, protected players had little option outside of their local two-year school.
While the MACJC schools still are limited to eight out-of-state players, any of the other 47 roster spots can be held by a player from any school in the state of Mississippi.
“It was a total, complete game-changer,” EMCC eighth-year offensive coordinator Marcus Wood said. “The presidents really forced the issue and we have taken advantage of it. The desire was to give players the opportunity to attend the school of their choice, much like you would be able to do if you were picking a senior college.”
At the time of the move, then-EMCC President Dr. Rick Young said the move was designed to bring student-athletes in line with cheerleaders, band members, and regular students. After all, these students could pick a junior college of their choice.
EMCC increased its recruiting budget and set its sights on bringing in some of the state’s top talent. The 2010 EMCC roster featured 24 players from its six-county district. This season’s roster features five from that same area.
“We feel like we can get any player in the state of Mississippi,” EMCC eighth-year coach Buddy Stephens said. “We have the resources and the ability to bring in anyone who wants to come. We don’t waste money recruiting. We may call or email. We don’t go into to the home until we know someone is coming.
“At the end of the day, you have to protect your backyard. You have to have the best players in your district. You also have to build a winning program. You have to bring in players who fit your system. We aren’t turning our backs on local players. We are simply finding the right balance to maintain our recent success.”
EMCC has won back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships. Again top-ranked in the NJCAA rankings, EMCC can match the nation’s longest winning streak in junior college history (26) with a win Thursday at No. 7 Copiah-Lincoln C.C.
EMCC has achieved its success thanks to the hard work of out-of-state and non-district players. Of the five players from the original district, only two started last week in a season-opening victory against Southwest Mississippi C.C.
The biggest benefactor of EMCC’s move to a more statewide approach on the recruiting trail has been Itawamba C.C., which has nine players from the former EMCC recruiting district on its 2015 roster.
“Each player has to make their own decision about what is best for them,” said ICC sophomore tight end Stanley Higgins, a former standout at Starkville High School in Oktibbeha County. “It is exciting to play alongside friends, guys you played against in high school. In the end, you have to listen to you family and do what is best for you.”
In 2011, Laurel High played for the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A South State championship. Jones County Junior College coach Eddie Pierce resigned after the 2011 season. JCJC named Ray Perkins its new coach in January 2012.
With the JCJC coaching situation in limbo, players sought new homes. Five Laurel High players signed with EMCC. Ten players from Laurel High signed with junior colleges. None went to JCJC. Perkins’ first squad had two players from the four Jones County high schools.
“As a high school coach, you want your players taken care of,” said Laurel football coach Todd Breland, who was an assistant at Laurel in 2011. “It doesn’t matter where they go. In our case with (EMCC), we had five players sign. They were taken care of. They were given a chance to play and a chance to move to the next level. As you build successful relationships like that, it is natural to continue those relationships.”
Breland led Laurel to the Class 5A state championship with a junior-heavy team in 2014. While EMCC has no players with Jones County ties this season, freshman lineman Vincent McGill is the lone Laurel High player on JCJC’s roster this season. JCJC coach David Thornton has only three Jones County players on his roster.
Perkins coached two seasons at JCJC. Prior to coaching against EMCC in the 2013 MACJC state championship game, Perkins said the MACJC would have to re-evaluate bringing back districts to save the competitive balance in the state.
Only Murphy and Copiah-Lincoln C.C. coach Glenn Davis have been in their present jobs longer than Stephens. The other 11 schools have changed coaches in the past five years. Northwest Mississippi C.C. has had three head coaches since 2011.
Ken Karcher is in his third season at East Central C.C. Being named one week from signing day, Karcher’s first team had 44 freshmen on a 55-man roster.
“Since it is a two-year changeover, the first year is much more difficult for the junior college programs,” Karcher said. “You walk in with a clean slate and you have to start over. There are no guarantees of who you will have to work with when you walk in. You just have to work hard and stay patient and know the results are going to come.”
The elimination of recruiting districts has allowed the traditional powers to stay stronger more consistently. EMCC, Co-Lin, and Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. — three of the state’s most stable programs — are ranked in the NJCAA’s top 10 in the nation.
EMCC third-year defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley, who coached at Northwest, said Hinds, East Central, and EMCC have huge recruiting advantages.
“We are in the middle of the state,” Lesley said. “In about three hours or less, we can pretty much get to any high school in the state. You can’t downplay the advantage that is. We evaluate kids in every county in the state. If it is someone who can play for us, we are going to go get them.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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