Sweet Water lineman signs with Miles

SWEET WATER — The lead lineman on an offensive front that paved the way for more than 4,000 yards on the ground in 2012 officially has a new home. Sweet Water High School held a signing ceremony for senior offensive lineman Derrick Tucker Thursday morning to celebrate his official commitment to play football at Miles College.

“It’s a great opportunity. I’m glad it’s over with,” Tucker said of an arduous recruiting process that saw the Division II SIAC school pull the trigger on an offer after the dust settled from National Signing Day. “I thank my coaches, my school and Miles for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to success.”

“they’re getting a hard worker who plays very physical,” Sweet Water head coach Stacy Luker said. “He plays with a nasty attitude that has made him a great football player to this point. He’s a great kid from a great family.”

Tucker played guard for the Bulldogs and proved to be the most trustworthy blocker for the Purple and Gold’s ground-based attack.

“We try to be physical running the football and he is obviously our biggest and most physical lineman,” Luker said of the 260-pound Tucker. “I’d say we probably ran behind him 70 percent of the time.”

Tucker will join a freshman class at Miles that includes Demopolis High defensive lineman Kessy Bell, who signed with the school earlier this month.