By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

A trio of former prep football standouts from the “Southern Six” recently signed scholarships with the University of Southern Mississippi after all three enjoyed successful campaigns at Jones Junior College last season.
Former Ocean Springs High standout kicker Bart Edmiston, Jr., used his lone season at Jones Junior College to secure a scholarship at Southern Mississippi. He signed on the dotted line in December during the early signing period.
He pulled double duty as both the Bobcats’ punter and place placekicker last season, and he was named NJCAA Football Second Team All-American for his punting prowess as he the nation in punt average (44.6) with 16 boots of 50-yards plus including three of 60-yards plus and 22 placements inside the opponents own 20-yard line. He was 9 of 13 on field goals, 29 of 30 on PATs and also averaged 53.2 yards on kickoffs with five touchbacks.
Prior to his All-American nod he was chosen to the NJCAA All-Region 23 Team and was a First Team All-MACCC selection as well.

During his prep career with the Greyhounds, OSHS went 12-1 his senior season and lost on the last play of the game in the Class 6 South State championship game. He was considered the best kicker in the state, hence his selection as both the punter and kicker for his home state squad in the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.
He was also named Class 6A First Team All-State. As a senior, Edmiston converted 63-of-70 extra points and was 7-for-10 on field goals. His 84 total points were second only to quarterback Bray Hubbard, who signed with the University of Alabama. He averaged 36 yards per punt as a senior. As a junior, he finished 60-of-65 on extra points, was 7-for-8 on field goals and averaged 37 yards per punt.
Edmiston, Jr., carries on a family tradition of playing college football, as his father Bart Edmiston, Sr., was an All-SEC placekicker at Florida from 1992-96 and was on the 1996 national championship team.
Also heading to Hattiesburg after playing in Ellisville last season is former George County High running back Trent Howell.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Howell rushed for 318 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season and he produced a pair of 100-yard rushing games against Co-Lin (126 yards) and East Central (127 yards) to go along with four touchdowns and he added four receptions for 34 yards.
Howell also returned four kicks for 93 yards and had three tackles. He played in all 10 games for the Bobcats as a freshman in 2022, and returned 13 kicks for 297 yards with a long of 75 vs. East Mississippi.
During his prep career, Howell was a three-year starter and named the Offensive MVP his senior season when he scored 20 touchdowns on 90 carries. He was selected to play for the South squad in the annual Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game.

Also joining the Golden Eagles recently from Jones was tight end Terron Bedford who prepped at Bay High.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Bedford played in all nine games for the Bobcats last season and is regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the conference. As a freshman, he suited up for eight games for Jones as a two-way reserve tight end and defensive lineman.
As a senior in high school, he helped propel the Tigers to an 8-4 overall record and second-round playoff berth in 2021 as he caught 14 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns as a tight end and on the defensive side of the ball he tallied 50 tackles and two sacks. He was named to Region 8-4A All-District Team as a tight end and as a defensive end.