FULTON — Itawamba Community College football coach Sean Cannon said Thursday his team has the number “four” written on a dry erase board in the locker room at Eaton Field.
At the school’s annual Media Day, Cannon said that number indicates the number of practices before No. 16 ICC’s season opener Thursday at Pearl River C.C.
It also serves as a countdown until a decision is made about the team’s starting quarterback.
“Feel fortunate to have worked with nine players who have gone on to the (NFL),” ICC offensive coordinator Chad Cook said. “Dan Ellington is right up there as far as great kids with great talent and a tremendous attitude. We lost a lot with him. He was the automatic. With two-year players, you don’t have them forever. That’s the biggest challenge we are facing.”
Ellington threw for 3,211 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore. He was a big reason why ICC won its final five games to finish 6-3. Returning players on defense are the biggest reason why ICC is ranked in the preseason poll.
“We have talked about the rankings a couple of times,” ICC sophomore wide receiver Austin Watkins said. “It’s a source of pride. We know we have started out ranked, so we want to stay there. When a team loses above you, you get to move in, so we have to take care of business and keep finding a way to move up.”
Cook said he doesn’t have know who will start at quarterback in the season opener. The competition is intense between former Caledonia High School standout Spencer Unruh, a sophomore; former North Pontotoc standout freshman Clark Mills, a freshman; and Alabama native Laderrick Bell, a freshman.
“Three young men who show up early and stay later every day,” Cook said. “None of them have missed a meeting. None of them have missed a film session, Always early to class. The quarterback is the leader of the football team, but that leadership extends past the football field. If you want leadership, you can’t go wrong with either of those three.”
Unruh observed Ellington as much as he could last season. In his senior season at Caledonia High, Unruh threw for 2,306 yards and 31 touchdowns.
“Last year was a great learning experience,” Unruh said. “I just tried to help the team any way I could. To be able to watch and learn from (Ellington) was amazing. The game is so fast on this level. It takes a little while to have that growth and maturity you want. The competition this year has been great.”
Cook said the beauty of ICC’s quarterback competition is the three players aren’t clones.
“Each player has something they can do to help the team,” Cook said. “It’s a totally different game with each of them is back there.”
Former Caledonia High standout Jamel Thomas will join Watkins at receiver. The running game will be in flux.
“Fourteen of our 27 offensive players are back from last season,” Cook said. “We have eight receivers we feel like we can put on the field and have confidence in. A year ago, that number was probably four or five.”
Cannon also likes the preseason ranking. He knows it gives the kids a little extra motivation when the final fall workouts are right around the corner.
“This will be the most freshman we have had here in quite some time,” Cannon said. “When you are counting on this many freshman, it can leave you a little uneasy at times. However, we have experience back at some of the most important positions. It’s safe to say the players are ready to get into that game-week routine.”
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writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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