Mississippi Delta Community College

MOORHEAD, Miss. (July 16, 2026) – Mississippi Delta Community College’s esports program has completed a landmark inaugural season highlighted by rapid growth, national competitive success and expanded visibility across Mississippi and the nation.

Launched during the 2025-26 academic year with 11 student-athletes, the program has nearly tripled in size, growing to 30 participants for the 2026-27 academic year. The expansion reflects increasing student interest in competitive gaming and the program’s growing reputation as an emerging esports destination.

The program also emphasized academic achievement throughout its inaugural season, finishing with a 3.1 cumulative team grade point average.

On the competitive stage, MDCC competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE) Division III Madden League during the fall semester, quickly establishing itself among the nation’s top programs. The Trojans finished the season with a player ranked No. 2 nationally while recording multiple victories by margins of more than 100 points.

Following its early success, MDCC transitioned from Division III to Division I competition during its first year and advanced to the 2026 NJCAAE Division I National Championship, finishing the season as the national runner-up.

Three Trojan student-athletes earned Top 10 national rankings in Division I Madden competition. Vegas Taylor finished the season ranked No. 2 nationally, Kendall Cleveland ranked No. 3 and JaChristian Sutton ranked No. 6.

“Competing on the national stage showed our students that they belong among the best,” said MDCC esports coach Ja’Coby Braboy. “This experience wasn’t just about gaming. It was about building confidence, teamwork, leadership and opening doors to careers in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. I’m incredibly proud of what they accomplished and what this means for the future of MDCC Esports.”

“From the beginning, my vision was to ensure that our students had the opportunity to experience the exciting world of esports. This is one of the fastest-growing activities in higher education today, and colleges and universities across the country have seen firsthand how esports can strengthen enrollment, increase student engagement, and create a more vibrant campus experience.

I could not be more proud of Coach Ja’Coby Braboy and the outstanding job he has done in leading our esports program. He has taken esports by storm and has guided our Trojan team to an incredibly successful inaugural season and the first of what I know will be many achievements as we compete in the NJCAAE. This is just the beginning, and I am excited to see our esports program continue to grow and provide new opportunities for our students for years to come,” said MDCC President Dr. Steven Jones.

Beyond collegiate competition, the program expanded its impact throughout the state by creating and leading the MDCC Madden League, a statewide high school esports tournament involving 14 schools across 10 counties. The initiative strengthened recruitment efforts, increased community engagement and introduced more prospective students to opportunities available at Mississippi Delta.

Building on its successful first season, MDCC Esports will expand its competitive offerings for the 2026-27 academic year by adding teams in Call of Duty, Fortnite, NBA 2K and Nintendo titles, creating additional opportunities for student participation and competition.

With national recognition, continued enrollment growth and expanded competitive opportunities, MDCC Esports has established a strong foundation for sustained success as one of the region’s emerging collegiate esports programs.