No. 10 Gulf Coast gearing up for 2025

PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast will start the 2025 football season after having put together countless reps in spring, summer and fall camps, trying to assemble its 65-man roster.

The No. 10 Bulldogs are hoping to extend their school record of having won or shared the last six MACCC South championships, and their season starts Thursday when North power East Mississippi visits. Kickoff at historic A.L. May Memorial Stadium is set for 7 p.m. 

General admission season passes are on sale at http://mgcccbulldogs.com/tickets, as are single-game chairback and general admission tickets. Games will be streamed at https://mgcccbulldogs.com/watch and can be heard on SuperTalk 103.1 FM.

"I think it's a good mix of veterans and unproven players," Gulf Coast coach Jack Wright said. "You're always going to have some of both. I think the mix is about right. We've got some returners in key positions, but there's some other key positions where we're going to be counting on some young guys who are talented but unproven."

OFFENSE

The Gulf Coast record book is already littered with the name of quarterback Landon Varnes (So., Brandon/Brandon) after his first season at Perk. The All-MACCC South performer led the conference in completion percentage (62.9, 3rd in NJCAA), passing yards (2,242, 5th in NJCAA), touchdowns (27, 3rd in NJCAA), yards per attempt (8.5, 3rd in NJCAA) and QB efficiency (160.4, 3rd in NJCAA). He's second on the Bulldogs' single-season touchdown passing list (27), third in completions (166), fourth in average passing yards (224.2) and fifth in passing yards (2,242).

"His arm strength is unquestioned," Wright said. "He's probably played in more games, total, than anybody else on our team. He was a three-year starter in high school and then started 10 games as a true freshman in college. That's a pretty special feat to be able to claim."

He'll have two 400-yard receivers returning, including Mason Beverly (Fr., Hattiesburg/Purvis), who finished tied for sixth in the NJCAA with eight touchdowns. Tyler Henderson (So., Vicksburg/Vicksburg) added six scores.

Newcomers Royale Shelvy (Fr., Fayette/Jefferson County) and Antwaan Mays (So., Miami Fla./Gulliver Prep), a transfer from Marshall, have flashed in camp, along with Kainen Rush (Fr., Gautier/Gautier).

Joining Varnes in the backfield are Elijah Jones-Crosby (Fr., Laurel/West Jones), who ran for 1,677 yards and 25 touchdowns last year, earning a spot in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game, and Glen Singleton (Fr., Flora/Madison Central), who ran for 1,449 yards and 21 scores in just eight games.

Alan Woods (Fr., Jacksonville Fla./University Christian) is a great addition after transferring from Georgia Southern, joining returners Connor Brown (Fr., Jackson/Madison Central) and Kevin Rogers (Fr., D'Iberville/D'Iberville).

"All five of those guys are capable of making plays when they're in," Wright said. "And they will have to do it. All five of those guys will need to contribute at some point over a long season."

Omarion Bender (So., Soso/West Jones), Jeremiah Keyhea (So., Laurel/Laurel) and Demorrsion Brown (So., Canton/Canton) return on the offensive line, as does Devonie Bailey (Fr., Gulfport/Harrison Central). Lane Hewett (So., Ocean Springs/St. Martin) is an Ole Miss transfer, who will start at center, with Russell Brooks (Fr., Meridian/Meridian) figuring to start at guard. Michael Smith (So., Picayune/Picayune) has moved over from defensive line, with Darrion Gray (Fr., Purvis/Purvis) and Damarion Glenn (Fr., Macon/Noxubee County) counting as promising newcomers.

Four tight ends will contribute, including Owen Colpaert (So., Detroit, Mich./Dakota), an athlete who can get into the passing game. Jayden Acker (Fr., Pass Christian/Pass Christian) moved over from the defensive line, joining Cruz Johnson (Fr., Canton/Canton Academy) and Tony McLeod (Fr., Leakesville/Greene County) as big blockers.

DEFENSE

Defensive coordinator Brett Shufelt's Regulators start with a lot of potential on the line. Jabari McWilliams (So., Picayune/Picayune), Jonathan Keys (So., Laurel/West Jones) and Jonathan Davis (So., Oma/Lawrence County) are back, as is third-year Bulldog Keiyhaun Wilks (So., Carrolton/J.Z. George), who has loaded on the pounds to his length as an edge disruptor. Tyler Bailey (So., Hammond, La./Ponchatoula) is an MACCC transfer to the team.

Bryant Ausmer (Fr., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) has impressed coming out of high school, and Demarcus Johnson (Fr., Vicksburg/Vicksburg) is a converted linebacker.

Linebacker Taurean Davis (So., Quitman County/DeSoto Central) had 45 tackles last year. He's joined by newcomers Jordan Shuler (So., Herndon, Va./Gonzaga), a transfer from Air Force, and Kaleb Arterberry (Fr., Pearl/Pearl), Sha'Mar Sawyer (Fr., McComb/McComb) and Khalil Norwood (Fr., Brandon/Brandon).

"Coach Shufelt is always going to have a solid deep group there," Wright said. "We've got Taurean, who is the unquestioned leader of our defense. is a big, strong, physical linebacker. Sha'Mar has shown really good instinct for the ball and a really good football IQ, picking things up quickly. Jordan is picking things up quickly, and Kahlil is a faster linebacker."

The back end is manned by a bunch of players who can play multiple positions, including returners Damon Felder (Fr., Gulfport/Gulfport) and Shadrick Toodle (So., Mobile, Ala./Cottage Hill). They can play corner or safety, as does Aquarius Winston (So., Southaven/Southaven), a Southeastern Missouri transfer.

Elijah Owens (Fr., Mobile, Ala./Citronelle), Tristan Anderson (Fr., Rockmart Ga./Rockmart) and La'Zeric Johnson (Fr., Eight Mile, Ala./Blount) have shown promise in camp. Connor White (Fr., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs), a converted quarterback, has adapted quickly to defense. Brandon Brooks (Fr., Horn Lake/Horn Lake) is back from injury.

SPECIALISTS

Gulf Coast's two specialists with their feet are from as near and far as you can get. Once again, the Bulldogs' placekicker will be a Stone High product. Aiden Guinn (Fr., Wiggins/Stone) has transitioned from kicking off the ground well. 

Wright has brought in a Prokick Australia product at punter. Joshua Selmes (Fr., Central Coast, Australia/Entrance Campus) can boom the ball, with multiple punt types and mind-boggling hangtime.

"They do a very impressive job with handling all the professional details of punting, but also, helping them transition to America and getting into a United States college," Wright said. "I'm very impressed with him. He's steadily gotten more comfortable here in America and kicking. We expect big things out of him." 

Jacob Jones (Fr., Puckett/Puckett) will be the long snapper.

"Every game is important in the South Division," Wright said. "Every team is capable of beating you. It makes you better as a coach; it makes you better as a player. Our goal is to compete every week at the highest level that we can compete at. We look for ways to make ourselves better as individuals and as a team. I just want to make sure we're getting better in every conceivable way."

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