
Melvin Puckett {Shotby17)
By Matt Rothman
Monarch High School’s Offensive Lineman Melvin Pluckett officially announced his commitment to attend Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach.
He becomes the second Knight in the past week to commit to the Wildcats, joining Malik Kelsey, and will also join 2023 graduate Wistanson Mathurin with Bethune Cookman.
“It’s an amazing feeling to want to be wanted,” Puckett said. “It’s hard to believe I was able to make this decision.”
Puckett started playing football in Kentucky but says playing at Monarch and offensive line coach Roberto Monatez has really helped him become the best guard he can be. When looking at a school to play at, he felt the coaches showed him a lot of love and would routinely check in on him after games.
This season, Puckett was a major part of an offensive line that reached the State Semifinals after the teams won their second straight District Championship and first Regional Title in school history. He helped protect quarterbacks AJ Hairston, Jaeden Phillips, and Jack Spaeder, who threw for over 4,400 yards while their running backs ran for 2,253 yards. Before going to college, Pluckett hopes to continue to work on his technique.
“It’s been my dream to go to a four-year university and make my mother proud of what I can accomplish with my skill sets on the field and in the classroom,” Puckett added.
Bethune Cookman is coming off a season with wins against Savanah State, Mississippi Valley, and Alabama A&M.

Melvin Puckett. {Shotby17)
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