STARKVILLE — It only took Starkville High School coach Chris Jones a handful of phone calls to gauge where starting quarterback Luke Altmyer was.
Following a tumultuous couple of weeks in which Altmyer was benched in favor of backup NyJal Johnson against West Point and the two split reps in spurts the following two games, Altmyer refocused.
Seemingly daily, he sent Jones snippets of film he had diagnosed. It was a staunch reminder of the maturity the 17-year-old possesses.
“I just know who I am as a person, as a player,” Altmyer said. “I come out here every day, work hard, work my butt off and stay mentally ready for anything to come my way and physically as well.”
In five games this season, Altmyer has totaled 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns on 80 of 118 passing attempts. Further, in wins over Louisville and Meridian the past two weeks, he’s 22 for 32 for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s a kid that I never had a doubt about through the bad games,” Jones said. “For him to kind of take ownership — that’s just maturity in a young kid. Most kids don’t want to accept the blame or take coaching, but he’s the opposite of that, and I feel like he’s just going to get better and better.”
It’s been an eventful few months for Altmyer. Entering last season, the sophomore-to-be constantly spoke with Jones about college offers and when they would come. After throwing for 1952 yards and 19 touchdowns to just four interceptions, they began to roll in.
Ole Miss reportedly offered the junior Feb. 22. Mississippi State followed suit one day later. LSU became the latest SEC school to offer Altmyer in June.
But a few months on and five games into the season, the preseason hype of scholarship offers and collegiate aspirations have come to a halt at the behest of Altmyer.
“It creeps into your head,” he conceded. “You’ve got a ton of expectations on you — very high expectations — but I talk to my family, these coaches, and you just have to block it out. Just play your game. Everything will fall into place.”
Standing on the sidelines at West Point three weeks ago, Altmyer looked downcast as his helmet hung in his hand. He wouldn’t return in that game.
Now heading into Friday’s district opener against South Panola, Altmyer is at the helm of a reinvigorated Yellow Jackets squad.
Having won three of its past four games — including an overpowering victory over Oxford in the Little Egg Bowl — Jones credits the recent run for having changed the tone at practice the past few days.
“A lot of times winning is the secret ingredient,” Jones said. “Sometimes it just cures everything, and you’re not as sore anymore; you’re not as tired anymore. It’s always good to have some wins, and I can feel the energy, too.”
Last season, Starkville dispatched South Panola 37-7 at home in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A playoffs. Friday, the Yellow Jackets host South Panola with a refreshed Altmyer under center, and the Starkville offense is more than ready for what this weekend brings.
“I think we’re in a good spot physically and mentally,” he said. “This week we’ve been having a lot of fun at practice, a lot of energy has been shown, and especially now with district play coming in, South Panola rolling up Friday — we’re excited.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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