Wildcats sign to move on

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Feb. 5, 2004
A quartet of Meridian High School football players put pen to paper Wednesday morning, as they signed letters of intent to continue their playing careers at the college levels.
Running back Cordae Campbell, defensive lineman Marcus Boyd, defensive lineman Jeremy Campbell and defensive end E.J. Hampton all signed their letters in a meeting room inside the high school.
Cordae Campbell and Boyd inked with East Mississippi Community College; Jeremy Campbell signed to play for Division II University of West Alabama; and E.J. Hampton penned his name to join Division I-AA Jackson State University.
Cordae Campbell was the elder part of a powerful two-headed running attack for the Wildcats, with junior running Cordera Eason.
The two backs rushed for a combined 2,184 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2003. Cordae Campbell accounted for 1,362 of the yards and 13 of the touchdowns.
Boyd will also stay in the area to continue his playing days with EMCC.
The Lions finished the 2003 season with a 3-6 mark, and the team is currently in the process of hiring a new coach. Tom Goode, who guided the EMCC program for the last 12 years, announced his retirement last November.
Boyd said he is not concerned about the coaching situation at EMCC.
Jeremy Campbell will be playing for a former Meridian High Wildcat when he joins the UWA Tigers.
UWA head coach Sam McCorkle took over the program last November, and Jeremy Campbell said he is excited about playing for a former Meridian High player.
Hampton opted to sign with JSU over EMCC. The 205-pound defensive end was offered scholarships from both schools coming into national signing day.
The Meridian High senior said he liked the idea of being able to play at EMCC for two years and possibly moving on to another college, but he decided JSU was the best place to go for the major that interests him business management.
Wildcats kicker/punter Andrew Gambrell is an invited walk-on at MSU.