SUMMIT — Cathedral High School alumnus Khalil Brice learned a valuable lesson this past season.

The Southwest Mississippi Community College freshman was coming off a torn meniscus and dislocated knee cap he sustained in his senior season at Cathedral. Brice admits he didn’t go through his rehab with 100-percent dedication, and he thinks that contributed to him re-tearing his meniscus during the season last fall.

“I was just disappointed, because I knew I didn’t do everything hard enough, and didn’t push it the way I should have,” Brice said.

After opting for surgery while in high school, Brice said he chose to have part of the torn meniscus taken out to give him a faster recovery time. Heading into the spring, Brice said he now realizes the importance of going 100 percent all the time.

“I never had a serious injury, and I went into it thinking I don’t have to do everything I need to, to get back to where I was,” he said. “Now I know I have to do that.”

His advice for anyone else dealing with injury: Don’t make the same mistake.

“Don’t take anything for granted,” Brice said. “And whatever you do, put your full effort into it, because it will come back and help you later on.”

Brice played the season at linebacker but said he’s expecting to move to H-back this spring.

“That’s what I played in high school,” Brice said. “I’ll block, go out and catch routes and run some, and that’s what I expect.”

With offseason workouts under way, Brice said he’s got his sights set on having a much better sophomore year.

“I didn’t play as much as I wanted (last fall) because of my knee,” Brice said. “I’m going to prep as hard as I can and do everything I can to make sure I’m 100 percent to where I can do what I did at Cathedral.”

The recovery time for having part of his meniscus removed is two to three months, Brice said. With the procedure taking place in November, that puts him on schedule to be ready by the spring.

“I’m aiming for being 100 percent this spring,” he said.

Brice is the grandson of Hattie and John Brice.