MGCCC alum Dawson Wells set to play for national title

Dawson Wells used his two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast as a springboard to a four-year school, one where he now has a chance at winning a national championship.

His top-ranked Jacksonville State team plays in Saturday's Football Championship Subdivision against four-time defending champion North Dakota State. Kickoff on ESPN2 is at 11 a.m. in Frisco, Texas.

The Gamecocks have only one loss on the season. It came in the second week of the season after an "iffy" 23-20 win against Chattanooga, one filled with a bunch of mistakes.

"We were a really good team last year," the senior from Ocean Spring said. "I didn't know if we were going to be as good as last year, and then stuff starting coming along. By the Auburn game, I knew we were going to be good."

JSU marched into Jordan-Hare Stadium and took then-No. 6 ranked Auburn to overtime, eventually losing 27-20 in overtime. Wells said the atmosphere there exceeded the one the year before when he played at Michigan State.

Wells, a senior, is the second-leading tackler for the Gamecocks with 91, including 10.5 for loss. He's tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

One of those came while helping defend against former Gulf Coast teammate D'haquille Williams, an Auburn wide receiver.

"They ran a fake sweep to my side, and it kind of widened me out a little bit," Wells said. "Once I saw it was pass, I dropped under Duke. "(The quarterback) was eyeing Duke the whole time. He tried to fit it over me, but I went up and got it."

Wells' years at Gulf Coast were important to him, both on and off the field.

"They teach you the principles," he said. "Once you learn those, you can learn anything off that. I could play any defense after I left Gulf Coast after what Coach (Steve) Davis taught me. He made it so simple."

He said his old defensive coordinator taught him to use his eyes as a linebacker. He learned how to read keys, see what offensive linemen were doing. Things point you in direction of the football, let you know who has it. Pre-snap information can help you determine what's headed your way, a pass or run.

Wells is getting ready for Saturday's game without school hanging over his head, too. He graduated two weeks ago with a degree in emergency management.

That's a job field he thinks has some possibilities in and around his hometown of Ocean Springs.

"The transition from high school to a big college is tough," Wells said. "Junior college, especially Gulf Coast, it helped me stay on top of my grades and manage my time between academics and football."

Wells said he's loved his time in Jacksonville, a town at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains about 80 minutes east of Birmingham. He's going to spend the spring trying to get ready for the NFL scouts and give pro football a try, something his coaches have encouraged him to do.

But he says things wouldn't have been the same if he hadn't a Bulldog first.

"I really don't know where I'd be without Gulf Coast," Wells said. "They really helped me understand the difference between college and high school. If I came straight to Jacksonville State from high school, it would have been way harder on me. I realize I wasn't even that good of a football player coming to Gulf Coast. You think you are, and you learn a whole bunch more, and there's even more to learn at a D-I college."

He's hoping to put all that learning to good use and bring home a national title.