16 Indians earn NJCAA preseason recognition

16 Indians earn NJCAA preseason recognition
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

The NJCAA released its football preview of the MACJC and 16 Indians were named amongst the top returning players for the 2015 season.  

Kwadra Griggs (Greenwood) was selected as one of the league's top returning quarterbacks after passing for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman. Griggs is a verbal commit to the University of Southern Miss.

Grant Kimberlin (Olive Branch) and D'Andre Belton (Ridgeway, SC) were named in the list of Top Returning Wide Receivers. Kimberlin made 27 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns while Belton, who converted from QB to receiver during the season, had 15 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown.

Stanley Higgins (Starkville) made one catch for 51 yards, but is still considered one of the most sought after tight ends in the country.

Tyler Floyd (Booneville), Clifton Smith (Oxford) and Allen Byrd (Meridian) made the NJCAA's list of Top Returning Offensive Linemen while Quindarius Thagard (Luverne, AL), Trev Miller (Noxapater), Ladarius Gallion (West Point) and Naquez Pringle (Georgetown, SC) all earned nods as Top Returning Defensive Linemen.

Thagard finished his freshman season with 31 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. Miller totaled 27 tackles with 6.5 going for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Gallion had 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Pringle had 19 total tackles with one tackle for loss.

Calwaun Street (Charleston) was the lone Indian named to the Top Returning Linebackers list. He finished last season with 47 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble and one interception.

ICC was well-represented in the list of Top Returning Defensive Backs with four players earning a spot amongst the league's top guys.

Quinn Tiggs (Tupelo) finished last season with 35 tackles to go along with six pass break-ups and two interceptions. Antonio Clifton (Tupelo) had 47 tackles with two fumble recoveries, three pass break-ups and one interception. Levarious Varnado (Calhoun City) totaled 25 tackles with two forced fumbles, five pass break-ups and one interception. Kendarius Hibbler (Tunica) made eight tackles in a back-up roll last season, but is expected to have a breakout season in 2015.

Varnado and Tiggs also earned spots amongst the MACJC's Top Kick and Punt Returners. Varnado returned 14 kickoffs for 290 yards last season while Tiggs had five punt returns for 23 yards.

The Indians will open the season on Thursday, August 27 against No. 7 ranked Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.

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