High-flying Eagles: NMCC primed to soar above competition

NEW MADRID, Mo. — United by a shared mission and field by their past successes, the New Madrid County Central football team enters the upcoming season with an unyielding determination to surpass their previous achievements.

With a tight-knit group of players and a commitment to excellence, the Eagles are ready to take on any challenge that comes their way.

“This is a group that has played together for years,” said NMCC head coach Tyler Fullhart. “A few new faces have joined us in the last couple of years. They have had a lot of success together, which pretty much describes their mindset. They have a mission to accomplish and they're ready. This team is full of high competitors that expect to win. They complement each other very well.

NMCC's Kayden Minner (7) breaks free during a scrimmage at Jackson High School earlier this summer.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

“This year's goals are the same goals we have had in recent years,” he continued. “Be better than yesterday, win Conference, district and state. It is obviously a lot easier said than done.”

The Eagles have soared to new heights each of the past three seasons, steadily increasing their win total, culminating with a 9-2 record and a SEMO-Central Conference Championship this past year.

The team is resolute in maintaining this upward trajectory and leaving an even greater mark on the gridiron.

NMCC's Jadis Jones (10) lines up a wide receiver during a scrimmage at Jackson High School earlier this summer.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

“We work on getting better in every facet of the game and also bettering ourselves as people,” Fullhart said. “We are constantly looking for anything to make us better and implement anything we think our athletes will benefit from.

“There are several guys, too many to name, that had huge jumps in weight lifting numbers,” Fullhart continued. “A lot of the guys that needed to gain some weight did so. It was a productive off-season for us. We will see how it translates.”

As NMCC set its sights on another successful season, its potent offense is poised to lead the charge. Spearheaded by a talented roster of standout players, they possess the firepower to light up the scoreboard and leave opposing defenses in disarray.

NMCC's AJ Ruff (20) tracks down a ball in the air during a scrimmage at Jackson High School earlier this summer.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

The core playmakers are senior running back Kayden Minner, senior wide receiver Jadis Jones and senior BJ Williamson, a versatile and all-purpose weapon.

With his lighting speed, exceptional vision and a natural instinct for finding running lanes, Minner emerged as a formidable force on the field last season.

Carving his way through opposing defenses, he amassed an impressive 1,673 yards and found the endzone 18 times.

“He is easily one of the top backs to play at NMCC which is extremely rich in its tradition of great running backs,” Fullhart said. “[Minner] is also a very respectful young man and excels in the classroom. I look forward to watching him in his senior season.”

Bringing an electrifying presence to the field, the wide receiver tandem of Jadis Jones and Williamson proved to be an unstoppable force last season.

These multi-sport athletes showcased their incredible talent, statistically dominating the area as the top two receivers in southeast Missouri.

Williamson’s reliable hands and explosive playmaking abilities lead to a stat line of 39 receptions, 934 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for 642 yards and 12 touchdowns on 47 attempts.

Meanwhile, Jadis Jones, whose versatility extends to both football and basketball, thrilled spectators with his and speed and agility, recording 38 catches for 889 yards and 18 touchdowns. His remarkable performance has not gone unnoticed, as Jadis Jones has already committed to play football and basketball at Coastal Carolina University.

Together, Jadis Jones and Williamson form a dynamic duo that promises to keep the NMCC offense firing on all cylinders in the upcoming season.

“Williamson has unmatched athleticism, speed and can do it all,” Fullhart said. “Jadis Jones has size, speed, intelligence and consistency. Minner, Jadis Jones and Williamson are the obvious names but again the beauty of football is it is a team game.

“The offensive line returns three starters in senior Tayven Lyles and juniors Zack Gamblin and Marvion Cranford,” he continued. “Seniors AJ Ruff, Ty Williamson, and Julian Courtois will play key roles in the offense, as well as some sophomores that I expect to step up. Each player has put in a lot of work this off-season to get faster and more powerful. This group does an extremely good job of understanding their roles and helping the team succeed and they love to see each other do great.”

Senior linebackers Jason Jones, Samir Smith and Rel Newsom are expected to be the team’s impact players on defense.

Jason Jones led the team with 78 tackles. He also forced three fumbles and registered one interception. Smith made 52 tackles, forced five fumbles and two sacks. Newsom finished the season with eight tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.

“Jason Jones is disciplined, instinctual and a great leader,” Fullhart said. “Smith is long, savvy and a competitor. Newsom is explosive, technical and extremely coachable.”

Juniors Alvion Cooper, Slade Courtois and sophomore JaKwon Jones are also expected to make major contributions on the defensive side of the ball.

“All of these young men have worked hard in getting faster and more explosive, along with learning more about the game,” Fullhart said. “They have enough trust in each other to be successful as a unit.”

Some more emerging players are seniors Ayden McCanless, Xayvion Jackson and sophomore BJ Waters.

“Each of these young men has been extremely coachable,” Fullhart said. “They fit in great and exceeded all expectations up to this point. Several other sophomores have come out and have done well so far.”

Amidst the team’s journey toward greatness, Fullhart’s dedication to his players becomes evident. Recognizing the importance of strong player-coach relationships, he goes beyond the field, fostering an environment where players feel valued and loved.

With a genuine care for their well-being, he consistently motivates and inspires them to strive for gridiron supremacy.

“You can't motivate or inspire anyone that doesn't want to be motivated or inspired,” Fullhart said. “It's inside them, but I say what I mean and mean what I say. I care about them and I think they know it. I don't think any of us want to let the other down at all.

“I hope each of them knows how much I love them,” he concluded. “In loving them I expect them to do things the right way and at a high level. I'm sure there are times they don't understand why something is the way it is. I also don't have a problem explaining it to them at the right time. I absolutely love being around the team and watching them succeed.”

NMCC will face Richmond at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 in its season opener.