Brookhaven senior offensive guard Kern Hoff will continue hisathletic and academic career at Mississippi College. Hoff (6-0,245) signed Tuesday with the Choctaws.

“It’s a great opportunity for me in education and athletics,”said Hoff, an honor roll student at BHS. “They have a great biologyprogram.”

Hoff plans to enter a premed program at MC. He has expressed aninterest in becoming an orthopedic surgeon. A knee injury duringhis junior season heightened Hoff’s interest in a medicalcareer.

A 3-year starter for the BHS Panthers, Hoff was a 3-time memberof The Daily Leader’s All-Lincoln County Football Team. He isthe starting catcher for the Panther baseball team.

BHS head coach and athletic director Andrew Hickmanexpressed his appreciation to Hoff during yesterday’s signingceremony which took place in the Central Office board room. “Kern,you have meant a lot to me and our football program. You have beena a team leader for us. I hope that the example you set has rubbedoff on some of our younger players.”

Hickman also provided a prayer for Hoff and hisfamily.

BHS offensive line coach Lauren Collins coached Hoff for oneseason and expressed his appreciation. “Kern has a unique ability.He has a great football knowledge. He knows how to block and whatthe play is supposed to do. He is a great student and a great coachon the field for us.”

Collins said Hoff recorded 38 pancake blocks last season,helping the Panthers reach the Class 4A state playoffs.

Hoff has been selected to play in the Mississippi-AlabamaAll-Star Classic which will be played June 15, at Ladd-PeeplesStadium in Mobile, Ala. South Pike head coach Greg Wall, whocoached five years at Brookhaven before returning to Magnolia lastyear, is head coach for the Mississippi squad.

“I was surprised and honored to be selected,” said Hoff.”Coach Wall called me about the opportunity. I’ll enjoy playing forhim one more time.”

At MC, Hoff will play for head coach Johnny Mills. He willjoin former Loyd Star linebacker Jason Miles on the MC squad. Milesis a sophomore.

Allen Rudolph, former Co-Lin assistant coach, serves as MC’soffensive line coach.