As the fourth-ranked Northwest football team departed for the NJCAA Division I Playoffs on Wednesday, five Rangers made their four-year destinations official on early National Signing Day.
Defensive tackle Tyeland Coleman, offensive lineman Jakheem Shumpert, defensive back Fredd Adams, tailback D'mariun Perteetand offensive lineman Stratton Smith all signed with FBS or FCS programs this week. However, many more signees are expected over the next several weeks and after the Rangers conclude their national playoff run.
Coleman signed with Florida State, picking the Seminoles over other FBS programs such as Illinois and Mississippi State. The Terry native ranked ninth on the team with 30 total tackles, but seventh in TFLs (3.5), sixth in sacks (1.5) and tied for third in quarterback hurries (3). Coleman's season high of six tackles came in ther Rangers' MACCC Semifinal victory against Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Recently, Coleman was also awarded First Team All-MACCC North Division accolades.
A native of Plantersville, Shumpert chose to stay close to home, signing with Mississippi State. Shumpert has been a pivotal piece of the Rangers' offensive line, a unit which has paved the way for 2,000-plus rushing yards and nearly 2,000 receiving yards as well. He was also chosen for First Team All-MACCC North Division honors last month.
Adams and Perteet will continue as teammates at the next level, with both players signing to Coastal Carolina. Adams, a product of Tupelo, recorded seven interceptions, including one apiece in each of the last three games. He had an interception returned 84 yards for a touchdown in the Rangers' MACCC Championship victory at East Central and also nabbed four picks in the Sept. 14 victory against East Mississippi earlier this season.
Adams' four interceptions against EMCC tied a single-game program record, joining Vandell Grigsby and Johnathan Shaw as the only other Northwest players to pick off four passes in the same game. For his efforts in that game, Adams was awarded the MACCC Defensive Player of the Week and he earned First Team All-MACCC North Division recognition.
As for Perteet, the Courtland native has been the driving force behind the Rangers' rushing attack this season. He has had eight games with 100-plus rushing yards and has totaled 1,241 yards and 16 touchdowns on 241 total carries, moving him into the single-season record books for two of those categories. Perteet's 241 rushing attempts rank second-most in a single season, just eight away from setting the record. Meanwhile, his 16 rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth-most in a single season.
Perteet's impact has been felt on the national level as well, as he currently ranks as the NJCAA's second leading rusher in terms of yards per game (112.9) and third in rushing touchdowns.
For his career, Perteet has logged 1,872 yards on 340 rushing attempts. Though he has yet to crack the top five in the career records for both statistics, his 22 career touchdowns are tied for fourth all-time with Ricky Blake (1987), Rontae Bass (1991-92) and Jamarien Bracey (2021-22).
Additionally, Perteet also moved into the record books for most rushing attempts in a game and longest rush. His 33 carries at East Central on September 5 were the fifth-most by any Northwest running back, while his 89-yard rush against Northeast on Sept. 26 was the fourth-longest rush in program history and the longest since October 17, 1996, when Willie Gardner broke free on a 90-yard rush against Southwest Mississippi.
For his efforts, Perteet was voted as the MACCC North Division Offensive Player of the Year, as well as First Team All-MACCC North Division honors.
As the team's primary center over the past two seasons, Smith signed with Austin Peay after playing and starting in every game this season. The Oxford native was named Second Team All-MACCC North Division last month.
Since taking over as the head coach prior to the 2016 season, Parker and his staff have produced nearly 150 FBS or FCS signees.
