Jared Clinton and Jack Runnels joined PCS’ football team as juniors in 2016. In the last two years since, they experienced an undefeated regular season, a victory over rival Jackson Prep and 17 total wins.
With that experience under their belt, the two are headed to play at the next level together. Both made it official Wednesday morning, signing with Southwest Mississippi Community College.
“They go over there, and they’ve got a teammate. That’s exciting,” PCS head coach Joey Hawkins said. “Southwest is a great school. Coach [Tucker] Peavey does a great job. They’ve got great assistant coaches.
“I’m hoping they can turn that program around and get on the winning side of the scoreboard. I know these two guys are going to help them do that.”
Clinton moved to PCS from FCAHS and helped anchor the Bobcats’ offensive line the last two years. He helped Isaiah Woullard rush for 2781 yards in 2016 and Sheldon James go for 1393 this past season.
“Jared blocked for us for two years and was one of the best blockers on our team,” Hawkins said. “He came in and gave us just a solid offensive line where we could move the ball and produce a lot of yards.”
Clinton says Southwest was an easy choice for him.
“Their coaches were very straight forward with what they wanted,” Clinton said. “They were very nice and polite. They showed me around, and they were just good people. Good people to trust.
“To be put in this spot to work harder is what I’ve dreamed for and what I’m going to do.”
After some convincing, Runnels joined the Bobcats as a kicker heading into his junior year. Hawkins was at the center of that pitch and knew Runnels could contribute greatly right away.
“We kept begging Jack to come out and kick,” Hawkins said. “He came out, and we used him and O’Neill [Walters] to swap back and forth. He [Runnels] was 32 for 32 his first year to kick for us.
“Just a great leader and a great guy with a great attitude. His best days are ahead. He’s 6-foot-4 and going to camps all the time getting better. I really believe after two years at Southwest that he’ll get another offer somewhere. He’s an athletic kicker with a big, tall leg that can do great things.”
Now both head to Summit where they will room together and remain teammates.
“I haven’t known him [Clinton] that long. For about three years,” Runnels said. “But we’ve become basically best friends. Now we room together, and hopefully we’ll be best friends forever.”
“We’ll be together for a while,” Clinton added. “We’ll get to know each other ever better than we do, and that’s good.”
