While football players are coached to focus on one week at a time, East Mississippi Community College sophomore defensive back Alexander Lipscomb couldn’t help but think ahead.
As EMCC continued to win games and closed in on winning a fifth Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) State championship, Lipscomb’s heart sank a little lower each week.
“You can’t help but think about playing senior college ball,” Lipscomb said. “It’s on your mind a little bit to start the season. It’s on your mind a lot as the season progresses. When each week passes and you aren’t making any (recruiting progress), you get depressed.
“You leave it in God’s hands and you hope and pray. I really owe it all to God for creating this opportunity for me.”
Christmas came a week early for Lipscomb, as he signed a scholarship to play football at NCAA Division II member Delta State. The former Columbus High School standout traveled to Cleveland to sign his paper work this week. He starts classes Monday.
“I got to know a lot of college coaches,” Lipscomb said. “They are always at our field house in one large group, so they know your name and you know theirs. Finally, the week before we went home (for Christmas break), coach (Raleigh) Jackson asked to speak to me personally. My heart skipped a beat. I knew this might be my chance.”
Jackson is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Delta State. He invited Lipscomb to visit the campus to discuss a future with the Statesmen.
“My trip there was great,” Lipscomb said. “It felt right. Sometimes you get worried about jumping at the first thing, but I knew this was right. The campus was great. The football players I met were great. It just felt like this was a really good opportunity.”
Lipscomb has taken advantage of opportunities throughout his career. As a freshman at EMCC, he drew his first start in the fifth game of the season after Jalen Boney broken a leg in a victory against Northeast Mississippi C.C. Lipscomb started the rest of his freshman season. This season, his playing time was reduced slightly, as Michigan transfer Brian Cole II was the starter at strong safety at the end of the year. Lipscomb finished with 30 tackles. His highlight was an interception that helped seal a 38-30 victory against Northwest Mississippi C.C. in the state championship game.
“One of our hardest workers,” EMCC first-year defensive coordinator Ed Holly said. “The second-year players have to be the leaders. (Lipscomb) did just that. He showed the standard we like to have around here. He was a great leader and role model to the younger guys. On the field, he was going to go all out, whether it was in practice or in a game.”
Lipscomb said he learned so much about the game from EMCC coach Buddy Stephens, former defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley, and Holly. He said his time at EMCC made him a better football player and a much better man.
“EMCC is a top learning place,” Lipscomb said. “We have so many guys that come from around the state, but we also have a lot of Division I guys from all over the nation. EMCC gives you an opportunity to grow and develop as a player and as a man. You can take the football perspective and say you didn’t see as much playing time as you would have liked. At the same time, this program is a learning ground.
“Two years there is a great learning experience. It allows you to better yourself and to find out how who you are as a person on the inside.”
The fight for playing time was coupled by the need to finish school in a timely manner. National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) players must complete an associate’s degree before they can transfer to a senior college.
“You have to give all the glory to God for this opportunity,” Lipscomb said. “There was a time when I thought I wasn’t going to be able to play on the next level. I am able to play and I am also able to get a free education. A lot of guys would love to be in this position.
“I really liked the coaches there and the players there. It was the only school I had visited, so you have to make a decision based off of what you know.”
This year will mark Todd Cooley’s fifth season as coach at Delta State. A member of the Gulf South Conference, the Statesmen went 4-6 this past season. Lipscomb has been doing research on the team and is making notes about the style of defense he will play.
“They need some more players,” Lipscomb said. “From what I have seen, they have some really good guys who can play. However, they need more of them. I think they need some leadership. They need some strong people who will step up and motivate and push guys in the right direction. I have done that everywhere I have played, so I am looking for a chance to do that there.”
Packing up to start a senior college football game didn’t seem likely a month ago. However, Lipscomb is gracious and plans to be one of the hardest workers at his new home.
“All I can do is ask for an opportunity,” Lipscomb said. “Graduating in December gives me an advantage. I can come in in the spring and learn the system and learn everything about the program. That will give me an advantage over the other recruits who get there during the summer. I will be in position to win a starting position. That is all you can ask.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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