Charleston’s DeAntre “Tre” Prince was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2024 NFL draft, and his family and former coaches in Charleston have spoken about his selection.
Prince was a fifth-round pick, number 153 overall, on Saturday, April 27. There were a total of 257 draft spots.
Prince, 23, a 2019 graduate of Charleston High School and a former Charleston Tigers football standout, also played for the Northeast Mississippi Community College Tigers and spent most of the last three years as a starting defensive back for the Ole Miss Rebels.
He is the first Tallahatchian ever to be drafted to play professional football in the National Football League. Several Tallahatchie countians have played in the NFL as free-agent signees, but Prince is the only one to have been drafted.
In mock drafts, the 6-0, 183-pound cornerback had been projected to go somewhere between the fourth and sixth rounds of the seven-round draft.
Prior to the draft, Prince had said that the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers, were teams that had expressed the most interest in him.
A draft card held by a Jacksonville Jaguars superfan, and NFL international fan of the year, shows the selection of DeAntre Prince by the Jaguars during the NFL draft in Detroit.
On Tuesday night, April 30, Prince posted a photo on his Facebook page showing himself wearing a Jaguars uniform with the number “24” emblazoned on the jersey. In a one-line message accompanying the post, he wrote, “the place to be.”
In an interview shortly after he was drafted, Prince described Jacksonville as “... a great community. Great environment. Loving environment. Beautiful environment. Seeing the palm trees ... that calms a man down that comes from Mississippi.”
He added that he is “looking forward to competing every play. I don’t care who’s across from me or who I gotta hold. I’m ready to compete and do anything I have to do to make sure it’s an incompletion or a pick or a fumble or anything.”
Prince’s mother, JacQueline “Jackie” Prince, told The Sun-Sentinel, “I'm so thankful that Jacksonville is taking a chance on my baby. Because I know what they are getting. They are getting one determined young man. I know my baby and being chosen in the 5th round is only going to make him go to Duval [County, Florida, where Jacksonville is located], work hard and prove himself. Something that he's very familiar with. He's his own biggest critic but he really just wants to be the best he can be. Which is great and i admire that about him the most. He's been that way his whole life. And I know that's why we are here today. Celebrating this historical moment. This has been #GODSPLAN from the very beginning. Go Jaguars. I am one proud momma."
DeAntre Prince’s big brother, DeVante Taylor, said, “I can’t even put into words the way I feel. ... Proud just isn’t a good enough word to describe it. I always knew it would happen for him. He’s always been so hardworking, so focused, so determined. The love he has for the game is one of a kind. It’s been a part of the plan the whole time, God’s plan.”
Several of his former Charleston coaches were contacted for comment about his journey.
Wayne Mayhan, who was Prince’s head coach at Charleston Middle School, said, “I had the pleasure of coaching him in junior high. Knew he was special then, but had no idea it would take him this far. Had a blast watching him the last few years and am extremely proud of him and what his future holds.” He added, “Stay humble and keep up the hard work.”
Scott Martin, Prince’s head coach at Charleston High School, recalled that “he had special ball skills on both sides of the ball in high school that helped his team win many games and go far in the playoffs. ... Being from a small school, he played several positions that we asked him to play, without complaining. He had a great work ethic and passion for the game, and I’m proud of him for being able to live out his dream to have a chance to play in the NFL.”
Present CHS head coach LaDon Taylor, who was the defensive backs coach when Prince was in high school, said, “First and foremost, I’m just so proud of that young man. We didn’t start out on a good note, though. His mom told me that he wanted to quit football mainly because I was too tough on him, but it was because of the potential that was evident in De’Antre. He was special at a very young age. We were able to get past that and he was ready to strive for greatness. He has worked his tail off to get to this point and I can’t wait to see him in the NFL. I will be a very proud coach, to say the least. The small part that I may have played in his life on and off the field will make me feel proud. Congratulations to him and I pray that he will keep God first.”
