Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson will serve as the featured guest speaker for the 34th annual Miss-Lou Chapter of the National Football Foundation awards banquet on Feb. 26, 2015.

“I’m honored they would choose me,” Hopson said. “It’s certainly a privilege any time I get to come back to Natchez.”

This will be Hopson’s first year to be the guest speaker of the banquet, and Hopson is thrilled to return to what he called his university’s “hometown.”

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get to mingle with the great Alcorn State fans that are there,” Hopson said.

Hopson is the third-year head coach of the Braves, and has amassed an 18-11 record since taking over in 2012.

The Miss-Lou chapter president William “Key” Smith Jr. said it was an ideal situation to find a guest speaker that has such an influence on the area.

“We always seek to have a high-quality speaker, but we’re benefitting from getting a great coach who uses a lot of the talent out of the Natchez area,” Smith said.

Smith said he expects a great turnout because of Hopson’s resume and the amount of Alcorn State fans that are in the area.

“Not only that, but I’m surprised every year when I see the resumes of these young athletes,” Smith said. “We have some talented young men in the area, and I know this event will get a lot of publicity.”

Hopson turned around the Braves in a year’s time, improving from 4-7 in 2012 to 9-3 in 2013. His team tied for second in the eastern division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season. The Braves are 5-2 this season and are 3-1 in conference play.