2023 Hinds football season preview

Story from Hinds CC Athletics:

RAYMOND, Miss. – The Hinds Community College football team are receiving votes in the latest 2023 NJCAA D1 Football poll and will open the season on Thursday, September 7 in Booneville taking on Northeast Mississippi Community College Tigers at 6:30 PM.

In 2022, Hinds football finished just below.500 with a 4-5 overall record. After opening the season with two losses, the Eagles bounced back to win four of the next five games and lost the final two games of the season.

OFFENSE
In 2022, the Eagle offense had a balanced attack, averaging 162.2 yards on the ground and 142.6 yards through the air. Additionally, the Eagles averaged 21 points per game and averaged 304.9 yards of total offense.

Kabe Barnett (Hattiesburg) and Roman Mula(Baton Rouge, La.) will split time at quarterback, while Jordyn Battee (Clinton) will be the third string quarterback to open the season.

At running back, the Eagles return key players Jerrell Boyd (Lexington) and Zailon Johnson (Brandon). Freshmen Jayden Reed(Oxford), Jakobe Calvin (Bolton), and Ja’Marian Johnson will round out the rushing attack for the Eagles in 2023.

At wide receiver, the Eagles return a handful of experienced players. Among those names are Micheal Lott (Miami, Fla.), Jamar Grace(Dekalb), and Macardi Johnson(Macon). Other receivers vying for time include Malachi Townsend (Newman, Ga.), Ja’Montae Wallace (Virgina Beach, Va.), Jarkea Reed (Carthage), Tyrell Pollard(Hattiesburg), Dalton Keys (Ellisvile), and rounding out the receiving corps is Trey Henderson (Canton).

The offensive line is anchored by Keyidric Dixon (Lexington), Kenny Walker (Clinton), Cameron Williams (Clinton), William Stewart(Jackson), and freshman Saquan Miles(Greenville). Sophomores Kendrick Watkins(Raymond), Jarred Caston (Terry), Dontavius Bell (Vicksburg), along with freshmen Jerald Woods (Vicksburg) Jamarion Henderson(Canton), and Eddie Bennett (Meridian) add depth in the trenches in 2023.

DEFENSE
On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles look to continue to smother opposing offenses. In 2022, the Eagles forced four fumbles, had 80.8 tackles for loss and recorded eight interceptions.

The defensive line is led by sophomores Karl Odrick (New Orleans, La.), Willie Miller(Brandon), Ah’Morrian Ellis (Port Gibson), Xy’narus Haynes (Jackson), Trevell Vivians(Philadelphia), Zamian Waller (Amite, La.), Trevion Dorsett (Picayune), Devarrick Woods(Bossier City, La.), along with freshmen Derrick Davis (Carthage), Aven Kelley (Alpharetta, Ga.), Carrington Wilson(Brandon), and Patrick Tackie (New York, N.Y) are all vying for time this season.

The linebackers return one sophomore from 2022 Kelbee Holmes (Philadelphia). Freshmen Jalandyn Humphrey (Durant), Demondra Scott (Meridian), William Harry(Poplarville), and Brenden Jennings(Jacksonville Fla.) bring more depth to the linebacker room.

The Eagle secondary features sophomores K’Swaya Moffett Jr. (Raymond), Vernorrius Chaney (Macon), Isaiah Bolton(Columbia), and Zack Andrews (Macon). The defensive backs also have depth with freshmen Walter Owens (Mendenhall), Preston Clendenin (Atlanta, Ga.), Jarnari Powell (Durant), Malaiki Haynes (Byrneville, Fla.), Kearris Gilliam (Vicksburg), Davion Laguarde (Bay Saint Louis), Jeremy Evans(Meridian), Quintarus McCray (Greenville), Thomas Murphy (Flora), and Jaylon McCroy(Shaw).

SPECIAL TEAMS
The special teams unit for the Eagles features freshman kicker Tanner Hollingsworth(Terry), freshman kicker Cullen Cox (Biloxi), and freshman long-snapper Andrew Tate(Madden).