By Robert Wilson
MSU’S FORBES SETS INTERCEPTION TOUCHDOWN RECORD
Grenada High alumnus and Mississippi State defensive back Emmanuel Forbes was named to the 247 Sports Freshman All-American Team and the SEC Coaches’ All Freshman Team this season.
Tulsa found out why in Thursday’s Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas.
Forbes intercepted his SEC leading fifth interception this season and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown to help the Bulldogs to a 28-26 victory over Tulsa.
It was the third interception return for a touchdown for Forbes this season, setting the school record for most in a season and tying the school record for most in a career. He was one short of the school record for most interceptions in a single season. Forbes is currently tied for third in the country with five interceptions.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Forbes is now only two interceptions for touchdowns short of one of the oldest records in SEC history, most interceptions for TDs in a career, five by Jackie Walker of Tennessee from 1969-71. Forbes averaged 36.6 return yards per interception, putting him fourth in SEC history for best return yards per interception for a season with a minimum of five interceptions. The record is 48.8 by Joe Brodsky of Florida in 1956.
Forbes, who played for Ashley Kuhn at Grenada, was rated the No. 13 top cornerback in the country by 247 Sports as a senior. He intercepted eight passes, two for TDs, as a senior. He also caught 31 passes for 499 yards and seven TDs.
OLE MISS’ MOORE EARNS FIRST TEAM ALL AMERICAN
Ole Miss junior wide receiver Elijah Moore has been named a first team All-American by the Associated Press and the Sporting News this week.
Moore opted out for the LSU game and the Outback Bowl Saturday vs. Indiana to begin getting ready for the NFL Draft. He ranks No. 1 in the country with 149.1 receiving yards per game and 10.9 receptions per game. Moore is No. 12 with 158.3 all-purpose yards per game and No. 16 with eight receiving touchdowns. He ranks No. 3 with 1,193 receiving yards for a single season in school history, 127 yards behind A.J. Brown’s record of 1,320 yards in 2018. He is tied for third with 189 career receptions, 13 catches short of Laquon Treadwell’s school record 202 career receptions. Moore is fourth with 2,441 career receiving yards and sixth with 16 TD receptions. He is the only player in school history with three 200-yard receiving games in a career.
Moore is the 59th first team All-American in Ole Miss history, the first one since tight end Evan Ingram in 2016. Moore is the first wide receiver to be named first-team All-American in school history.
TEXAS A&M’S JACKSON MAKES SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
George County High alumnus and Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson was named to the SEC Coaches’ All-Freshman Team.
The 6-2, 335-pound Jackson, an Army All-American who was rated as the No. 1 recruit in Mississippi and the No. 8 defensive tackle in the country last season, has 11 tackles, one for loss, two pass breakups and three hurries in nine games this season for the Aggies.
Jackson (No. 35) and No. 5 Texas A&M, 8-1, meet No. 13 North Carolina, 8-3, in the Capital One Orange Bowl Saturday at 7 p.m. in Miami. He is the only Mississippian on the Aggies roster.
Jackson had 80 tackles, 34 for loss, and 10 sacks for coach Matt Caldwell as a senior at George County.
