HATTIESBURG – The Hattiesburg Tigers program continues to send athletes to play Division I football. On Wednesday during the early signing period, the Tigers sent four more.
Jarod “Snoop” Conner signed with Ole Miss, Hakeem Vance inked with Baylor, Jaren “Stone” Handy made his commitment with Auburn final and Demetris Allen announced UTSA as his college of choice.
“It’s a special day for Hattiesburg High and a special day for the Hattiesburg Tigers football program,” Hattiesburg coach Tony Vance said. “I think it speaks volumes for how this program has grown over the last few years, and it’s because of guys like this who are signing today.”
Conner, Hattiesburg’s quarterback who was recruited as a running back, has had quite the month. Since early November, he’s been honored with the 5A Mr. Football award, won Most Valuable Player honors at the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game and signed with Ole Miss.
The 5-foot-11 back was a long-time Memphis commit until he took his final visit to Ole Miss in November. Conner made two trips to Oxford prior to his final one, but it wasn’t until last month when the opportunity to join the Rebels football program presented itself, and he took it.
“I took my official visit and I knew that was the place I wanted to be,” Conner said. “I just knew it was the right fit for me for the next three or four years, so I knew that’s where I wanted to go. They told me if I put in the work, I can come in and play in my first year.”
As the team’s quarterback, he had 2,324 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing the ball for 1,622 yards and 27 scores.
Conner will most likely encounter his former high school teammate Jaren Handy when Ole Miss and Auburn match up. Handy signed with the Tigers Wednesday, and he’s ready for the potential meeting with Conner on the gridiron.
“It’s going to be fun. I’m not going to take it easy on him,” Handy said.
The 6-foot-5 defensive end committed to Auburn in June and he stuck by his choice.
“I felt comfortable, I felt at home and I just knew it was somewhere I wanted to go,” he said.
Hakeem Vance was another longtime commit, and he pledged to the Baylor Bears last February. Like Handy, Vance transferred into Hattiesburg for his senior season, but an injury prevented Vance from seeing the field for most of it.
He was recruited to Baylor as a safety, but he played mostly receiver when he was healthy in 2018. He kept reinjuring a nagging groin injury, but he’s healthy now and ready to get to work with Baylor. Playing in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game last week gave him the reassurance that his injury was healing.
“I feel like it’s home down there,” Vance said of Baylor. “If I come in and work hard, I’ll have a chance to come in and play early.”
Allen’s play in a crucial regular season game caught the eye of the UTSA coaches. The Roadrunners were in town to play Southern Miss when they popped in on the Hattiesburg-Picayune game at D.I. Patrick Stadium in Hattiesburg. The 6-foot-3 offensive lineman picked a good moment to have one of his better games, too, as he helped the Hattiesburg offense gain 439 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
“I had to put everything I had on the line in that game,” Allen said.
The next day, Allen received an offer from UTSA. The recruitment process started to pick up as the early signing period approached, and offensive linemen spots at other programs started to fill up. Allen zoned in on the Roadrunners’ program and made his decision soon after.
“It feels great,” he said. “I like the opportunity, I like the coaching staff and I just want to thank God for everything he’s done for me, and giving me this opportunity to play at the next level.”
UTSA made the trip to Hattiesburg to play Southern Miss in 2018, so the Roadrunners will return in the Hub City in 2020 after the two play in San Antonio next season. Allen is excited to play in front of his hometown, too.
