Hemphill of Vols set to play for Tigers
Jacob Hemphill brings a reaction any time he walks into a room with his 6-foot-4, 335-pound frame.
That is what caught the attention of college coaches when they began recruiting the Starkville Academy offensive lineman.
In the end, Hemphill determined that Northeast Mississippi Community College was the best fit for him and his skills.
“It felt like home,” Hemphill said of
Northeast. “They seem very down to earth and humble.they wanted the best for me.”
After beginning his career with the Volunteers on the defensive line, Hemphill transitioned to the offensive line as a senior to get more looks.
That's exactly what he got.
“You knew immediately that he had a chance to play just on what God gave him and the look himself,” Starkville Academy head coach Chase Nicholson said. “He still played defensive line some, but he focused on the offensive line, became a captain and became a leader on that offensive line. He excels a lot because of what God gave him, but he took ownership of that position and did a lot of good things.”
Hemphill said playing multiple positions with the Vols helped and plans to use that versatility to his advantage with the Tigers.
Nicholson only sees bigger and better things for Hemphill in the future.
“He's a big, strong and he's just going to get bigger and stronger over the next couple of years,” Nicholson said. “He has a chance to go play and do great things. I can't be more proud of him. I'm excited for him and think he'll go in there and compete for a spot. He's got that personality. He's competitive and has a passion for it.”