Out of jail, former prep star looking for a team
Jeremy Bibbs – or inmate 112153, as he was known for the past 18 months of his young life – wants a second chance.
Well, actually a third chance.
Bibbs, a 21-year-old running back with tons of potential – and nearly as much baggage – was released from the Issaqueena County Correctional Facility two weeks ago and is looking to return to the one thing he says he has a passion for: football.
“When you lose your freedom, you feel like you lose everything,” said Bibbs, who played the 2006 season for Copiah-Lincoln Community College but then served time for drug possession after violating probation. “You wish you could get it back. Now that I’m out, it feels like I’m on a leash. Just like a dog. Been caged up. I’m out, so I hope that I can make the best of it.
“… Football is the game I love. It’s something that I really want. It’s my desire. Really, I just want to prove myself not only to myself, but to other people that downgraded me and think that I don’t have it. What I went through just made me stronger. So hopefully somebody will give me another chance. ”
But will they?
Allen Wallace, national editor for recruiting service SuperPrep.com, said some coaches will take chances on players with tainted pasts, depending on their needs.
“Some schools that are trying to rebuild may take gambles on youngsters who might have an incident or two in their past,” Wallace said. “But most schools are pretty conscientious about bringing in good kids to their programs. It only takes one or two bad apples to have a negative impact.
clarionledger.com
6/20/08
Magnolia Tribune
