Home State Playmaker
November 17, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Emmanuel Forbes’ talent has him as a finalist for the Conerly Trophy.
STARKVILLE – Mike Leach has coached hundreds of players in his decades-long career. As a result, the Mississippi State leader knows special when he sees it.
So, when Leach offers praise, it's not to be taken lightly. And when it comes to discussing cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, Leach is quick to give some of the highest kudos a coach can hand out.
"We certainly need more guys like him," Leach said.
To be the type of guy your coach wishes he could duplicate? Well, it doesn't get much better than that. But you don't have to be a legendary football coach to recognize the greatness of Forbes.
It was just a few short years ago the Grenada, Mississippi, native made the decision to stay in his home state and put on Maroon and White for his collegiate career. Then, from the moment he stepped foot on campus, he started making plays. Jump to the present and Forbes was just this week selected as a finalist for the C Spire Conerly Trophy – an award given annually to the state of Mississippi's top college football player.
"It means a lot," Forbes said of having a chance to take home the Conerly. "It's great to be able to represent myself and be able to represent my family well and represent Mississippi State. It's an honor to be a part of this for my school."
Whatever happens when the Conerly Trophy is awarded on Tuesday, November 29, there's no denying Forbes is one of the very best in Mississippi and beyond.
Forbes enters Saturday's game against East Tennessee State tied for second in the nation with five interceptions this season. He's the active career leader in interceptions returned for a touchdown and in overall defensive touchdowns. Earlier this season, Forbes tied the Southeastern Conference's career record for pick-sixes when he notched his fifth.
Oh, but there's more. With 13 total career interceptions, Forbes is also the active SEC career leader in that category and is tied for the national lead among active players in the FBS. He leads the nation in picks since his career began in 2020 and he's now tied for fourth in Mississippi State history.
As you see, from his freshman year on, all Forbes has done is lock down receivers and get the cowbells to clanging. But what is it that makes Forbes so good?
"He's passionate about football," Leach explained. "Forbes is a guy that's thinking about football when nobody else is. He's a smart guy and Forbes is a guy that picks up little nuances and little tips and stuff that sometimes allows him to get a quick start and trigger on something. He's got a really quick first step. He triggers to the ball and plays with a certain amount of power that exceeds his size because he gets a quick start. He is a fearless guy, and he is a very competitive guy and he's one of the more competitive guys on our team."
Like Leach, State cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath is perhaps most impressed about Forbes' football IQ.
"Obviously [he has] the physical traits – great ball skills, the length, the speed, the quickness, the change of direction," McBath said. "But, above the neck, he is elite. He can remember things. You can coach him up. We draw on things from weeks ago on the sideline like, 'Remember when we did this?' He can pull it out of the back [of his mind]. He's a sharp kid and I think that's what's going to separate him [as his career progresses]."
Forbes passes around the credit for him becoming the player he has developed into. He cites his former teammate and current Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson as a huge inspiration. Forbes and Emerson played with each other in 2020 and 2021 before Emerson went to the Browns in the third round of the most recent NFL Draft.
"[Emerson] taught me to just never panic," Forbes said. "Just stay calm no matter what. That'll get you through."
Forbes' thank-you list continues through all the coaches he's crossed paths with from high school to the present. Emerson and those coaches helped mold a playmaking machine.
All of Emerson's success might've come as a surprise to some but not to him.
"I've been doing all that since high school," Emerson said. "It's been just the usual for me."
Emerson expects to do big things. He expects to be a cornerstone. It's the standard he's set for himself.
If he has it his way, he'll make a few more big plays this season and add on to his incredible resume. To hear him tell it, there's no big secret as to how he plans to do it.
Forbes' recipe includes adhering to an often-uttered Leach philosophy.
"Just do your job and that'll make the play for you," Forbes said. "That's how I make my plays. I just do my job."
No wonder Leach is such a fan of Forbes. They sound a lot alike.
"Do your job," they both believe.
But very few can do it as well as Forbes.
