Right now, number three is the place to be in national football rankings with both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi tied for the No. 3 spot in NCAA rankings and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the same spot in NJCAA standings. And while that parallel status may only last for a few days during week 7, they are days that football fans from all over Mississippi can savor.

MGCCC Bulldog Head Coach Chad Huff said that rankings at this point in the season are nice to see but don’t really mean anything. “We are definitely right where we wanted to be at the beginning of the year, but we try not to get caught up in the rankings,” he said. “Every goal we set at the beginning of the season is still out there in front of us.  What counts is how we finish.  The same is true for State and Ole Miss.”

Huff said that Gulf Coast continues to practice every day, striving to make improvements. “We try to emphasize the process not the results, keeping the guys’ eyes on improving and on focusing on the game we play that week.  This week is Pearl River and that is where our attention is right now.”

The MGCCC Bulldogs, who are almost always a nationally ranked powerhouse, have previously sent players to both MSU and Ole Miss, as well as a variety of other in-state universities. Craig Frigo, an offensive lineman for Gulf Coast in 2012 and 2013, is currently playing at UM. Frigo was an All-MACJC South selection as a freshman and All-Region 23 and All-MACJC First Team pick as a sophomore.

Some of the remarkable Gulf Coast players that have chosen those teams in the past include:

• Vick Ballard, currently a running back with the Indianapolis Colts, played at Gulf Coast in 2008 and 2009, and at MSU in 2010 and 2011. At Gulf Coast, Ballard was named first-team junior college All-American by NJCAA, 2009 MACJC Most Valuable running back and the MACJC South All-State First Team Offense. He rushed for 1,728 yards and 22 touchdowns during his sophomore season and finished the season fourth nationally with 144.0 yard-per-game average. In his two years at MSU, he rushed for 2,158 yards on 379 carries and 29 touchdowns. He was named NCJAA First Team All-American. Despite playing only two seasons at MSU, he is second on the university’s career rushing touchdowns list, and his 19 touchdowns in 2010 are a school single-season record.
• Chris White, currently a linebacker with the New England Patriots, played at Gulf Coast in 2008 and 2009, and for MSU in 2010 and 2011. While at Gulf Coast, White was named first-team all-America and first-team all-Region XXIII by the NJCAA in 2009, was selected the Mississippi Most Valuable Player in the inaugural Mississippi Bowl, was named first-team pre-season all-America by the National Junior College Athletic Association prior to his sophomore season at MGCCC. He was also credited with running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash by recruiting web site ESPN.com during his freshman year Gulf Coast. At MSU, he started all 12 games during his first season at MSU and finished the year with 75 total tackles for loss and three pass breakups.
• James Carmon played defensive line at MSU in 2010 and 2011. While at Gulf Coast in 2008 and 2009, Carmon was rated the nation’s top junior college defensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com, was listed as the eighth best prospect in the country regardless of position, and finished the 2009 season with 32 tackles and three sacks. Over two seasons, he recorded three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. At MSU, he played in all 13 games along the defensive front and on the field goal block unit. He earned three starts at defensive tackle and posted eight total tackles during his senior season.
• Sean Brauchle was a kicker at MSU during 2009 and 2010. While at Gulf Coast in 2007 and 2008, he was a two-time junior college All-American, earned First-Team All-American honors from the NJCAA, selected first-team, all-Region XXIII place-kicker by the MACJC, and made 19-of-25 field goal attempts as a freshman place-kicker. His sophomore year, he connected on 14-of-19 field goal attempts, including a season-long and school-best 55-yarder, and 55 of 57 points after touchdown. He was named pre-season First-Team All-American by the NJCAA prior to his sophomore season, chosen First-Team All-American by both the NJCAA and the JC Gridwire.
• Damien Jackson played at UM as a defensive back. He played at Gulf Coast during 2008 and 2009 before playing at UM in 2010 and 2011. While at Gulf Coast, Jackson was rated the No. 12 junior college player in the country by Scout.com and No. 26 by Rivals.com. He was a two-time MACJC All-State pick. He collected 33 tackles and picked off a pass in nine games in 2009 and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record and a No. 8 national ranking. During his freshman year, he posted 54 tackles, including 6.0 TFLs, and recorded seven interceptions, which tied him for second in the nation. He earned NJCAA All-Region 23 honors that year. At UM, played in 11 games his junior year with eight starts, and in every game his senior year, starting in eight.  During his junior year, he topped the team in solo tackles (44) and finished second in total stops. In his senior year, Jackson finished third on the squad with 64 tackles and tied for third with one interception.
• Wayne Dorsey played at UM as a defensive lineman in 2010 and 2011. While at Gulf Coast in 2008 and 2009, Dorsey was ranked the No. 1 junior college recruit in the nation by Scout.com and the No.15 JUCO player in the nation by Rivals.com. He earned NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American and Second Team preseason All-America honors in 2009. He helped lead the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record and a No. 8 national ranking, racking up 30 tackles and 5.0 QB sacks in just six games at defensive end He led the Bulldogs with 10.0 sacks as a freshman. In his junior year, he played in all 12 games with starts in the first four. He totaled 12 tackles, including 4.0 TFLs.  In 2011, he played in and started six games before suffering a broken right arm that ended his season.

MGCCC Bulldogs (6-0) will play Pearl River Community College at Poplarville on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.