It was obvious who the most dangerous player was on the Holmes Community College offense last night during Thursday night’s game with No. 6 NWCC in Senatobia.NWCC defensive coordinator Andy Greening doesn’t like to give up yards rushing, but in the case of Holmes wide receiver Jonathan Rumph, Greening felt like it was better to give up a few extra yards on a zone running play compared to a 75-yard pass to the 6-foot-5 speedster from South Carolina. Greening’s plan of double covering Rumph, a rare talent that has both speed and size, worked well in the sense that he didn’t catch a touchdown pass in the Rangers’ 32-20 win over Holmes. The double team still didn’t completely work as Rumph still lead the Bulldogs with seven receptions for 63 yards.
“With his size and speed … I saw him take a tunnel screen down there at Scooba (East Mississippi) the other day and he looked like a jet going down through there,” Greening said. “We doubled him all night. Everybody has. If you don’t double him, he will beat you by himself. He’s that good.”
Greening said Rumph, who has offers from Ole Miss, Miss. State, Tennessee and Georgia, among others, reminded him of former Pearl River CC standout Larry Brackins, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. Brackins, for those that may not remember, is 6-5, 225, and he finished his two-year career with 101 receptions for 1,843 yards and 19 touchdowns before heading to the Bucs and eventually the Arena Football League.
“Brackins was the first guy that came to my mind. I don’t know if he’s that good, but he’s in that caliber,” Greening said of Rumph. “In this league, he can win a game for you if you don’t take him out of the game. Everywhere he went we had two people on him. We had somebody underneath a slant the whole night. That’s just what we had to do.”
Rumph attended Ole Miss’ game with then No. 14 Texas last month. He is headed to Texas Tech this weekend for an official visit, while a visit to Georgia will come after that. (UGA wide receiver coach Tony Ball watched Rumph live Thursday night). Mississippi State and Tennessee are also schools Rumph is considering. (Tennessee wide receivers coach Darin Hinshaw was also on the sidelines Thursday). So far this year, Rumph has made 34 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns.
For more on Rumph’s recruitment, his thoughts on the Rebels and his comfort level with coach Hugh Freeze, see Monday’s Sports section. (October 12, 2012)
