Two more of Lake’s football players are moving on to play at the next level.
On Wednesday’s National Signing Day, Lake’s Danarrious Hughes and Zywon Ledbetter both signed with Holmes Community College.
Lake coach Tate Hanna said he thought both players made wise choices.
“Both of those guys had several offers,” Hanna said. “I thought they did a good job of seeing where they had a chance to play. After they visited Gulf Coast, they were really considering going there. Gulf coast is probably the nicest campus in the state but they didn’t know if they would play right away. If you don’t play as a freshman, you are defeating the purpose of going the junior college route. I thought they found their best opportunity to play. Holmes had a good year and I think both of them will fit in well with what they are doing.”
Hughes, 6-foot-1, 198 pounds, signed with Holmes as a cornerback. He was an all-state player as a junior and led Class 2A with nine interceptions, forcing teams to throw away from him this season. Hanna said Hughes was generally locked on the opposing team’s best receiver.
“They project him to be a cornerback,” Hanna said. “The defensive coordinator said Danarrious was the No. 1 kid they were targeting at cornerback. They were looking for a big physical corner and that’s what they get with Danarrious. They expect him to be their lockdown corner and I think when he can concentrate on football, he will really blossom.”
Ledbetter was one of the top playmakers in the area last year, finishing the season with 739 yards on 46 catches. He was a first team Division 6-2A selection and a second-team pick. He chose Holmes after getting offers from Alcorn and Jackson State.
“I think in my 19 years, Zywon has the best hands of any kid I have ever coached,” Hanna said. “He’s a smart kid and runs good routes. But with their offense, they are looking for big guys who can block, I think that’s the main thing. If you don’t block, you aren’t going to get on the field. Both of the guys they had on the field last year signed Division I so if he goes up there and does what he’s supposed to do, there should be opportunities for him to move on.”
