Tigers add JUCO OL

A long journey down a winding road has come to an end. Hinds (Miss.) Junior College offensive guard Brent Todd has decided which Division I-A program he will continue his college football career at next season.

The 6-foot-4, 296-pounder committed to the University of Memphis last week.

"Yep, I committed to Memphis," Todd said. "I guess it was last Tuesday or Wednesday."

Todd had a tough go of it during his senior year at Pelham (Ala.) High School. He suffered a severe dislocated shoulder and his grandmother, who he lived with, passed away. Todd signed a letter-of-intent to play football at Delta State, but elected not to head off to school.

"I figured he'd stay at house and hang out and help out there after my grandmother passed away," he said. "I stayed out for two years and got everything situated, talked to my family and decided to continue."

At Hinds, Todd played defensive line freshman year, but switched to offensive line in the spring. That move proved beneficial as Todd earned all-region and all-state honors, in addition to being named the offensive line MVP for the state of Mississippi junior college system.

"It's been a roller coaster ride going through this," he said.

Todd picked the Tigers over Southern Mississippi. He also held an offer from UAB.

"I felt Memphis was a better fit for me as far as early playing time that I need," he said. "I feel that I am going to be able to step in and make an impact playing left tackle for them and coach Rick Mallory feels the same way. He feels I can step in and play right away this upcoming fall. I am going to take an official visit on Dec. 9. I've followed coach Tommy West for a pretty good bit, so I feel comfortable playing for him, too."

Todd, a two-star rated prospect, will graduate in May and enroll at Memphis in August. He is the third known verbal commitment for the Tigers in this year's class, joining Oliver Branch (Miss.) quarterback Cannon Smith and Eufaula (Ala.) defensive lineman Terrence Thomas.