By Myra Bean

North Panola senior linebacker Aaron Kimmons is one of the team’s permanent captains for this season. Over the past four years, he has worked hard to get there.

He has played on the team since his ninth grade year in various positions.

The 6’0”, 180-pounder currently plays as the middle linebacker, part of the defensive blitz package which has been scrambling offenses all year long.  

“My favorite thing is being out here with the team,” Kimmons said.

Due to that play, the Cougars are enjoying a 4-3 overall, 3-1 district record.

“It feels good,” Kimmons said. “We have been asking for some coaches and we got them. We knew we would have to work hard. So we been working hard so Coach King put me, Ced (Cedric Clay) and Antwun (Armstrong) in the leadership position to be examples for the team. We have that on our shoulders.”

Clay and Armstrong are the other permanent captains.

Though the team has worked hard to get where it is, Kimmons said now is not the time to sit back and relax. The Cougars are in the playoffs for the first time in several years.

“We just can’t get complacent and big-headed. People are out for us. We can’t settle down. We have to keep grinding,” he said.

From a freshman just learning the ropes to a senior who can direct an offense and a defense, Kimmons has come a long way over the years and gotten stronger and making his presence known on the field.

“I came to workouts all summer. I made 40 but we only had to make 20. I went through multiple camps,” Kimmons said.

Camps he participated in include Ole Miss, University of Southern Mississippi, Baton Rouge and the Southeastern Combine.

He met a lot of other players and learned some things.

“It was helpful because you will always meet some one faster than you, stronger than you. It makes you work better so it put me in a position that I need to work better so I am working,” Kimmons said.

Though the team has some long practice hours, Kimmons is still an outstanding representative of his school. He is a member of BETA Club, Interact Club, class president, student council president, takes honor classes and is in dual enrollment with Northwest taking English Comp 101. He made 19 on the ACT and has a 2.9 GPA.

Kimmons has some colleges looking at him to play football for them including Tuskegee, Coahoma and South Carolina State.

“If I don’t get a scholarship from there, I will go to Ole Miss. I am going to do biology/premed.”

He is the son of Michelle and Kevin Kimmons of Sardis.