Throughout Gene Murphy's tenure as head coach the Hinds Community College football program has developed some of the best talent to ever come through the state of Mississippi. Sophomore defensive back Kenya Dennis is a prime example of a player that needed the community college experience to reach the next level.

Dennis was a star on and off the field for Leland High School, a 2A school in a small delta town in Washington County.

"I heard Hinds had a great program my senior year and shortly after that they began to recruit me," said Dennis.

Dennis' position coach during the 2012 season, Chris Mattox, now at Coahoma Community College said, "We recruited Kenya because he was big, physical, and athletic, three things everyone wants in a corner. However, the type of person he is made me believe he would become a future SEC player."

A few months after his freshman season Dennis received a written scholarship offer from University of Missouri and in June of this year, he committed.

"It has always been my dream to play in the SEC," said Dennis. "Head coach Gene Murphy and his staff has done a fabulous job preparing me for the SEC and I cannot wait to go head to head with the best receivers in college football."

"Kenya is a physical freak of nature," said secondary coach Clarence McDougal. "He has tremendous heart, a high motor, and has great knowledge for the game."

Hinds wrapped up a series of 2012-2013 graduation ceremonies on June 6 with a special one for GED achievers in our district – adults who did not get a high school diploma by the traditional route but passed a battery of tests to get an equivalency certificate.