(Editor’s note: Deshea Townsend has since been hired by Mississippi State as defensive coordinator since this story published Friday, January 11. See updated story under “Freebie News.”

By Angie Ledbetter

Former South Panola standout Deshea Townsend made headlines on Wednesday as news leaked out about him interviewing with Mississippi State University.

Townsend spent 12 years as cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers where he earned two Super Bowl rings. He spent his last season  with the Indianapolis Colts and the last two years as assistant defensive back coach with the Arizona Cardinals. He made a quick trip to Starkville on Wednesday to interview for an assistant coaching job at the cornerback position and flew back to Arizona Thursday.

Townsend’s is no longer under contract with the Cardinals as was reported earlier and the interview at Mississippi State went great, he said in a Thursday afternoon telephone interview.

“It’s been a great experience. It’s different than the pros because it’s more hands on with the players. I can mentor in a lot of ways plus it’ll be a good to be back in Mississippi.”

 Townsend was offered the job and has to make a decision by Saturday.

When asked about his wife, Carla’s possible response, he said, “She doesn’t care. It’s whatever I want to do and she’ll support me.”

As far as the three children, he said, “They’ll be close to home again.”

Townsend still has his home in Oxford but did not say where he will live if he takes the job.

He is a 1994 South Panola graduate who has been a mentor to youth in his hometown for several years. He was also a four year starter with the University of Alabama from 1994-1997.

Social media was all abuzz about Towsend and South Panola’s Tony Conner talking to each other.

Conner confirmed he did speak with Townsend after the interview but it was not about him playing at Miss. State.

“He told me that it he had gone through the same thing and that it would be my decision based on where I will he happy, content and where I wanted to play football. It is not based on where everybody else wanted me to play. It is all about me and I have to be happy where I wanted to play,” Conner said.

Townsend repeated what Conner said and added it is about him getting an education, first of all.