November 4, 2009

Lanny Mixon
To say that it has been a difficult year for Oak Grove (Hattiesburg, Miss.) receiver Steve McNair, Jr. would be an understatement.

After the murder of his father, former NFL All-Pro quarterback Steve McNair, McNair Jr. turned to football as an outlet.

The talented wideout has taken the recruiting process in stride, and he picked up more than a dozen scholarship offers from programs such as Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Nebraska, West Virginia and others.

Today he announced his decision.

"I'm going to Southern Miss," McNair said. "It's close to home, and my family and my coaches can all come and see me play every week."

"He's had a great year," said Oak Grove coach Nevil Barr. "When we've needed a big play, he's been there to make it: offense, defense, special teams."

Although his father didn't play at Southern Miss, there has always been a connection between the McNair family, the community and the hometown school.

Annually, the McNair Foundation hosts a free football camp on the Southern Miss campus. The elder McNair was often seen in and around Hattiesburg during the offseason.

McNair Jr. is one of the top prospects in the state, and was named to the prestigious "Dandy Dozen" team earlier this year.

He has helped his Oak Grove team to a 6-2 record on the year. The Warriors close out their regular season Friday night at Jim Hill (Jackson, Miss.) and are likely playoff bound.

In spite of his personal tragedy, McNair Jr. has been a leader for the Warriors - both on and off the field.

"Everyone loves Steve," Barr said. "He's a special kid. He's always smiling, and that's not always been easy this year."

	Lanny Mixon is the publisher of BigGoldNation.com and has covered Southern Miss athletics for the last five years.
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