Durant trio signs football scholarship offers

Three members of the 2023 Durant Lion football team signed college scholarships on National Signing Day last week to continue their careers at the next level.

Senior offensive linemen Carson Allivand and Tucker Dry were joined by wide receiver Kaydon Mimms in inking pacts with NCAA Division II programs. Allivand and Dry will attend Southeastern while Mimms is heading to the University of Central Oklahoma.

That trio has been major parts of the rebuilding process on the gridiron in head coach Todd Vargas’ four seasons at the helm. He credits that group as key components in the drive to get back to a .500 record this past fall.

“We are very excited for these young men,” Vargas stated. “It’s a testament to their hard work and perseverance to be able to go on to college and have a chance to play at the next level. This senior class was freshman class when we got here and are very dear to my heart. These three guys were a definite group of leaders. What they have done to start the upswing of our program has been tremendous. All three of them have great support staff around them to achieve this as well.”

Allivand was a rapidly rising standout that began receiving major attention after a strong junior season and summer thereafter while going to multiple camps throughout the region.

He continued that drive as a stalwart at the center position during his senior year, garnering Class 5A All Star recognition as well as being chosen by district coaches as the league’s Lineman of the Year.

“Carson is such an incredibly intelligent football player that has pushed himself over the past two years to become the player he is today,” Vargas added. “He is still learning his craft and I think he will have great success at the next level as he continues to get stronger and even more skilled.”

During the team’s 5-5 campaign, Allivand helped pave the way offensively for a unit that averaged 300 yards per game and amassed 29 touchdowns. That was an increase of more than 70 per outing from the 2022 season.

Admittedly, Southeastern turned into a pretty easy choice out of his eight scholarship offers.

“I never really started looking at the college opportunity until summer after my junior year when I started going to camp and colleges became really interested,” he commented. “I made three official visits but they treated me like family since the first time they talked to me and that really drew me to Southeastern.

“It’s a great situation for me with it being close to home. Since I started playing football back in the second grade in Durant I thought how cool it would be to get to play college on that field. And now I have the opportunity. It’s surreal.”

The future for Dry was extremely bright, starting on the Durant offensive line his freshman year but things turned sour with three injury and illness plagued seasons that had him on the sideline more than on the field. His freshman year he suffered a torn ACL, sophomore year was a torn hamstring and junior campaign was an autoimmune disorder that left some doubt whether he would ever play the sport again.

Dry returned to 100 percent in time for his senior year and became a key fixture at offensive tackle, helping spur a Lion rushing attack that averaged five yards per attempt as a finally healthy contributor all season.

“Tucker was an inspiration to our entire team the way he continued to fight through everything he was facing with a positive attitude,” Vargas said. “Obviously, he has some God-gifted abilities. What sets him apart is his determination. He never got down and never quit and became a huge part of our success.”

Dry earned All District in addition to All State honors and will play in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All State Game in July.

Ultimately though, he will fulfill a dream that began in sixth grade of playing collegiately.

“I’ve been eyeing this chance for a long time,” he said of continuing to the next level. “My junior year I was kind of worried that I might not ever get the chance. God has kind of paved the way for me in the past year and I’m thankful.

“The coaches at Southeastern were great and I like them a lot. I think they can do a lot for me as I continue my football career. Staying close to home was also a big part because my family and friends can all come see me play. I’m ready to get after it.”

Mimms, meanwhile, showed flashes during his junior season, leading the Lion run-heavy offensive unit with six receptions for 248 yards and a staggering 41.3 yards per catch. The big play target snagged four of his catches for touchdowns.

That just was the tip of the iceberg as the 6-2 receiver became a focal part of the Durant offense last fall, making 40 catches for 632 yards with eight touchdowns.

“Kaydon is a young man that walked in as a freshman at 5-foot-5, 110 pounds and really developed physically over his four years,” Vargas said. “It was all a credit to his hard work and determination to become the player he was. It was great to just watch him grow and mature physically.”

As a state track qualifier in the hurdles, Mimms showed his athleticism, which was on full display during a solid 2023 season that garnered him All District and Class 5A All Star honors.

He decided on Central Oklahoma for his collegiate home over several other offers.

“They really accepted me into their culture immediately and I think it is a great fit for me,” Mimms said. “I am looking forward to the challenge.”