Twelve Wolves Earn Postseason Awards
JACKSON – The MACCC recently announced the All-MACCC South awards for football and the Wolves had twelve earn spots across all three teams. The honors were split evenly among both sides of the ball as there were six offensive/special teams honorees and six defensive honorees.
For the offensive/special teams honorees the Wolves saw Zyrian Jackson (Hazlehurst), Humberto Rosales (McCalla, AL), and Edarius Green (Natchez) nab first team honors while Tray Minor (Natchez) and Jarmaine Mitchell (Lutcher, LA) earned second team honors with Jordan Richardson (Gainesville, FL) taking home honorable mention.
Defensively the Wolves had DJ Hill-Smith (Reed, AR) and Malachi Williams (Brookhaven) earn first team honors while Lakendrick James (Shelby), Lonnie Smith (Jackson), and Doug Nelson (Hazlehurst) nabbed second team honors with Kenneth Andrews (Clinton) taking home honorable mention.
As a return specialist, Zyrian Jackson returned 17 kickoffs for 586 yards, the third most in the MACCC, while leading the MACCC in average per return at 34.5 with one touchdown and had the longest kickoff return in the conference at 98 yards. The 586 yards are the fourth-most in the NJCAA while the 34.5 average per return led the NJCAA, and the longest return was the second-longest in the NJCAA. He also led the conference in punt returns with 21. He amassed 122 yards on those returns and had a longest return of 22 yards.
As a punter, Humberto Rosales had 1408 yards on 35 punts for an average 40.2 yards per punt, which was second-most in the MACCC and fourth-most in the NJCAA. He had 15 punts go inside the 20-yard line which was a Top 10 mark in the MACCC while having no punts go for touchbacks this season.
In his freshman season, Edarius Green, was a stalwart on the Wolves offensive line as he started and played all nine games at center for the Wolves. Green was the anchor for a line that saw the team average 306.6 yards per game (166.3 rushing and 140.3 passing) and 29.3 points per game.
In his sophomore season, running back Tray Minor led the team in rushes with 117, the fourth-highest in the MACCC. Minor had the second-most rushing yards on the team with 671 which was also fourth-highest in the MACCC while having the second-most rushing touchdowns with seven which was sixth-best in the MACCC. Minor also had zero fumbles this season for the Wolves.
In his freshman season, Jarmaine Mitchell was another stalwart for the Wolves offensive line as he started and played all nine games at the left tackle position. Mitchell was part of the line that saw the team average 306.6 yards per game (166.3 rushing and 140.3 passing) and 29.3 points per game.
In his freshman season, receiver Jordan Richardson led the Wolves in receptions with 25, receiving yards with 297, and shared the team lead in receiving touchdowns with two.
In his lone season with the Wolves, sophomore defensive back DJ Hill-Smith was Top 10 in total tackles with 24 while playing and starting in all nine games this season. He also had one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception return for a 44-yard touchdown.
In his sophomore season, linebacker Malachi Williams led the Wolves in total tackles with 63 which was Top 10 in the MACCC and was third on the team in tackles for loss with nine. He also had one sack on the season and led the team in forced fumbles with three and had one fumble recovery and one pass breakup this season while playing all nine games.
In his sophomore season, Lakendrick James was third on the team in total tackles and sacks with 41 and three respectively. He was second on the team in tackles for loss with 9.5 while forcing two fumbles, recovering two fumbles, and recording three pass breakups while playing all nine games this season.
In his freshman season, linebacker Lonnie Smith had 18 total tackles while playing in eight games for the Wolves. He shared the team lead in sacks with six and had seven tackles for loss while forcing one fumble and recording two pass breakups.
In his freshman season, defensive back Doug Nelson finished with the fourth-most total tackles with 36 while playing and starting all nine games for the Wolves. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and three pass breakups this season.
In his sophomore season, defensive lineman Kenneth Andrews was fifth for the Wolves in total tackles with 31 while playing eight games this season. He shared the team lead in sacks with six while leading the team in tackles for loss with 10.5 and had one pass breakup.
The Wolves finished the 2024 season 5-4 overall, 3-3 in MACCC South Division play.