In-state Attention

The 6' 0", 175-pound two-way player out of Tunica, Miss., has seen his stock rise within the borders. To learn more, read below.

"Ole Miss has been coming to my games and Mississippi State came last week when we played Lake Cormorant," added James Northern. "Neither one of them have just flat out said I have an offer but both of them told me to let them know when I was ready to come to their school and I had a spot waiting on me. I guess you could say that I have more of a verbal offer than anything from (Mississippi) State and Ole Miss."

Mississippi State is making the biggest push.

"I would say MSU is recruiting me the hardest because they told me to come to all of their camps and home games. I went to like four of their camps this summer. They are sending me a bunch of letters and calling some. Ole Miss is also making a lot of contact but mostly by phone."

One of the games that Ole Miss attended was the North Panola game when Northern caught two touchdowns and brought back a kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown. That's when the interest increased.

"Coach Brewer told me that he really liked my skills at receiver after that game. He told me after their passing camp to keep working hard this season and good things would come my way. Coach (Brewer) said he would come up to see me play and he did. He said he liked the way I play receiver and liked how I react to the ball. He also thinks I am a good blocker."

Northern attended a couple of the Ole Miss camps this summer and took in a couple of their home games and came away impressed.

"I just like their campus and how their staff coaches. I like their staff a lot. I am headed up there this weekend to see them play Georgia. I want to see how they react after that Vandy game."

The Bulldogs have also laid down a foundation within his recruitment.

James Northern
File Photo

"They also have a good staff and they make sure their players get their education first. I went down to see them play LSU Thursday and they played good. I got to go in their locker room after the game and I talked to their coaches for a while."

James is also going to look at the position he is going to play on the next level.

"My education is going to come first, but on the sports side of things, I would like to play defense. I am a defensive player who just happens to be a good receiver but offense is just something I do to help the team out. I feel much more comfortable at defensive back."

The Rebels are recruiting Northern for receiver and the Dogs are recruiting him for safety. Last season he collected 24 tackles and 3 int's (two went for TD's). This season he has caught 20 passes for 208 yards and 6 TD's and has chipped in 20 tackles through five games.

"I am tackling much better this year and catching the ball better. I am playing smarter on the field. I know how to get the needed yardage for a first down and what it takes to get those yards. On defense I am breaking the quarterback down a lot better. I am just playing much faster this year because my knowledge for the game has increased."

Rosa Fort is 3-2 and faces New Albany on Friday.

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Yancy Porter is the Mississippi Scout for Scout.com and he can be reached at [e-mail]