Seven Trojans ink in early signing period
The Mississippi Delta Community College football program had seven former student-athletes sign National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers on Wednesday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Early Signing Period.
The seven standouts from the 2019 season are:
- Paxton Branning, long snapper, Jackson State University
- George Jackson, defensive back, Troy University
- Patrick Jackson, running back, Jacksonville State University
- Isaiah Karriem, linebacker, Texas State University
- Ranauldrick Murrell, running back, Lyon University
- Dejhon Polk, wide receiver, Faulkner University
- Spencer Romero, kicker, University of West Alabama
The Trojans will also have a large section of the 2019 team that will sign on National Signing Day in February 2020.
Branning, a Hollandale native and Deer Creek School graduate, was highly-successful in his two-year stint in Moorhead, providing a steady presence behind the ball from his long snapper position.
George Jackson, a Rolling Fork native and graduate of South Delta High School, had a standout sophomore campaign from his defensive back position, leading the Trojans in tackles (58) and interceptions (three), and also recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and forced a fumble.
Patrick Jackson, a Columbus resident and Columbus High School graduate, was a force on the ground for the Trojans all season, as he carried the pigskin 171 times for 887 yards and four touchdowns. He also provided a steady set of hands out of the backfield, finishing with 12 receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown.
Karriem, a Columbus native and graduate of Columbus High School, was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State second team after finishing second on the team in tackles with 49, and also had 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Murrell, a Forest resident and Forest High School graduate, finished his sophomore season with 37 rushes for 117 yards and one touchdown on the ground and also had nine receptions for 47 yards and one touchdown through the air.
Polk, a Biloxi native and D'Iberville High School graduate, battled injuries for much of the 2019 campaign, but ended his freshman campaign in 2018 with 12 receptions for 238 yards and one touchdown, and had 11 kick returns for a total of 301 yards (27.4 yards per return average).
Romero, a native of Brookhaven and a graduate of Franklin County High School, finished the 2019 season at 13-19 on extra points and 6-8 on field goal attempts to end with a total of 31 points.
