By Thomas Sellers Jr.
I’ve saved the most controversial countdown in my Trojan 100/Last 22 series for last.
Who is the best Millington Trojan Football player I’ve covered since 2003? Many have lined up for Millington and shined in the black and gold. Several have taken their talents to the college level and a couple played in the NFL during my tenure at The Millington Star.
This list of my best 10 players will be a mixture of those who peaked in high school, a few who reached the Division I and NAIA ranks and a pro.
That means I will have a pro in my honorable mentions. Also a few All-Region and college standouts won’t make my top 10. I’m featuring the 10 Trojans who were game-changers, generational talents and great in the black and gold.
Here are my honorable mentions and would be on my 22-man roster, McCoy Pugh, Antonio Webber, Aaron West, Jonathan Temple-Dowdy, Eric Knowlton, Korian Chambers, Alan Cross, Derenik Culbreath, Devin Knight, Kevin Oliver and Lakeron Garcia.
10. Eldon Tyms
Class of 2016
The all-time leading passer in Millington history played during my tenure on the sideline. It was a big change of pace going from the run-dominant Wing-T offense into the Spread/Read Option. Head Coach Chris Michael trusted a freshman in Eldon Tyms to lead the transformation of the Trojan offense.
Tyms ended up passing for more than 5,000 yards and managed to pick up a few yards on the ground. Tyms was a drop-back passer. He developed into a good quarterback with awesome touch. He had a beautiful deep ball that located his multiple weapons.
Funny thing, his most memorable pass was an interception. Tyms threw a pick in the 2015 M&M Bowl that led to a fumble by the Munford Cougar defender. The ball bounced perfectly into the hands of Tyms. He raced the ball to the end zone for the touchdown and his iconic “Superman Rip” at the end.
9. George Odum
Class of 2013
This Trojan legend not only played in the NFL, but was an All-Pro and participated in the Super Bowl. George Odum is on the level of a Tyrone Calico, leaving the campus of Millington Central to shine at a smaller college then earning a spot in “The League.”
Odum wasn’t shabby in the black and gold. The thing was he was played all over the place. It took a minute to figure out he was destined for the defensive side of the ball. He was still a good receiver and used his speed on kickoffs, but his signature was being a great defensive player.
8. Miguel Barnes
Class of 2005
Is he the best Barnes? Coming from the first-family of Northaven Football, the youngest Barnes brother was a solid closer for the legacy started by Marlon.
In Miguel’s own words, “I am a natural-born running back.” He was built for the position, blessed with muscles and speed. He was a grown man in a high school sport. It came so easy to Miguel that he might have taken his gifts for granted.
To Barnes’ credit, he shared a backfield with two other players who had all-time great potential in Aaron West and Gary Askew. How good was Barnes he rushed for 5 touchdowns in a M&M Bowl while adding a special team’s runback score.
7. Demetre Jones
Class of 2010
During my time on the Trojan sidelines, I have only seen one defensive player better than “The Rock.” Introduced to me as RockHead, I quickly learned Demetre Jones wasn’t a fool on the field.
Another Trojan carved out of granite and tailor made for the sport, Jones was a fierce combination of power and speed.
Quick glimpse of the field, Jones stood out as a manchild. The game slowed down for him by his junior season and he was a key contributor on some of the best teams in Millington history.
He single-handedly won the 2009 M&M Bowl from the defensive side of the ball. Jones was so good he earned The Star’s 2010 Athlete of the Year Award — a true talent and leader.
6. Tausean Holmes
Class of 2009
OK, I am ranking the 2008 Class 5A Mr. Football outside of my top 5. Tausean Holmes was awesome but there are 5 other Trojans who could have been Mr. Football winners too from this era.
Holmes was touched by God. He humbly waited behind two legendary runners his junior season, but when he got a chance to showcase his gifts he was pure lightning.
Holmes didn’t get a ton of carriers during his special season in 2008, but once again he made them all count. His yards per carry average is the best in Trojan history and his touchdown to carries rate is video-game level.
Holmes had a typical Millington running back season he would have challenged Ahmaad Galloway’s records.
The Trojans went 11-0 to start 2008 and Holmes was on the sideline chilling with me most of the time.
By the way, Holmes went to Arkansas State and played safety because he was a devastating tackler.
5. Jackson Ford
Class of 2025
The best interior lineman during my time at The Star is Ford. Millington has had some force on the line of scrimmage the past two decades and a couple of them previously wore No. 77 before Ford. But Ford was dominant on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
He is currently off at Hampton University and made the main roster. Ford has a high football IQ and an even higher “want to.”
Ford could shut down an opposing running game in a few plays and distrupe a passing game with hidden quickness normally reserved for an outside rusher.
Ford spent time on the Trojan offensive line at tackle, guard and eventually center. He was so smart at the game, he knew where the skill players were supposed to be on blocking assignments in order to free up Millington’s ball carrier.
Ford’s legacy is still being written and hopefully he earns a jersey retirement in a few years.
4. Tommy Clifton
Class of 2020
Trojan Football is a family and there are many strong familial legacies within that larger unit like the Waits, Garcias, Evans, Barnes just to name a few.
One of the most important families to the black and gold are the Cliftons. Tommy 1 was one of the first star players for the school in the 1960s. His son, Tommy 2, was a key component of the 1993 undefeated Trojan team.
But the best Tommy came to the Trojans as a freshman in 2015.
Tommy 3 fulfilled his destiny by 2018 and in 2019 he had a season for the record books.
“The Tommy Clifton Game” took place in 2019 vs. FACS with 6 touchdowns and 299 yards rushing. He was a running back who played some decent quarterback.
Clifton was a class act on and off the field. I love his character and Christ first approach to the game of life. Those two attributes also made him an All-Star on the gridiron.
Tommy is on my Mt. Rushmore for the last 25 years of Trojan Football. He won’t argue either way, he would just truly be humbled to be mentioned in the category with the other great Millington players. Tommy just wanted to make his hometown, school, team and legacy proud.
3. Patrick Macon
Class of 2015
Simply the best Trojan defender I’ve seen since 2003. HIs hits rival Melvin Kneeland. His tackling ability ranks up there with JTD. He was a headhunter and ball seeker like Jones. He made timely plays like Zane Adams and Macon did it all in a bigger and stronger body the rest.
Macon pulled off a Jones by dominating the 2014 M&M Bowl and striking pure fear into the Cougars all night.
His last game as a Trojan ended in the bitter cold of Henry County as they made it a point to get him out of the game.
Macon was a cheat-code for a defensive coordinator. Once he made up his mind to shut you down, you had no choice. Offenses had to obey his demands.
2. Roland Genesy
Class of 2012
(Phone ringing)
“Hello?”
“Yes, this is Central Casting. We want to send to the high school team you cover the prototypical running back.”
“Oh, really! He’s going to have the body, skills and speed to dominate and win a championship?”
“Yes Sir. He will be 6-feet tall, and 210 pounds of pure muscle. He will have a passion for training his body and for the position of running back. We’ll also toss in there a good leadership ability.”
“Sign me up. That’s a reporter’s dream!”
Roland Genesy was that and much more for the Trojans. Genesy would have been a 2,000-yard back if he didn’t share the rock with a couple of good speedster in 2011.
Genesy dominated when he touched the ball and guided the Trojans to the Region title that season when the league still had the likes of Arlington, Cordova and Bartlett.
1. Travis Simpson
Class of 2008
Travis Simpson was Roland Genesy before Roland Genesy. Simpson was the thunder to Eric Knowlton’s lightning.
Simpson was the best offensive player on the best team in Millington history in 2007. What ranks him No. 1 on my list, he was one heck of a linebacker too for that team. Simpson was the only two-way player on that 13-0 roster.
Simpson had breakaway speed, just ask Whitehaven.
Simpson was powerful as a runner and tackler.
And he did for three seasons getting some reps as a sophomore. He did it while wearing a number easy to overlook. No. 26 is special to all those who played alongside him and had the task of trying to stop him.
If you had a camera or notebook, No. 26 made a lasting impression on us too.
On any all-time list celebrating the full 100 years, I dare you to leave Simpson out of your top 10. He checks all the boxes for being an all-time great Trojan and being No. 1 on my personal list.
THOMAS SELLERS JR. is the editor of The Millington Star and both the sports editor and a weekly personal columnist for West 10 Media/Legacy Media. Contact him by phone at (901) 433-9138, by fax to (901) 529-7687 and by email to thomas@legacy-media.net
