Bulldogs kick off 2024 season tonight in Summit vs. Southwest
Twenty-four returning players hope to help the 2024 Holmes Community College Bulldogs build on last year's success. Holmes kicks off the 2024 season tonight vs. Southwest in Summit at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs finished the 2023 campaign, 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the North Division, and led the country in total yards per game (479.1) and in passing yards per game (344.7). The Bulldogs were second in total passing yards and ninth in total offense.
Offensive returners include: Colton DeShazo, receiver, D'Iberville; Malcolm Boykin, receiver, Hattiesburg; John Ford, quarterback, Sumrall; Dyllan Westmoreland, lineman, Eupora; Tyler Abel, lineman, Winona; and Johnny Holly, lineman, Coral Shores, Fla.
Ford finished the season 97-of-154 for 1143 yards with 12 touchdowns and one interception. DeShazo caught 26 passes for 319 yards and one touchdown.
Offensive newcomers include: Antwone Breland, lineman, Hattiesburg; Hubert Broadnax, lineman, Gulfport; Cayden Burger, receiver, Petal; Andre Coleman, wide receiver, West Florida; Brandon Elam, lineman, Brandon; Charlie Fair, quarterback, Grenada; Rayshawn Hardy, running back, Bob Jones; Silas Hinson, wide receiver, Inlet Grove; B.J. Johnson, receiver, Greene County; Cam Joseph, receiver, Gulfport; Sean McGill, lineman, Gulfport; Braylon McKinion, lineman, Northwest Rankin; Kayden Miller, wide receiver, Greene County; Isaiah Morgan, lineman, Gulfport; Cole Parker, lineman, MRA; Deandre Pullen, running back, Madison Central; Tristin Purnell, receiver, Winona; Chase Richardson, quarterback, Winona; Jaylin Rogers, lineman, Union; Easton Sartin, running back, Bogue Chitto; Tavares Wade, running back, Hattiesburg; and Matthew Williams, wide receiver, Holmes Central.
Defensive returners include: Jalon Townes, linebacker, Grenada; Dtrevion Parker, linebacker, Grenada; Christavious Savior, defensive back, Louisville; Octavious Pernell, defensive back, Holmes Central; Laquaris Harris, defensive back, Velma Jackson; Laterrius Haynes, defensive back, Louisville; Dan Smith, defensive back, Provine; Dez McWilliams; defensive back, Neshoba Central; Donteye Drew, DL, Tampa Bay Tech, Fla.; Jeremy Robertson, DL, Amite, La.; Lance Carson, DL, Frisco, Texas; Kabron Purifoy, lineman, Tate, Fla.; Corion Mathis, lineman, Mendenhall; and Amari Conley, defensive back, Grenada.
Townes was third in total tackles in the NJCAA with 91 and third in tackles per game in the NJCAA with 10.1 per game. He finished with 11.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Parker had 36 tackles while Mathis had 33 tackles and Savior had 28 tackles. Mathis had 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while Parker had 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Defensive newcomers include: Jeremy Atkins, defensive back, West Jefferson, La.; Malik Bell, defensive line, Oxford; Montaine Bonner, defensive line, Oxford; Landon Carson, defensive lineman, Frisco, Texas; Kebian Gilmore, linebacker, Clarksdale; Allen Jones, defensive line, West Jones; B.J. Mitchell, linebacker, Hattiesburg; P.J. Pace, defensive back, Kosciusko; Janari Powell, defensive back, Holmes Central; Chance Richardson, defensive back, Winona; Markell Richardson, defensive back, Satsuma; Bishop Riley, defensive back, Greenville, Ala.; Kam'Ron Robinson, defensive back, Winona; Jake Rodgers, linebacker, West Lauderdale; De'Jarious Segrest, linebacker, Copiah Academy; Jekerious Williams, defensive back, Grenada; Lionel Williams, defensive line, Hazlehurst; and Tim Van, defensive line, Palm Beach Gardens/FIU. Dandreyus Giles, a defensive back from Holmes Central and Jeremiah Kirk, a defensive lineman from Louisville, return after playing the 2022 season.
Kicker Dan Lindsay (Central Holmes) and long snapper Jay Matthews (Madison Central) return as specialists. Joining them is Andrew Merrell (Bogue Chitto) as kicker/punter.
Coaches
Head Coach Marcus Wood is in his third year as head coach of the Bulldogs. Returning coaches from the 2023 staff include: Les George, Assistant Head Coach/OL; Barney Farrar, Co-Defensive Coordinator/DB/Recruiting Coordinator; and C.J. Johnson, Co-Defensive Coordinator/LB. New coaches are QB Coach Carter Hankins, WR Coach Kameron Myers, DL Coach Derrick Berry and RB Coach DeAndre Johnson. Connor Helms and DeAndre DaRoza are student assistants.