Former City lineman picks SEC school
James Carmon wasn't quite sure what to make of the coach with the Southern accent on the other end of the line.
Carmon's SAT score prevented him from playing Division I football as a freshman, so the City standout was looking for other opportunities. Steve Campbell, the head football coach at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, called Carmon two years ago to present one such option.
“I thought, ‘What is he talking about? I’m not going to no Mississippi,’” Carmon recalled. “But my mother made me go. I wasn’t going to show up. But she told me to go there and it would be better to get out of the state.”
Carmon followed his mother’s advice and enrolled at MGCCC. Earlier this week, Carmon -- the No. 7 junior college player in the country -- decided to stay a couple more years in the Magnolia State. The 6-foot-7, 365-pound defensive tackle committed to Mississippi State, picking the Bulldogs over Alabama, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Penn State, South Florida, Tennessee, Memphis, and Coastal Carolina.
“It feels good because I never thought it would be like this,” Carmon said. “Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, a lot of kids don’t get the chance to play in the SEC, the best conference in the country, for the next two years. But it really shocked me. It worked out well going to junior college and playing for my coach, Steve Campbell. It all worked out on the field.”
According to Carmon, Campbell contacted Edmondson coach Dante Jones two years ago to see if he knew of any unsigned linemen in the area. Jones recommended Carmon to Campbell, and after digging up some senior film, the MGCCC coach was sold. It took some convincing, but Carmon made the journey down south and began his adjustment period.
“Oh yeah, it was real tough,” Carmon said. “I wasn’t used to it. It’s a slow pace in Mississippi. I didn’t have a car, and I really wasn’t used to that. It was real hot, and I wasn’t used to the heat. But I got used to [everything] after that first summer and I just rolled with it. I wasn’t going to give up.”
Carmon, one of just a few MGCCC players that wasn’t from the south, made a big impact right away. He helped Gulf Coast to a 10-2 record and a No. 4 ranking as a freshman, garnering scholarship offers from almost “every SEC school but Vanderbilt and Kentucky.”
The former City star followed that up with a strong sophomore season, recording 42 tackles, five sacks and two fumble recoveries while facing constant double-teams. He eventually pared his list of schools to the two in-state rivals, making an official visit to Ole Miss earlier this fall and then visiting Mississippi State last weekend for the Egg Bowl.
“Ole Miss didn’t compare with Mississippi State,” Carmon said. “Mississippi State is just a better place for me. They treat their players straight. They let you know what’s going on. They’re not going to beat around the bush. ... So they expect me to be an impact player as soon as I get there.”
Carmon will join a program that finished 5-7 this season, its first with Dan Mullen as coach. Two of Carmon’s MGCCC teammates have also committed to MSU. Coming off the Bulldogs’ upset win over the Rebels last week, there’s a lot of excitement for Carmon about his future in Mississippi.
“I never pictured that [I’d go to college in the South],” Carmon said. “I figured I’d be up north. I never thought I’d be down south in the SEC ... but it feels good.”
Baltimore Sun photos of James Carmon by Gene Sweeney Jr. (2006) and Jed Kirschbaum (2007).
Comments
Welcome to Miss. State Carmon. Can't wait to see you suit up for the Bulldogs. I'm glad you came to Mississippi and decided to stay a while. Coach Mullen has the Dogs moving in the right direction. We are all glad your gonna be a part of it. Go Dogs!
Posted by: Fatboy | December 2, 2009 4:55 PM
Kid is right. MSU is not TSUN (Ole Miss) in any way. He will get a good education (don't think talk slow equates to think slow) and be on a football team finally moving in the right direction. Plus he gets a cowbell. What else could anyone want?
Posted by: Tom Walker | December 2, 2009 5:45 PM
We are so proud you chose Mississippi State! It looked like you enjoyed the Dawg walk Saturday! We sure enjoyed seeing you come through and can't wait to see you come through next year with the team.You'll be proud to be a DAWG! See you on Saturday's, I'll be ringing my cowbell for you!!
Posted by: April Shea | December 2, 2009 10:00 PM
Way to go big fella. I knew good things would come for you if you just continued to work hard and now you're on your way. Can't wait to see you on TV.
Posted by: Michael Fuller | December 3, 2009 9:38 AM
What is his major? That fact was not included in the story. I hope he is not just a Football Major who attends until his eligibility to play is exhausted.
Posted by: Gus Smegma | December 3, 2009 12:33 PM
Gus Smega -- is your comment code for racism or do you really care about the kid? If that was a 6'0" possession receiver that was white would you ask about his major? Come on man -- kids are smarter today than Boobie Miles was in Friday Night Lights (the book). If the kid wants an education and a degree he'll get it. If he doesn't want an education he won't. It's his choice not MSU's.
Posted by: FrederickTerp | December 3, 2009 4:16 PM
Gus -- James said he's leaning towards majoring in communications.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | December 3, 2009 4:29 PM
Thank you for filling that hole in the story, Matt.
Try to join the evolution of mankind, Frederick.
Colleges exist to educate, although that is hard to fathom given the way a lot of today's "student-athletes" struggle to speak in complete sentences.
Otherwise, they should all confer degrees in FOOTBALL to allow recipients to add that to resumes when they apply for security guard jobs once they leae school.
Posted by: Gus Smegma | December 3, 2009 5:46 PM