Published 5:40 pm Friday, April 18, 2025
By Brent Maze
The Selma High School football program had a big day on Tuesday as five players announced where they will be attending college.
In an event in the high school auditorium. Tyrone Sheppard, Rian Woods, Jarvarious Marks, Tristen Wall and Kendarious White all signed their letters of intent to play college football.
White, Marks, Woods and Sheppard all signed with Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, while Wall signed with Mississippi Community Christian College in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Last year’s head coach Leon Day said he was proud of all five that they will most importantly get to go to college.
“I got to be honest, it’s proof that God is amazing,” Day said. “I’m very grateful that these guys have earned this opportunity, especially in today’s climate in terms of scholarships for high school athletes. It’s way more difficult now. And that’s something that we factually know. They have to compete with guys that have proven college resumes in a lot of ways.”
That was something that Sheppard had to contend with. The senior cornerback said he wasn’t getting much response out of college coaches, but he was persistent and kept in touch.
That persistence paid off as he started to get looks from college coaches and eventually connected with Lane College who offered him a scholarship. Sheppard plans to major in business finance with a minor in sports medicine.
“I just felt like going there would just give me a good exposure for my brand and a good opportunity for me to perform and become better,” Sheppard said.
The signing day was even more special for White. He is the first person in his family to get to go to college. At Lane, he plans to study environmental science and kinesiology.
He said his family and coaches prepared him for this moment. And it was worth it for him to battle through the pain and injuries to get to this point.
“All the long days in the summer, they were pushing me,” White said. “I can remember plays when I was hurting bad on the field, and the team was looking up to me. They said, ‘KD come on, I need you.’ I just can’t let no team down. It was all about family and team to me.”
Wall said the reasons he chose Mississippi Community Christian College was the opportunity to play quarterback and to still stay close to Selma, since Biloxi is just a three-and-half-hour drive away.
Wall plans to study mechanical engineering and accounting. He said he is grateful for the opportunity to fulfill his dream of playing college ball.
“A lot of people don’t get to play out of high school, so it’s an opportunity to show what I can do,” Wall said. “My coaches pushed me to not give up, to stay in there the whole time. And they helped me get the confidence I needed to perform.”
Marks is getting the opportunity to play receiver at Lane College. He plans to major in engineering.
He appreciated all of his teachers and coaches at Selma High to help him push through.
“Going through all the obstacles that you have to face at Selma High, especially being from a small town like this, it just prepared me mentally to be able to go to the next level and be successful,” Marks said. “My family just kept me on the right track, kept making sure my head was on straight, making sure I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do, making sure I’m grades in school and performing well on the field.”
Woods said he was recruited to play nose guard at Lane College. He plans to study real estate.
“I like their program. They got a nice campus,” Woods said. “Everyone here has been helping me stay focused and keeping my head on straight.”
Day said the two colleges will be getting players who will be mentally tough.
“You talking about people that have been through personal losses, people that’s very close to them and still having to weather situations. Some were having to relocate and having, and still do this,” Day said. “So you’re talking about some of the most mentally tough young men that you get a chance to work with.”
The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) square off against the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday, March 3,…
The Atlanta Hawks (27-33), on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Barclays Center, play the Brooklyn Nets (21-39). The…
The Monday college basketball schedule in the SWAC has plenty of exciting matchups on the docket. Among those…
Top 25 teams will take the court in two games on Monday’s college basketball slate. That includes the…
Monday’s college basketball lineup has lots in store. Among the 10 games our computer model recommends, in terms…
