Ole Miss Former Athletes: Where Are They Now? Featuring Terrence Metcalf

Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Terrence Metcalf discovered a deep love for football at the age of 12 when his cousin, Jeffrey Williams, encouraged him to play for the W.H. Higgins Junior High School football team.

“I loved everything about it,” Metcalf said. “The competitiveness and the aggressiveness. It teaches you camaraderie, how to work well with others and self control. You have to know how to control yourself and when to let go.”

Metcalf continued to play football throughout his middle school and high school years. In high school, through the recruiting process, Metcalf met his future teammates Deuce McAllister, Romaro Miller and Ken Lucas. The four young men became fast friends and talked of going to the same college together.

“We had looked at Ole Miss and Alabama,” Metcalf said. “Deuce called me after he had committed to Ole Miss. He said I had promised to commit with them… so I did.”

Over the next few years, under the leadership of Coach Tommy Tubberville and Coach David Cutcliffe, Metcalf grew his skills on the field as an offensive lineman. One of his favorite memories is helping carry the ball down the field and beating Alabama in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during his last season as a Rebel. This win came after Alabama had beaten Metcalf and the Rebels for four straight years.

“We just ran the ball really well and beating Alabama is one of my fondest memories,” Metcalf said. “My offensive line all went to the NFL, too. I love seeing the offensive line continue the tradition of going to the NFL.”

Metcalf declared for the draft early and was picked by the Chicago Bears in the 2002 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons in Chicago during which time he was a member of the Bears Super Bowl team in 2007. Metcalf then played for the Detroit Lions and the New Orleans Saints.

“Chicago is my first love, but New Orleans was like coming home,” Metcalf said.
“Football is always football, though. You have to be able to work with each other toward one common goal. It doesn’t work if all 11 guys are doing their own thing.”

While playing in the NFL, Metcalf always enjoyed playing against other former Ole Miss athletes such as Todd Wade and Tim Bowens.

“It’s always fun playing them,” Metcalfe said. “It’s like a family reunion.”

Metcalf and his family moved to Oxford following his NFL career, and he started his coaching career in the peewee league by coaching his own son in the Oxford Buccaneers. Soon afterward, Metcalf was given the chance to be assistant coach to the offensive line and then coach of the defensive line at Oxford High School.

Currently Metcalf is the offensive line coach at Pearl River Community College, but he can frequently be found in Oxford where his family continues to reside.

Metcalf’s wife, Tonya, lives in Oxford with their four youngest children Zharia, Zoe, Zkyra and Daylin, who are all enrolled in Oxford schools. The oldest Metcalf child is a current Ole Miss Rebel wide receiver DeKaylin “D.K.” Metcalf, who made his first career touchdown catch against Florida State in August.

“It’s everybody’s dream to see their son on the field,” Metcalf said. “I hear the chip off the old block ring out and I would be excited if they did that for us. It would be awesome to see a film of me playing followed by a film of him playing.”

Through all of his and his son’s success, Metcalf remains humble and supportive.

“DeKaylin doesn’t have any footsteps to follow in but the Lord’s,” Metcalfe said. “If it’s for you, it will be for you. And if it’s not, people will love you anyway.”

Amy Goodin is a writer for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at argoodin12@gmail.com.

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