SCOOBA, MISS-It’s a long way from Scooba, Mississippi to Lake City, Florida; about 462 miles to be exact.No one knows that more than Michael Jackson-Williams, as life has taken him on an unbelievable twist and turn journey since leaving Lake City two years ago.
When Williams left the field Dec 4, 2015 after a stunning 42-23 loss to Viera in the state semifinals, he didn’t know where life would take him or which direction he was headed.
Despite finishing third on the team with 902 yards and 7 touchdowns on 56 catches his senior year, Williams surprisingly didn’t have many big offers.
“Yeah we used to sling that thing around man haha, but I had like 1300 all purpose yards and still didn’t have a Power 5 offer,” Williams said.
According to a previous story in the Lake City Reporter, as national signing day approached, Williams, who originally committed and then decommited from Tennessee Martin, appeared likely headed to either Southeastern Louisiana or Rhode Island; but he really wanted to go to Georgia Southern.
Ten hours before signing Williams got a last minute phone call from Georgia Southern offering him a scholarship saying he would play a big part in the Eagles 4 wide receiver offense as well as return kicks.
However that didn’t happen at all as Williams finished his freshman season last year with just three catches for 27 yards and he decided to leave.
“The offense in Statesboro wasn’t the offense for me,” “I like to be in a spread system like high school and that wasn’t the fit.” Williams added. “So the o-line coach here in Scooba hit me up on twitter and said they needed a receiver and they wanted me to come in and be the guy and now I’m leading the team in yards and yards per catch.”
East Mississippi Community College, better known as the school on the Netflix show ‘Last Chance U’ and former First Coast and Florida State quarterback De’Andre Johnson, offered Williams an opportunity to play right away and its been a great decision ever since.
The change of scenery and different path proved to be the right decision after all as Williams fit in with the Lions offense right away.
In the season opening 47-34 win against Jones County, Williams hauled in four catches for 70 yards including a 46 yard touchdown in his debut.
However despite a highly successful debut, the Lions offense began spreading the ball around a lot more in the ensuing games.
He didn’t get targeted hardly at all in Game 2 against Mississippi Gulf Coast but made the most of it hauling in a 84 yard touchdown catch in his only reception in a 49-10 win.
Williams had 2 catches for 43 yards in the 59-0 win over Northeast Mississippi, 2 catches for 10 yards in the 48-24 win over Itawamba and 2 catches for 85 yards including a 71 yard touchdown in the 45-7 win over Mississippi Delta as the Lions closed out the month of September 5-0 on the season.
As October began, Williams was on the receiving end of three catches for 59 yards including a 30 yard touchdown catch in 49-3 win over Holmes as the Lions improved to 6-0 so far.
Top ranked EMCC was stunned on the road at No. 10 Northwest Mississippi 61-38 ending the Lions 17 game winning streak and also their 28 game regular season winning streak. Despite the stunning loss, Williams had a career high four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, including a 55 yard score.
The Lions (7-1) regrouped and thumped Coahoma 72-7 to improve to 7-1 overall as Williams hauled in three catches for 55 yards and one touchdown.
EMCC (8-1) closed out the regular season with a 51-41 win over No. 7 Hinds as Williams finished the regular season with 3 catches for 40 yards.
As the state playoffs began, EMCC earned a rematch with Jones and won a 24-20 thriller to advance to the state finals despite Williams only catching one ball for 12 yards.
In the Mississippi state championship, No. 1 EMCC (10-1) held off nemesis No. 4 Northwest Mississippi getting pay back for the only regular season loss in 69-66 double overtime win to win its sixth state title in nine years. Williams had a coming out party to say the least catching four receptions for 107 yards, including a 68 yard reception as well as a two point conversion pass.
As the final rankings came out, No. 1 East Mississippi earned a spot in the Mississippi Bowl to play No. 2 Arizona Western with the 2017 NJCAA title on the line.
The Lions (11-1) playing in their home state won their fourth national title (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017) in seven years holding off Arizona Western 31-28 this past Sunday at Misssissippi Gulf Coast Stadium despite Williams only hauling in one catch for 24 yards.
Sundays game was a rematch of the 2011 championship game played in Yuma, Arizona won by the Lions 55-47 to win their first national title.
As his sophomore season ended with a state and national championship after finishing with 30 catches for a team high 669 yards and 7 touchdowns, he now has to make another important decision of where to play next.
I asked him to compare Scooba to Lake City and he replied back “Scooba is nothing like Lake City haha it’s has 2 gas stations and that’s literally it.”
So what’s next for Williams, graduation and who knows what else.
“I graduate in December and I sign on December 20,” Williams stated.
Wherever he ends up, the road won’t be easy the next two years but Williams is definitely looking forward to the challenge and what lies ahead.
While Scooba, Mississippi wasn’t the dream place to be it allowed him to continue his career, get a lot more recognition and also win a state and national title.
And now hopefully places like Ole Miss, Miss State, Southern Miss, UAB, Jacksonville State, South Alabama, Troy all noticed him and offer him.
