NATCHEZ — It only took one semester at the University of Southern Mississippi for former Trinity Episcopal football standout Kent King to realize how much he missed the game he loved.

King enrolled at Southern Mississippi as a preferred walk-on and practiced a couple of times with the Golden Eagles last summer before his first fall semester. But he quickly discovered that playing football at Southern Miss was not for him.

“I got there, and it wasn’t a good fit for me,” King said. “I didn’t really enjoy it up there.”

King decided to stay at Southern Miss as a student but when October rolled around and football was in full swing, King started to have pigskin withdrawals.

“I just missed the feeling of having a team,” he said. “Having a bunch of friends go out there and practice and play the game we all love is what I miss the most.”

King said he sat down and discussed the situation with his father, Trinity football coach David King, and they decided that Kent should go play football at Northwestern State University.

“I got a real good feel for (Natchitoches, La.),” King said. “I actually like it a lot. It’s a lot like Natchez. It’s an older town that’s about the same size. It’s more comfortable.

“(NSU) is where I wanted to go in the first place last year. (I went to Southern Miss because) I was only wanting to play somewhere bigger.”

King said another deciding factor in his decision was that former Trinity player Larry Calcote, who will be a senior this season, is already a member of the Demons’ football team.

“I talked to (Calcote) a little bit,” King said. “He was real excited I decided to come.”

King enrolled at NSU approximately three weeks ago and will join the football team as a walk-on in February, he said.

“They don’t allow walk-ons to start until Feb. 7,” he said. “I’m working out on my own right now.”

King said he has spoken with a couple NSU coaches, but they have not discussed specifics on what position he will play or what his role on the team may be.

“I’m just excited about being a part of a team again and playing football,” he said.

King said his transition to NSU has been easy so far.

“Classes are pretty much small just like in high school,” he said. “I love all my professors. It’s just been a real easy change for me. The teachers have made it easy for me to come in and act like I’ve been here my whole life.”

King said he started out studying physical therapy at Southern Miss but now he is unsure of what he wants to focus on in the classroom. He will have four years of eligibility at NSU.