Now, with one of the largest recruiting classes in school history and a group of returning players that were six yards short of an upset win over top ranked Trinity University last November returning, phase three of the turnaround adds to the anticipation of the 2005 season.

Some shuffling of offensive coaching duties, Saunders will now serve as offensive coordinator, along with a few new hires have brought national attention to the assistant coaching staff.
New defensive coordinator Mike DuBose, a former SEC Coach of the Year for the University of Alabama, will reshape the Majors defense and introduce a new scheme reminiscent of the Crimson Tide's 4-3 defense. In 13 years of coaching at the University of Alabama, DuBose served as defensive line coach, defensive coordinator and head coach.

While with the Tide as a player from 1972-74, DuBose, a defensive lineman, led his teams to three SEC Championships, three bowl games and with teammate Sylvester Croom, now the head football coach at Mississippi State University, a national championship in 1973. DuBose's defense was ranked 8th or better against the run a total of four times, including the nation's best rushing defense in the 1992 national championship season. The Tide allowed just 55.0 yards per game on the ground to lead the nation. DuBose has supplied the NFL with five first round selections, five 1st team All-Americans and ten All-SEC team selections.

Returning on the defensive coaching staff is third-year linebacker coach Kai Burrell. Burrell, a linebacker at Grambling State University, played for legendary head coach Eddie Robinson, who named Burrell a team captain during his senior year. Former Ole Miss defensive back Marcus Woodson will begin his first season as defensive secondary coach in 2005. Woodson, an honor roll student at Moss Point HS, played in 18 games for the Rebels, but knee injuries ended "Wood's" career.

The offensive coaching staff returns second year running backs coach Keith Majors, who also serves as recruiting coordinator. Majors, a former running back for the Northwestern University Wildcats, has the entire offensive backfield returning in 2005, a group that includes 2004 First Team All-SCAC tailback Tyson Roy.

Fred McNair returns for his second season to lead the Majors quarterbacks. McNair, who began his coaching career last season, is coming off a record-setting career in the Arena Football League where he ranks in the top eight all-time in passes attempted, passes completed and passing yards. McNair played both wide receiver and quarterback at Alcorn State University from 1986-89. He moved to quarterback his junior season and finished fifth in the NCAA Division I-AA in passing efficiency his senior year. He was a second team All-SWAC selection in 1989. He is the original "Air McNair" and is the older brother of Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2003 Co-MVP Steve McNair.

Offensive line coach Jack Wright joins the Millsaps staff after two seasons at Meridian High School where he coached several players that moved on to play college football on all levels. Wright, who started at center for a team some Mississippi media and football fans call the best high school football team ever, the 1993 South Panola Tigers that went 15-0, a team that was also coached by his father Willis Wright, now an assistant coach for the Tigers, started for three years as an offensive lineman at Arkansas State University.

The Majors return the SCAC's biggest offensive line in 2005 beginning with field general and First Team All-SCAC center Conell Phillips (6-1 280 Sr. Byhalia, Miss) and Second Team All-SCAC left tackle Jay Buck (6-6 315 Jr. Emmett, Idaho). Left Guard Charles Gordon (6-1 295 Jr. Hernando, Miss), who was named to the All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team returns along with right tackle Robert Biedenharn (6-4 270 So. Jackson, Miss). Sophomores Mark Kearns (6-1 250 So. Hollywood, Fla), Mark Stewart (6-0 255 So. Lake Charles, La.) and Steven Whatley (6-3 245 So. Madison, Miss) could push for more playing time with one season under their belts. Phillips, Buck, and Gordon started every game and Biedenharn played in all games either as a starter or a reserve behind graduated senior Matt McCollough, another All-SCAC Second Team member.

Freshman lineman Carlos Almaraz (Zapata, Texas/Zapata HS), Casey Andrews (Coila, Miss/Carroll Academy), Trevor Lundy (Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS), Brent Nida (Wellington, Fla/Wellington HS), J.D. Olivares (Zapata, Texas/ Zapata HS), Britt Shore (Fr. Pace, Fla), Andres Wallace (Boynton Beach, Fla/Twin Lakes HS), and Christian Widdows (Ocean Springs, Miss./OCHS) will all be ready to fight for playing time in fall practice. Shore's natural position is tight end and he could see some time at both positions and Nida could serve as a long snapper. Lundy brings good football genes as his father was a member of the Majors most successful teams under Harper Davis, which were from 1975-80. The Majors made their only playoff appearance in 1975 and went undefeated in 1980.

Sophomore Nick Madison (6-3-220 So. Monroeville, Ala.), who had a touchdown catch against Rose-Hulman last season, returns as the starter at tight end. Michael Gleason (6-0 220 Jr. Petal, Miss.) is coming back from an injury that kept him off the field last season.

Raymece Savage (5-10 175 So. Monroe, La.) returns as the starter at quarterback with three freshmen on the depth chart behind him. Savage filled in for injured senior Brandon Morris in 2004 and played in every game thereafter. Savage finished the season completing 51 percent of his passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns.

Savage provided one of the most memorable moments of the season last year as he led two 12-play drives in the 27-21 season-ending loss against Trinity. The first, with 8:47 on the clock, ended 72 yards later, and ate up 5:17 off the clock, with a Savage touchdown pass to Louis Conley. After a Tiger three-and-out, the Majors took over at their own 39 yard line. Savage led the Majors down the field in 11 plays to the Tigers six yard line. The 12th play ended with an interception in the Majors endzone with one second left to play. Savage completed 17-32 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, all season highs, against the Tigers.

Savage will be pushed by freshmen signal callers Juan Joseph (Edgard, La../West St. John HS), Billy Bob Orsagh (Eastland, Texas/Eastland HS), and Burton Pereira (Bush, La./St.Paul School).

Roy (5-9 185 So. Ventress, La.) returns as the SCAC's leading rusher in 2004 with 179 attempts for 1,046 and a SCAC leading 10 touchdown's including a 73-yard game winning sprint against SCAC rival Rhodes which earned Roy SCAC Player-of-the-Week honors. Roy averaged 5.8 yards per carry and averaged 116.2 yards per game. Roy also had 158 yards receiving. Eryc Lorino (5-9 185 So. Baton Rouge, La.) rotated in the backfield with Roy all season earning the start once and gaining 400 yards on 83 carries, including a team long 78-yard run and two touchdowns. Roy and Lorino also returned kicks last season. Roy averaged 25 yards per kick return and Lorino averaged 23.2 per return.

Freshman James Barnett and Rashad Brown (New Orleans, La.) will serve as the back-ups for Roy and Lorino, but Brown could have the early lead on kick returning duties after excelling at Archbishop Rummel in New Orleans, La. as a senior.

The Majors starting fullback Neil Woodall (5-9 220 So. Covington, La) was wounded in an off season hunting accident, but is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for action in the fall drills. Jeep Darnell (6-1 216 Sr. El Paso, Texas) has played tight end and fullback for the Majors throughout his career and can step right in to the starting fullback spot if Woodall is not ready. Justin Adkisson (6-0 225 Sr. Westlake, La.) missed most of last season due to military duties. Adkisson has served as a defensive lineman as well as a fullback during his career at Millsaps. Senior Aaron Frommeyer (5-8 200 Bay St. Louis, Miss) returns to the offensive backfield as well.

Overall team speed was addressed in 2005 recruiting efforts with a host of new players challenging for playing time. Returning wide outs include Louis Conley (6-0 195 So. Tupelo, Miss), Josh Hanna (6-0 165 Jr. Booneville, Miss), and Jeremy Hinton (6-0 190 So. Jackson, Miss). Conley had a career high nine catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the season finale against Trinity University. Hanna averaged 18.3 yards per catch and scored once, but a late season switch to cornerback netted a two-interception-day in the Majors win against SCAC rival Rhodes.

The freshmen group of wideouts includes Collie Griffith (Mentone, Ala./Ft. Payne HS), Morris McCaskill (Cleveland, Miss/Cleveland East HS), Donnie Epps (Grand Prairie, Texas/James Bowie HS), Matthew Foisy (Orlando, FL/Olympia HS), Eric Jensen (Salt Lake City, Utah/Granite HS), Eric McCarty (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie HS), John Milazzo (Hammond, La./St. Thomas Aquainas), Jeremy Odom (Jackson, Miss/Jim Hill HS) , Nick Namias (Cordova, Tenn/St. Benedict of Auburndale) , Anthony Parker, and Clifton Taylor (Arlington, Texas/James Bowie HS). Each player will get a shot in the preseason practices to contribute in their first fall.

The DuBose defensive facelift begins with the aggressive and attacking style of the traditional 4-3 alignment. The Majors have several players that fit the mold of the type of athlete DuBose prefers for his defense. But it all starts up front with the defensive line.

Ends David Cutter (6-1 230 Sr. Huntsville, Ala.), Cedric Lawrence (6-2 225 So. Batesville, Miss), Casey Younger (6-0 260 So. Vicksburg, Miss), Stephen Paine (6-4 240 So. Houston, Texas), Ishmael Lockhart (6-7 320 Jr. Lafayette, Miss), and Jacob White (6-3 340 So. Ocean Springs, MS) each received significant playing time in 2004 with Cutter, Lawrence, and Younger earning the starting roles.

They will be pushed in 2005 by Denarold Anderson (Edgard, La./West St. John HS), Sherwood Collette (6-2 230 Sr. Brandon Miss), Eric Hutchinson (Prairieville, La./St. Amant HS), Trevor Reed, Peter Ridley (Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain HS), Charles Stall, and Marcus Stokes (Vicksburg, Miss/Vicksburg HS) will get a chance to impress DuBose in the fall practice session.

Collette was the starting catcher for the SCAC Champion Majors in 2005. Collette's speed (4-4 stolen bases and 22 runs scored with only 28 hits and seven walks) may allow him to play several positions on the D-line and at linebacker.

Fifth leading tackler and middle linebacker Emmitt Johnson (5-9 210 Jr. Moss Point, Miss) returns after collecting 38 tackles last season including three for loss. Canaan Farris (5-10 200 So. Russellville, Ala.), J.J. Gilmore (5-10 190 Jr. Kayenta, Az), T.J. Loehn (6-0 200 So. Metairie, La.), and Ben Robichaux (6-1 180 Jr. Geismar, La.) each were in the linebacker rotation last season and each will most likely serve in that role again. Gilmore had nine tackles in just three games at the end of the season, including one for loss. Farris finished with 23 tackles including one fumble recovery and Loehn handled the deep snapping duties last season. Robichaux served as a spark for the special teams and in his third year for the Majors could be a key member of the kicking unit.

Chris Daniels (Alberta, Ala./Foley HS), Caleb Dulaney (Collinsville, Miss./West Lauderdale HS), James Mims (Winona, Miss./Winona HS), Keith Naccari (Kenner, La./Ridgewood Prep), Brandon Ryon (Melissa, Texas/Anna HS), Michael Sims (Louisville, Miss./Louisville HS), Garrett Smith (Spring, Texas/Oak Ridge HS), Tanner Tippets (Salt Lake City, Utah/Highland HS), and Lee White (Natchez, Miss/Trinity Episcopal) are nine new players that could find playing time at linebacker.

Joey Doxey (6-2 215 Jr. Bountiful, Utah) and Ross Rutledge (6-1 205 Sr. Memphis, Tenn) return as the veteran voices of the defensive backfield. Doxey, a ball hawk and a Second Team All-SCAC member last season, had 44 tackles and eight pass break-ups, intercepting one, along with two tackles for loss. Rutledge, a head-hunting strong safety that plays with reckless abandon, finished with 47 tackles, three of them for loss, three pass break-ups, and one fumble recovery.

Second Team All-SCAC member Ray Kline (5-10 180 So. Vicksburg, Miss.) returns to the cornerback position along with Kirk Jackson (5-9 170 Jr. Harvey, La.). Hanna speed was an asset for the Majors in 2004 as Saunders made the call for the sophomore to try cornerback in the Rhodes game. Hanna responded with two interceptions in that game and finished the season with three pass break-ups. Quality back-up and special teams standout Brian King (5-10 182 Selma, Ala.) finished the season with seven tackles.

Willie Brown (Taylor, TX/Taylor HS), Matthew Christion (Blaine, WA/Blaine HS), Floyd Dedeaux (Pass Christian, Miss./St. Stanislaus), Bryan Halterman (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright HS), Marcus Harris (Vicksburg, Miss/Vicksburg HS), Michael Moore (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS), Bryan Villa, and Frederick Wiley (Pass Christian, Miss/Pass Christian HS), could all find playing time in the defensive backfield in their first season. A returning player sure to see a lot of time at linebacker and safety positions is sophomore Ronnie Wheat. Wheat (5-11 205 So. Vancleave, Miss) fits the profile of the hybrid DuBose prefers for his linebackers. Wheat can cover receivers and he's not afraid to step up and take on blockers at the line of scrimmage. Wheat, one of the fastest players on the team, had 20 tackles, two for loss, one sack, two pass break-ups, and one fumble recovery.

The kicking game was solid last season and both specialists return for 2005. The kickoff and field goal duties will be again handled by senior Todd Rhoden (6-0 205 Metairie, La.), who hit one of three field goals on the season. Junior Tyler Alford (6-5 160 Winston-Salem, N.C.) returns as the Majors punter after averaging 35.3 yards per punt last season and landing eight kicks inside the 20-yard line. Rhoden can also punt in the absence of Alford, proving it by booting a 71-yarder against DePauw University.

Freshman kicker/punter D.J. Mello (5-11 160 Decorah, Iowa/Decorah HS) was a First Team All-State kicker as a senior and was named to the Iowa Elite squad. Mello won the Ray Guy Midwest Kicking Competition in Minneapolis, Minn in 2004. Mello was named team MVP as a senior on a Decorah High School team that placed fourth in the state and he earned a spot on the Iowa Olympic Development team as a senior. Mello's father Doug played professional soccer for the Detroit Express.

Another story about the 2005 season that has already received a lot of attention is the comeback story of Jim Harper. Harper played football for the Majors and head coach Harper Davis in 1978, but had to leave school and entered the Marine Corps, which led to a stuntman career in television and movies. Harper, now 47-years-old, will be working with the wide receiving corps in fall drills.