House Resolution 58

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING STAR ATHLETE SENQUEZ GOLSON UPON HIS ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI AND RECEIVING UNANIMOUS ALL-AMERICAN HONORS.

WHEREAS, born July 7, 1993, Senquez Golson, a native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and senior criminal justice major, is a formidable 5 foot 9 inch, 176 pound powerhouse of an All-American football defensive back for the Ole Miss Rebels, who has made quite a name for himself amongst his peers on the gridiron and amassing a throng of followers in the SEC and throughout the nation as a standout athlete on both the football and baseball fields; and

WHEREAS, a Super Prep All-America selection and rated as the No. 8 player in Mississippi during his high school athletic career, Senquez participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Game, named to The Clarion Ledger's Top 25 Recruits lists and the Dandy Dozen squad, vetted as a second team Class 6A All-State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches during his senior year ranked as the No. 10 player in the state and the No. 33 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com, as well as No. 25 cornerback in the nation and the No. 271 player overall by Scout.com and a Prep Star All-Region selection; and

WHEREAS, Golson's athletic feats have been nothing short of glorious as the three-sport gladiator lettered in baseball, football and track before committing to the Rebels and making his debut on Ole Miss' sideline during the pigskin season in 2011 and in the Diamond Rebels' dugout in Spring of 2012 after electing not to sign a lucrative contract deal with the Boston Red Sox after the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft as the eighth round and No. 262 overall pick as a centerfielder out of high school; and

WHEREAS, valuing the importance of education and his love of the turf of a football arena, Senquez, a three-star cornerback recruit out of high school, chose to attend Ole Miss over Alabama, mostly because the in-state Rebels allowed him to play both baseball and football; and

WHEREAS, with mesmerizing, head-turning, jaw-dropping athleticism, Golson's precision in play-execution on any field of his choosing has been guaranteed worthy of instant replay that renders spectators speechless in awe at the astonishing ability of such a dynamic individual, whose talents can be deemed tantamount to those exhibited by Bo Jackson; and

WHEREAS, as a freshman, Senquez played 12 games with four starts at cornerback, recording 16 tackles, one interception and earning his first letter in the game against Brigham Young University, and starting at cornerback for six of the 12 games played as a sophomore, finishing ninth on the team with 36 tackles, three interceptions, six total passes defended, tying for the ninth position in the SEC with 0.25 interceptions per game and earning his second letter in the Rebels match-up against Central Arkansas; and

WHEREAS, by the time his junior year rolled into action, Golson started 10 of 12 games finishing eighth on the team with 41 tackles, recording 2.5 TFLS, two interceptions, three pass breakups and earning his third letter at Vanderbilt University, and the SEC and the nation knew that Senquez Golson was destined to be a name ringing in households throughout the country on game days, posted in the headlines and pouring from the lips of virtually every sportscaster covering a Rebels' game, especially after his ballerina toe-tap interception with only 37 seconds remaining on the clock to seal the Rebels' 23-17 victory over the rival Crimson Tide of Alabama; and

WHEREAS, as a Rebels' senior, he emerged as one of the best defensive players in the SEC, leading the conference in interceptions with 10, passes defended with 18 and adding 43 tackles, earning the first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, and unanimous All-American honors, the first in school history since Michael Oher received the prestigious recognition in 2008; and

WHEREAS, rounding out a dynamic senior year collegiate career on the green and white rectangular field of dreams, Senquez Golson's display of true grit, perseverance, leadership and sportsmanship earned him nods as a finalist for the 2014 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the nation's top defensive player, in addition to being a semifinalist for both the Jim Thorpe and Chuck Bednarik Awards, and a finalist for the Conerly Trophy, given to the best football player at a four-year university or college in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize the achievements of such a remarkably talented individual such as Senquez Golson, whose athletic and academic accomplishments have brought great honor, integrity and pride to a small town hero, his parents and siblings, the University of Mississippi and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate star athlete Senquez Golson upon his athletic accomplishments as a student at the University of Mississippi and receiving unanimous All-American honors, and extend to him best wishes for continued success in all of his post-collegiate career and athletic endeavors as he prepares to enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Senquez Golson, Rebels' Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.