Chargers move on to next level

The entire Choctaw County football team celebrates with Calvin Roberts, Antonio “BB” Kennedy, Quay Lane and Luke Beard as they signed to play at the next level on Wednesday. (Submitted photo)

At Choctaw County High School, getting to the next level has become something that's expected.

It's not easy for many schools in the state to produce four college players in one class and it's especially not common for a Class 2A school to do it. Multiple players going to the next level is something that the Chargers are accustomed to doing and they had four great ones sign the dotted line on Wednesday morning.

Choctaw County coach Jeff Roberts watched as Calvin Roberts, Antonio “BB” Kennedy, Quay Lane and Luke Beard all got a chance to celebrate with family, friends and teammates by signing their National Letters of Intent. All four left a legacy in their own way at the school.

For Calvin Roberts, his is being left on both the basketball court and the gridiron. Just last week, Roberts had Copiah-lincoln Community College coach David Sanders in the stands at his basketball game to watch him. He chose football instead and will be playing at East Central Community College in Decatur.

The standout defensive lineman had a chance to bond with a fellow Charger in Traver Pratt who recruited him as the inside linebackers coach at

ECCC. Jeff Roberts said that there's much potential in Calvin's game.

“He's got the athleticism,” coach Roberts said. “He needs a really good offseason and a really good weight program. He's going to a place where he might play immediately. He's a heck of a basketball player so he's a great athlete. The sky is the limit for him, and I think he could have a great couple of seasons at JUCO and get recruited.”

Also joining Calvin in Decatur will be his fellow defender, the safety Lane. The pedigree is strong with Lane as his older brother Quinton played for Ackerman a decade ago before going to Itawamba Community College and then South Alabama. His other brother is Quez Mcneal, who is going from one of the best defensive backs in the state as a junior college standout at Co-lin to now playing for Southern Miss. One more is on the way after him in Quaysie who is a freshman, but Quay is making his own way.

Coach Roberts watched as Lane made a huge jump in the offseason this past season going from 32 tackles to 48 his senior year. He also had no interceptions a year ago, but he made five of those this season with six pass deflections.

“Every coach that I've talked to about Quay I've

told them that you're getting probably the hardest worker on the field,” Coach Roberts said. “There are other guys that work really hard, but from his junior to senior year was a huge jump. He led the team in interceptions and had several tackles for a loss this year. He comes from a great family and a great young man.”

Kennedy is a player that was being talked about around Ackerman for a couple of years before he really broke into the mix at Choctaw County. In four years, he racked up 514 carries at running back for an incredible 4,199 yards and 37 touchdowns. His last two seasons he rushed for 1,356 yards and 1,360 yards respectively.

He was a two-time Starkville Daily News Allarea