Defensive Line Coach

PARRISH HUDDLESTON

Parrish Huddleston, who suited up for the Tigers from 2012-13 before advancing to the NCAA Division I level, made his return to Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2020 as its new defensive line coach.

Huddleston completed his playing career with stints at both the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Tennessee at Martin before entering the coaching ranks in 2016 at the University of Pikeville (Ky.).

He is the first alumnus to rejoin the Northeast football program as an instructor since Travis Macon held various roles such as offensive line coach and defensive coordinator from 2008-13.

Two members of Huddleston’s first group of linemen in Cedric Hillsman and Stephon McGlaun garnered All-Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) recognition.

McGlaun added 18 takedowns, three tackles for loss and a sack. Hillsman finished fourth for the Tigers with 35 total stops to go with four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

Hillsman repeated as an All-MACCC performer during the 2021 season. The Ohio University signee had 35 tackles for the second consecutive year, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Huddleston made a direct impact for the Tigers during both of his campaigns on the team. He accumulated 53 tackles, including 10 of them for loss, and seven sacks while donning a black-and-gold uniform.

He had the second most tackles among linemen during his freshman season behind only Lavon Hooks, who went on to play in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 31.

Huddleston posted a career-high that year with eight tackles against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He recorded six stops plus his first sack at Northeast one week earlier versus Northwest Mississippi Community College.

The Baldwyn High School graduate had a breakout game against rival Itawamba Community College during week eight of the 2012 campaign with five takedowns, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Huddleston’s top performance of his final season with the Tigers came during a road victory over Northwest. He accounted for six stops, two tackles for loss, one sack and a quarterback hurry.

He originally signed with the Blazers out of Northeast and tallied 16 takedowns, three tackles for loss and two sacks as a junior. However, Huddleston transferred to UT Martin for his senior year after the football team at UAB was temporarily disbanded.

Huddleston appeared in 10 contests during his lone campaign as a Skyhawk and registered 16 tackles. He made two stops during his UT Martin debut at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).

The Dorsey native accepted his first job as a graduate assistant with an emphasis on linebackers at Pikeville. He helped the Bears clinch their first-ever Mid-South Conference (MSC) East Division championship.

Huddleston was instrumental in the development of Collie Taylor, who earned first-team All-MSC distinction after racking up 44 stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one interception.

He came back to the Magnolia State in 2017 to assist his prep alma mater of Baldwyn. The Bearcats continued their traditional winning ways with Huddleston’s guidance by capturing back-to-back postseason berths.

Baldwyn won a division title and advanced to the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 2A playoffs during his initial year on its staff.

He most recently served as an assistant at Senatobia High School last fall. The Warriors compiled a 9-3 overall record during the 2019 season and secured the MHSAA Division 2-3A crown.

Huddleston has received a Bachelor’s degree from UT Martin and a Master’s degree from Pikeville. His mom, Ruby, was on the women’s basketball team at Northeast from 1983-84 under current president Dr. Ricky Ford.