Sports

DOLLARWAY QB CHOOSES OLE MISS; 16 OTHERS MAKE COLLEGE CHOICES

By Josh Tinker/COMMERCIAL SPORTS EDITOR
Thursday, February 5, 2009 9:25 AM CST

The suspense has ended. After months of speculation, Dollarway standout Jesse Grandy made public where he would be playing his college football Wednesday by signing with Mississippi and coach Houston Nutt on the first day of the national signing period.

Dollarway’s Jesse Grandy signed to play football for Mississippi on Wednesday. PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL/RALPH FITZGERALD.

“It was a real family type of environment. I could see myself fitting in with that family,” said Grandy, of his decision to join the Rebels.

Rated as a three-star prospect by the recruiting Web site Rivals.com, Grandy was the highest rated player from Southeast Arkansas, and the only area player to sign with a BCS conference school. He chose Ole Miss over Arkansas and Louisiana Tech, among others.

“It feels good,” Dollarway coach Cortez Lee said. “It goes to show that if you prepare and use your God-given talent then anything is possible.”

Predominately a quarterback in Dollarway’s wishbone scheme, Grandy is projected to play any number of positions in college. He said he prefers to play receiver but added he was told by Ole Miss coaches that he could be used at numerous positions, including receiver, cornerback, and as a kick and punt returner.

Grandy said he was also told he could be used as a quarterback in the Rebel’s “Wild Rebel” formation, which uses a shotgun snap to a skill player who will then run, handoff or pass.

“I want to play receiver, but I’m not picky,” Grandy said. “As long as I get a chance to play.”

Lee said he could see Grandy making an impact in his true freshman season.

“There is no substitute for speed,” Lee said. “That’s the one thing he has that he’s cornered. He has quickness, a competitive edge over his opponent and he possesses mental toughness.”

Grandy said he will enroll at Ole Miss for the summer session and added he plans to major in architecture.

While Grandy was the most sought after recruit in Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff High School had the most players sign Wednesday. A total of five former Zebra players signed their names to play for various schools.

Cameron Collins, Jarvis Webb and Cordara Frazier each signed to play for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. A.J. Graham signed to play for Harding in Searcy and Clif Scott signed a letter to attend NAIA school Jamestown (N.D.) College.

“(The players) were instrumental in us turning our program around from a losing one to a winning one,” Pine Bluff coach Bobby Bolding said.

Of the five that signed, three play wide receiver. Bolding said previously that the receiver position was the deepest position on his team last season, and the Zebras used this depth to average nearly 50 points per game during 6A-South Conference play.

“We scored a lot of points offensively,” Bolding said. “A lot of that had to do with those receivers. All we had to do was get the ball close to them and let them do their thing.”

Frazier and Collins are part of a UAPB recruiting class that saw the Golden Lions spend seven scholarships on receivers.

Frazier said such an overhaul at the skill positions would make UAPB a better passing team in the future. Collins added that playing for UAPB has been a goal of his for several years.

“Since I was a kid I always had a dream to play for UAPB,” he said.

Webb is expected to play cornerback or free safety for the Golden Lions.

Scott, though he admitted to having little knowledge of North Dakota, said he chose Jamestown College because they gave him the biggest scholarship, and chose the Jimmies over Arkansas-Monticello and UAPB.

Meanwhile, Graham chose to play at Harding because he said they play a style of defense that suits him best. A cornerback by trade, Graham said Harding’s 4-2-5 defense would allow him to play the man-coverage that he prefers.

“They like to blitz and will play a lot of man coverage,” Graham said. “That’s my specialty. I like to play bump-and-run (coverage).”

Warren continued to be a pipeline to the next level. After having four players sign to play for Arkansas last season, the Lumberjacks had four players sign with various state universities on Wednesday.

UAPB received a pledge from receiver Quinn Franklin, running back Dedrick Hampton and cornerback Blake Harris will attend Southern Arkansas and lineman Shaquille Ellis will play for Arkansas-Monticello.

“We’ve been very blessed,” Warren coach Bo Hembree said. “We have so many kids that go through it that come back and help the kids go through this.

“The kids are getting the opportunity to go to college and get an education. It’s not about how many touchdowns you score, it’s about getting that degree.”

Joining Harris and Hampton at SAU will be former Monticello defensive lineman Ashton Pennywell. Pennywell, who was voted by Hootens.com as the Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, chose the Muleriders over UCA, UAM and Arkansas Tech.

Three former White Hall Bulldogs pledged their allegiance to a pair of former Gulf South Conference rivals. Offensive lineman Brett Craine and quarterback J.J. Martin signed to play for Arkansas Tech, while offensive lineman Nick Partridge will play for Central Arkansas.

Martin, who was known more for his legs while playing quarterback for White Hall, said he will play H-back for the Wonder Boys. While Hall coach Mike Vaughn said he could even play cornerback during his time in Russellville.

Craine and Partridge were both rated as two-star recruits by rivals, and each had his pick of in-state schools.

“It just felt right,” said Partridge of his decision to attend UCA. “I’ve been there and I like the fans and the way they play. It was just a multitude of things.”

The final area player to commit to a school Wednesday was Nick Clary of Fordyce, who committed to UAPB. Clary adds another tall, rangy receiver to the Golden Lions’ stable. He had more than 1,000 receiving yards receiving in only 11 games this season.

Clary originally voted to hold his commitment to next week but decided at the last minute to sign with UAPB on Wednesday.

In all, 17 players with ties to Southeast Arkansas high schools signed letters of intent on Wednesday with several more expected to receiving scholarships next year.

“I hope this is the start of something,” said Bolding of his Zebras. “We hope to get 5-10 every year.”

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