Every year, numerous athletes from the coast embark on a journey to pursue their football careers at higher levels. Lucedale, Miss. (WLOX) is witness to many such athletes who aspire to make it big in the sport.
All eyes will be on a certain Coast player this season. Deuce Knight, a quarterback from George County and a commit to Notre Dame, is highly regarded as one of the top five quarterbacks in the class of 2025. He has the potential to become the highest-rated quarterback recruit in Mississippi’s illustrious football history by the end of the recruitment cycle.
Knight made headlines on Monday when he became one of the initial high schoolers in the state to sign an NIL endorsement deal. This comes after state legislatures recently overturned the law that prohibited high school players from profiting off their name, image, and likeness. ON3 reports that Knight’s NIL valuation places him at 88th among all high school and college athletes in the country. As the landscape of athlete monetization continues to change, joining a program like George County could provide Knight with an unparalleled opportunity to develop as a student, young man, and athlete.
Knight couldn’t believe it when he heard the news. “It’s crazy,” he exclaimed. As a teenager, he had never thought that people would be paid to play football. He simply loved the game and wanted to play it. But now, he was one of those lucky people who were getting paid to do what they loved. Knight felt blessed to be able to play football with his teammates and receive payment for it. “It’s cool,” he said with a smile.
James Ray, the head coach of George County, praised the character of a certain individual, stating that he is a remarkable person who has dealt with everything commendably. He added that the said individual has been honest with his teammates, who have great respect for him. Despite his absence, the individual made sure that everyone knew where he was and what he was doing. Upon his return, he seamlessly integrated himself back into the team and had an excellent July performance.
According to reports, Knight has just signed his first NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal with Leaf Trading Cards, and it’s a game-changer. The deal is said to be worth a life-changing amount of money for the young athlete.
