Pearl River Football Welcomes Incoming Signing Class

POPLARVILLE, Miss. (PRCC) -Pearl River’s football program has focused on quality over quantity with its signing class of 2022. Head coach Seth Smith announced the addition of 12 new Wildcats on Day signature national.

PRCC is returning a large portion of its 2021 roster and as a result, its 2022 signing class has a limited number of spots available.

This year’s class includes Southwest Oklahoma State transfer quarterback Manuel Armstrong, running back Jefferson Davis Demarrio Booth Jr., Poplarville offensive lineman Conner Davis, linebacker PHS Ahmad Harmon, Presbyterian Christian School defensive lineman Damion Gooden, Columbia wide receiver Kentrell Jackson, Vigor (Ala.) defensive lineman Ryan Kidd, Hattiesburg defensive back Kamron Norwood, cornerback Terry Kaleb Patterson, Samford transfer quarterback Lawson Pratt, Columbia offensive lineman Jason Townsend and Iberville defensive back Caleb Williams.

ARMSTRONG MANUAL The Wildcats added a unique skill set to their QB roster with the signing of Armstrong. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Armstrong joins the PRCC after spending two seasons at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he wore a red shirt. Armstrong prepared for McDonogh 35 in New Orleans.

“Manny is a dual-threat QB who signed up here in January,” PRCC coach Seth Smith said. “He has enormous speed and is very elusive in the pocket. He also has the arm strength and precision to stretch the ball down the pitch. His age, experience and athletic abilities only enhance a QB room that we believe can be a strength for our team this year.

DEMARRIO BOOTH JR. Booth is one of several PRCC incoming class state champions. Booth was a driver in Jefferson Davis’ 42-10 fight against Amory in the MHSAA Class 3A title game, rushing for 205 yards and four touchdowns — including rushes for 62, 32, 1 and 44 yards; Booth also intercepted a pass in the MVP performance.

After the season, Booth was named to the Mississippi Coaches Association’s Class 3A first-team offense.

Booth finished his senior season with 1,041 rushing yards, 412 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

Along with winning the state championship as a senior, Booth was also part of JDC’s title team in 2019.

“Demarrio, is yet another state champion added to our team. He played for legendary coach Lance Mancuso at Jefferson Davis and all this young man knows is winning,” Smith said. great speed and vision and is very explosive in space. Its dynamic versatility will allow us to use it in several positions. He is a winner and brings tenacity and a winning mindset to our team.

CONNER DAVIS At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Davis will provide plenty of depth at the tackle position. In addition to height, Davis brings a winning pedigree to his hometown team. Like compatriot Harmon, Davis participated in one of the most consistent programs in the state for four seasons, helping lead the Hornets to three Southern State Class 4A MHSAA championships and an overall record 43 -15.

In the trenches, Davis helped the Hornets rush for 4,050 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Following his senior season, Davis was named to the Mississippi Coaches Association Class 4A All-State First Team. He also received an honorable mention from the Sun Herald’s All-South Mississippi team and competed in the Bernard Blackwell Classic All-Star Game.

“Conner adds instant credibility to our O-line,” Smith said. “He’s a winner and he comes from a championship program. He has a huge size and ball. His film has shown him to be one of the most physical blockers in the state.

“He will add an immediate impact to our O-line.”

Additionally, Davis gained notoriety across the region after his senior portrayal gained viral notoriety. The image showed the lineman pouring syrup on a stack of pancakes.

DAMION GOODEN Gooden was a force for PCS as a senior, racking up 54 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. The performance earned Gooden a spot on the All-MAIS Class 6A First-Team Defense as well as Pine Belt’s All-Area Sports Team. He also appeared in Magnolia State and MAIS All-Star Games.

As a junior, Gooden totaled 50 tackles for the Bobcats with four sacks and 11 QB rushes.

“Damion has big feet and a big waist,” Smith said. “He is extremely active throughout the interior DLine. Although we return most of our defensive front, it will instantly add depth to our defensive line.

“His size up front can have an immediate impact.”

AHMAD HARMON Harmon broke out as a senior, leading PHS with 137 tackles with a sack, one interception and three passes defended.

Harmon’s senior performance earned him a spot on the MAC’s All-Class 4A First Team. Harmon was an honorable mention for the Sun Herald’s All-South Mississippi team. He also participated in the Bernard Blackwell Classic All-Star Game.

“Ahmad, like Conner, comes from one of the most winning programs in the state,” Smith said. “All these young men know how to win. His speed and his nose for football will adapt perfectly to our defense.

“He’s a great tackler and plays with a high engine.”

KENTREL JACKSON Jackson was instrumental in Columbia’s run for the MHSAA Class 4A Championship. The athletic receiver caught 11 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 66 yards and two scores; he also racked up 145 yards returning punts, finding the end zone once.

Jackson was named to the MAC’s All-Class 4A Second Team as a kick returner and also played in the Magnolia State All-Star Game.

“Kentrell is a state champion. He’s another young man who will come to Day 1 knowing how to win,” Smith said. “We are extremely excited to add Kentrell. He is a Swiss army knife and he can play in several positions. He is an excellent tackler in defense and electric in attack. Simply put, he is a football player and a very tough player.

RYAN CHILD Kidd is the only out-of-state signer in the class, hailing from Vigor High in Prichard, Alabama.

As a senior, the 6-foot-1, 287-pound Kidd finished his senior season with 37 total tackles to go with a sack and four TFLs. His Vigor Wolves won the Alabama Class 4A Championship.

“Ryan’s film was as good as any we’ve rated on the defensive line,” Smith said. “He plays sideline against sideline and is extremely physical. He’s another young man who was part of a state championship this year; it’s another winner that will have an immediate impact.

KAMRON NORWOOD Norwood was an important athlete for the Hattiesburg Tigers as a senior, seeing time at receiver while playing mostly defensive back. Norwood finished the 2021 campaign with 37 tackles, five pass breakups and one interception.

Norwood was named to the MAC’s All-Class 5A First Team and also played in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic.

“Speed, speed and speed come to mind when describing Kam,” Smith said. “We love playing men’s cover and we think he can run with anyone in this league. I can’t wait to see him evolve under the tutelage of Coach (TaRon) Sims.

“His elite speed with knowledge of Coach Sims content will be a great pair.”

KALB PATTERSON At 6-2, Patterson will add size to the PRCC defensive backfield. As a senior, Patterson helped lock down his part of the court and finished the 2021 campaign with 35 tackles, one interception and two passes defended.

After the season, Patterson was named to the All-Region 3-6A team. He also participated in the Magnolia State All-Star Game.

“Kaleb has an SEC executive. It’s a long, lean DB. He’s another young man with a huge upside that we can’t wait to see take flight with Coach Sims.

“6-foot-2 with speed is a combination we’re extremely excited to add to our defensive backfield.”

LAWSON PRATT Pratt is the second transfer quarterback in the PRCC class. The 6-foot, 195-pound Pratt originally signed with Samford after a prolific prep career at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In high school, Pratt passed for 7,021 yards and 73 touchdowns before joining the Bulldogs.

247Sports listed Pratt as a three-star prospect and the No. 52 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. According to the website, Pratt chose Samford over offers from Austin Peay, Jacksonville State, southern Alabama and others.

“Lawson is a great dual-threat QB who brings instant credibility to our team,” Smith said. “He’s a coaching kid who brings a high level of experience and content knowledge to the QB position. He had an advertised high school career at Alabama State and was the player of the year of western Alabama.

JASON TOWNSEND Townsend is a mountain of man at 6-foot-4 and 359 pounds. The dependable tackle helped the 4A champion Columbia pass for 1,557 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 2,650 and 36 scores.

Townsend was named to the All-State MAC Class 4A team and competed in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic.

“Another state champion, another winner added to our list,” Smith said. “We’re going to shake things up and we’re keen to bring in guys who already have a winning mindset to speed up the process.

“He’s a big, physical man right off the o line that we can expect to see shoot that ball in August.”

CALEB WILLIAMS Williams led the 4-6A region champion Warriors as a senior with 90 tackles to go along with 7.5 TFL, three interceptions and nine passes defended. Williams considered all three phases of the game for DHS. The senior rushed 14 times for 72 yards, caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown and also returned eight punts for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Williams won numerous honors after the outstanding season. He was named to the MAC All-State and Region 4-6A teams, as well as the Sun Herald’s All-South Mississippi team and the Clarion-Ledger All-State team.

Williams finished his prep career with 255 total tackles, four interceptions, six fumble recoveries and 14 passes defended.

“Caleb is a safety that goes down and hits like a linebacker,” Smith said. “He’s a tough, physical football player. He adds a relentless physical engine to our defensive secondary and is another young man who’s been part of a lot of wins throughout his high school career.

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