JACKSON, Miss. – As the countdown begins to opening kickoff against Mississippi College, the Millsaps Majors football team is to welcome 49 incoming freshman this fall as they prepare on their quest for a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. Head Coach Aaron Pelch begins his second season as head man and this is his first full recruiting class. Here is a look at the incoming freshman for quarterbacks, runnings backs, and kickers for the 2011 season.
QB Chase Smith, Mosley HS, Panama City, Fla.
Chase Smith earned the starting job at quarterback the last two seasons with the Mosley Dolphins and showed with his play that he belonged in the starting role. Smith showed great decision making skills as he made smart plays. He can throw a deep, accurate ball and can escape the pocket if pressured. During his tenure, he earned Second Team All-County his junior year and First Team-All County his senior season.
QB Zak Thrasher, New Hope HS, New Hope, Miss.
Zak Thrasher comes to Millsaps out of New Hope High School where he threw for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior year. Thrasher throws passes with nice velocity and accuracy and reads his defenders well while in the pocket. He led the Trojans to back-to-back appearances in the Class 5A Mississippi State Playoffs.
RB Mike Barthelemy, South Plaquemines HS, Port Sulpher, La.
Speed, strength, discipline, and vision are just a few words to describe Mike Barthelemy when he is running the football. The product of 1A powerhouse South Plaquemines in Port Sulpher, Louisiana has done big things for his school as he was an All-State selection for three straight years. Barthelemy was also named Team MVP his senior year. He helped lead South Plaquemines to the 1A state championship his freshman and sophomore year while making an appearance in the game his junior year. In the past two years, he has gained almost 2,000 all purpose yards and 15 touchdowns.
RB Chris Sutton, Brother Martin HS, Kenner, La.
Chris Sutton is a versatile athlete who played both sides of the ball for the Brother Martin Crusaders out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Sutton will continue his career at the collegiate level as a running back. Sutton shows great balance as well as vision. Sutton will bruise a defender up when lowering his shoulder but can also break away from a defender as he has good speed. Sutton helped lead his Crusaders to the 5A Playoffs before falling to the top seed.
RB Maverick Parsons, Petal HS, Petal, Miss.
Maverick Parsons comes into Jackson to continue a stellar class of running backs. Parsons, out of Petal, Mississippi, rushed for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching one more. He averaged an astonishing 7.7 yards per carry. He racked up awards including Hattiesburg All-Area and All-Region. Parsons led his team to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Mississippi State Playoffs.
RB Garrett Banta, Parkview Baptist HS, Baton Rouge, La.
Garrett Banta comes into Millsaps this season after leading his high school, Parkview Baptist, to the 3A Louisiana State Championship, his second state championship of his career. In fact, the last time he won a state championship, his brother and Millsaps football player the last three years Travis Banta was running the show. After coming off an injury his junior year, Banta did huge things his senior year including where he scored 11 touchdowns and averaged 11 yards per carry. One of his best games was on the big stage of the state championship, scoring two touchdowns including a 60 yard burst for six. Banta has incredible speed running a 4.31, but is also a physical runner. He will be a valued asset to an already huge set of running backs.
FB Donald Cane, St. Augustine HS, New Orleans, La.
Donald Cane may not have gotten all the attention he deserved as he was a part of opening up holes for his tailbacks at St. Augustine High School. Last season, the Purple Knights averaged 308 rushing yards a game thanks to the lead blocking by Cane. He comes to Millsaps looking to continue making openings for the Major running backs in the 2011 campaign.
FB Tyler Cowand, St. Stainslaus HS, Bay St. Louis, Miss.
St. Stainslaus' Tyler Cowand started all four years for the Rock-a-Chows and set a record for the most starts in the history of their football program, a true ironman. Cowand played guard and tackle in his four year stint, but is going to take a new role with the Majors; fullback. When watching him play, one of the reasons for the switch has to be his quickness off the ball. Cowand explodes off and gets to his man very quickly which will do wonders for Major tailbacks. Cowand led his team to the state playoffs all four years he was there including the Mississippi 4A State Championship in 2009.
K Beau Brady, St. Thomas HS, Houston, Texas
Millsaps welcomes in Beau Brady, kicker out of St. Thomas High School. In his senior season, Brady went 21-for-21 on Points After Touchdown (PAT) and was 9-of-12 on field goals. He kicked a 40+ yard field goal in five straight district games and was perfect in field goals for the second half of the season. He earned First Team All-District as well as All-State Honorable Mention. He was also selected to kick in the Private School Texas All-Star Game.
The Majors first game will be September 3rd, 2011 against the Mississippi College Choctaws in the 10th installment of the Backyard Brawl. Coming tomorrow in Part II, we will break down the wide receivers and tight ends.
