4 minute read
AREA ALUMS
from Gridiron 2022
JEFFERY JOHNSON University of Oklahoma
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BHS alum Jeffery Johnson made a big impact over the last four seasons as a defensive lineman for the Tulane Green Wave.
In 2022, Johnson is going to try and make similar waves for the Oklahoma Sooners, a perennial national power.
Johnson started all 12 games last season for the Green Wave and drew starts in 44 of the 48 career games he played at Tulane. In 2021, he made 44 tackles, including four for a loss and had 1.5 sacks.
Once he put his name in the transfer portal, Johnson was wooed by several big-name programs, including LSU. He picked an Oklahoma program that will be under the leadership of a defensiveminded first year head coach in Brent Venables.
Venables comes to OU after being the defensive coordinator at Clemson during a period that saw the Tigers rise in national prominence.
It’s expected that Johnson will have a prominent role in the front-end of the defense this season for the Sooners. He’s pursuing a master’s degree in human relations at Oklahoma after graduating from Tulane with a degree in health and wellness.
Johnson was a four-star prospect coming out of Brookhaven High in 2017.
Oklahoma kicks off the 2022 season on Sept. 3 when they’ll host UTEP.
GRANT JACKSON Mississippi State
West Lincoln, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman 6-foot-6, 315-pounds
The first ever Division I football player in West Lincoln history, big Grant Jackson saw action in 12 games last season for Mississippi State.
During preseason camp he’s been battling to be the primary backup to senior right guard Kameron Jones for the upcoming season.
There is a lot left to be decided as MSU must replace some experienced departures along the offensive front and Jackson could be called on at any point this season to give reps along the line.
Athletic offensive lineman that can move are needed when an Air Raid offense like the one Mississippi State uses starts to click.
Jackson fits that profile and he upped his stock and his experience last year after playing in two games as a true freshman in 2020.
MSU begins the season on Sept. 3 by hosting Memphis in Starkville.
COKER WRIGHT
Southern Miss
Perhaps more than anything, Brookhaven High product Coker Wright is hoping to have a healthy season in 2022 for the University of Southern Mississippi.
Wright played in 10 games and drew three starts as a freshman in 2019, but has had the following two seasons cut short by injuries.
In 2020, he started in the first five games for Southern Miss before seeing his season end. Last year, he played in the first eight games before going down for the year.
Southern Miss is coming off a 3-9 campaign in year number one for coach Will Hall and the talk in preseason camp is that the overall talent level is up in Hattiesburg.
Wright is a very versatile piece on the line that can play virtually anywhere up front.
Southern Miss begins the season on Sept. 3 when they’ll host Liberty University.
KADARIUS WELLS Alcorn State
Junior tight end Kadarius “KD” Wells and the Alcorn State Braves want to get back to the top of the SWAC standings.
ASU had some memorable moments in 2021 as they beat Northwestern State in Lorman in week two and then narrowly lost on the road at South Alabama the following week.
The Braves started SWAC play off by winning four straight league games, before losing by three at Southern University and by four at Bethune-Cookman.
The annual matchup against Jackson State was even more highly anticipated in 2021 with JSU now being led by coach Deion Sanders.
Jackson State won that game 24-10 in front of a huge crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Alcorn coach Fred McNair and his Braves want to show the rest of the SWAC that their team is still a team that will always contend for team titles and Wells looks to contribute to that mission in 2022.
ASU kicks of th season by hosting Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 3.
