Enterprise nose guard Josh Pruden knows when he has made a bigplay on defense. He doesn’t hear the cheers of the crowd but histeammates shower him with enthusiastic slaps on the helmet andshoulder pads. Pruden also reads their lips.

In last Friday night’s important 21-20 victory over NatchezCathedral, Pruden directed the Yellow Jackets on defense with 16tackles. That performance has earned him The Daily Leader’sDefensive Player of the Week award for the seventh week of the 2001campaign.

Pruden (5-11, 185) has been a major asset to the Enterprisedefense, helping Coach Ricky Deere’s Jackets to a 6-1 record thusfar this season. Before his junior season began, Pruden set severalgoals and two of them have been realized.

“One of my goals was to make Player of the Week,” saidPruden. “I wanted a winning season. I also want to beat BogueChitto and go to the state playoffs.”

Enterprise, 5-0 in Region 4-1A, is tied with Mize for thetop rung. The Jackets can secure a state playoff berth with aFriday night win at Vicksburg St. Aloysius.

Deere said Pruden got the attention of the coaching staffduring spring training. “We could hardly block him. He watches theball and doesn’t jump off sides. He’s pretty quick, too. He has hada bunch of tackles for us this year.”

Pruden has been playing for Deere since the seventh grade.He has made steady improvement, especially in the weight trainingprogram. He bench presses 230 pounds and squats with 390.

The hearing impairment doesn’t discourage Pruden on thefield or in the classroom. Off the field he wears a Cochlearimplant which enables him to clearly understand theteachers.

His favorite subject is physical science.

Enterprise defensive coach Scott Leggett said Pruden is agood student and plays with intensity. “He watches the ball andreacts real quick.”

Asked about his responsibility at nose guard, Pruden said,”I want to stop up the run and chase the quarterback. (Linebacker)Bobby Smith taps me on the leg to tell me which way to go. I canread lips, too.”

Joining Pruden in Enterprise’s front trench in the 53alignment are defensive tackles Dale Holmes, Gerard Vaughn andBobby Lambert and ends Kody Burns and Rufus Allen.

“I like any sport that involves contact,” said Pruden. “Ican take a hit.”

Pruden grinned and said he had a favorite saying, “If I’mhurt, I can still play. If I’m injured, I can’t.”

Leggett recalled a recent game at Stringer when Pruden wasshaken up and was still lying on the ground after the play hadended. “When I came up to him, he said, ‘I’m hurt but I can stillplay.'”

In his spare time, Pruden enjoys following Mississippi Stateand Ole Miss. His favorite NFL team is Green Bay and his favoriteplayer is Packer quarterback Brett Favre. “I always liked BrettFavre.”

Pruden said the Jackets must continue to work hard andimprove as the season continues. “We must improve every aspect ofour game each week. We are getting better on offense and defense.We have to get ready for Dexter, Mize and Bogue Chitto.”

Pruden wants to achieve his other two goals, too.