NEW CLASS: Second year PRCC football coach William Jones has pulled 17 new players into the fold for this year’s signing class.
Photo by Mitch Deaver

BILOXI — A trio of Pearl River County products highlight the 2014 football signing class at Pearl River Community College.

Second year Wildcats head coach William Jones confirmed the members of the recent class before speaking at the 51st annual Nike Gulf Coast Coaches Clinic Wednesday night.

“I think we’ve improved some with this class,” Jones, who guided PRCC to a 4-6 mark during his first season on the job, said. “We’ve added some key players in some spots that we think will help us be a better football team next season.”

The kicking chores will be handled by local players, as Pearl River Central’s Jovan Detto and Poplarville’s Cody Mikell are among the signees. Detto is expected to be the placekicker and Mikell will handle the punting chores.

“Detto is such a weapon, especially with his range on kickoffs,” Jones said. “Those two kickers were as good as any around to us.”

Versatile Picayune standout Deandre Anderson was also on the list.

“He’s got speed, ability and he’s so versatile,” Jones said. “He’s one of the best athletes in this area. He played on two state championship teams. We think he can make an immediate impact for us.”

In addition to the local players, other key players in this years signing class are a pair of quarterbacks in Carter Hankins of Forrest County AHA and Vonnie Howard III of Jackson Murrah.

Howard, a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder, threw for 400 yards and three scores against Jackson Callaway, just before the Chargers played for the Class 5A North State title.

Hankins, the son of FCAHS defensive coordinator Brad Hankins, led the Aggies to the Class 4A state title this past season.

D’Iberville running back Quantrell Reddix, who ran for over 1,200 yards last year, is also among the Wildcat signees. As is Biloxi fullback Raekwon McClellan, a 6-foot-255 pounder, and Harrison Central tight end Thad Collins who checks in at 6-foot-2, 275 pounds.

Reddix, McClellan and Collins all played for the South team in the annual Bernard Blackwell Classic.

Forrest Hill split end Ollie Ambrose is another key addition, as is Purvis tackle Jared Garza (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) and Oak Grove nose tackle Victor Andrews (6-foot-2, 280 pounds). Quitman safety Tavarius Moore could also make a quick impact.

A pair of Gautier defensive backs, LaJuan Johnson and Gerald Magee, are also among the signees.

Jones also said that several players from Picayune and Pearl River Central are expected to enroll and walk on for the Wildcats.