The nickname “Junior” is fitting for Natchez High School graduate Mo Lyles, especially after following in his father’s footsteps at Mississippi College.

Just recently, however, Lyles proved just how hard his own work can pay off by earning a football scholarship under his own name.

After graduating high in 2017, Lyles took last fall semester off to become bigger and stronger. He walked on to the team in the spring and signed his scholarship papers nearly two weeks ago.

“It feels good. I didn’t know it would happen this soon,” the linebacker said. “One day after practice my coach told me to come to his office and there were the papers. It’s a dream come true.”

Lyles said though he is extremely excited for his official new venture, he hasn’t forgotten whose shoes he is stepping into.

Mo Lyles Sr., a two-time all-conference player and once named all-american, was inducted in the Mississippi College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

“I’m so blessed because he’s shown me the ropes ever since I was little,” Lyles Jr. said. “He’s definitely someone I can look up to.”

continuing the legacy, his father said he really had nothing to do with it.

“He had a plan,” Lyles Sr. said. “He wanted to go to Mississippi College regardless. He didn’t want to go to any other school. He was always locked into it.

“I always told him hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and he was rewarded.”

Now that he’s there, Lyles Sr. said he couldn’t be happier for his son.

“When he told me, I was so excited for him,” he said. “I remember him being at the (Hall of Fame) induction. He was 8 years old, but I never thought about him being at Mississippi College playing ball. He just grew into to it and fell in love with it.”