BOONEVILLE, Miss. - The Northeast Mississippi Community College men's golf program has been a model of consistency since its reinstatement to the athletic department in the fall of 2019.
The Tigers have sent at least one individual to the national tournament in four of the last five seasons. Northeast has also captured a conference championship and produced multiple signees to four-year institutions in that same time frame.
Head coach Derek DeVaughn, who begins his seventh year in charge of the Tigers, might be more thrilled about his 2025-26 golfers than any of those outstanding recent teams.
"To be honest with you, I was excited before they got on campus, but I'm more excited now that they're here," he said. "It's just a different feel than what I've had in the past. They're feeling the pressure during the qualifying, which is exactly what we need."
Kye Dozier and Holtz Helms will lead Northeast as the lone returners from the previous campaign. Both made the travel roster for all 10 team events, including the postseason, that the Tigers participated in.
Dozier (Amory) improved tremendously over the summer and is expected to be at the top of Northeast's lineup early this fall. He recorded a season-best 152 as a freshman at Brookhaven Country Club.
Helms (Arkadelphia, Ark.) was one of the top 25 players in the region last year according to Clippd. He made the all-tournament team in his debut as a Tiger at Tunica National Golf Course after tying for third place with a 150.
"I'm leaning on them two for sure," said DeVaughn. "They're the ones that's going to be the glue to keep the team together. They've been there, done that."
One big change for Northeast is the addition of an international student-athlete for the first time in program history. Olof Behle already has positive reviews from DeVaughn after arriving from his native Sweden.
"You couldn't ask for a better kid," DeVaughn said. "You never know what you're going to get with any athlete, but for sure an athlete that's from all the way across the globe. He'll do whatever you ask him to do. He's extremely talented. The upside for him is through the roof."
Tate Oakley was a multi-time all-area recipient from The TimesDaily. He helped Florence (Ala.) High School to a sectional runner-up finish during his final campaign at the prep level.
Ian Jackson, who graduated from Kossuth High School, was recognized as one of the top local golfers going into his senior season by the Pensacola News Journal. He tied for third in the junior masters division at the prestigious A. Downing Gray Cup in 2024.
Drew Blair gives the Tigers two Amory alumni on the roster. He placed inside the top 10 at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A tournament at his home course of River Birch.
Rounding out the list of Northeast's newcomers is a duo that led their respective schools to state championships as juniors in 2023 in Ames Hughes (Booneville) and Landon Nelms (Saltillo).
Both were not bad during their senior seasons, either. Hughes was a medalist three times with a top 20 scoring average statewide for Class 3A while Nelms came in third individually at the Class 6A tournament in Sardis.
"We're a very talented group going into the first event," said DeVaughn. "I hope and pray that they stay hungry, wanting more-and-more."
The Tigers begin their autumn schedule, which spans parts of four months, from August 25-26 at the Ranger Classic in Holly Springs. Northeast hosts the second conference event at Corinth's Shiloh Ridge Athletic Club from September 22-23.