Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln C.C. linebacker Terrell Hartsfield continues to bide his time in Mississippi as he and his teammates prepare for the upcoming season this fall.

"It took a while for me to get used to it here. It's a long way from home and I never really thought I'd come to Mississippi for any reason," Hartsfield said. "It's been pretty nice, though. I've been able to make some friends and I really like the coaching staff, so I like it a lot more now since I've gotten a little used to it."

"I've just been going to class and trying to get myself ready for our season next fall. I've been trying to go as hard as possible in practice and in the classroom. I want to make sure and have my business taken care of so there won't be any more stops before I get to Texas Tech."

If everything goes according to plan, Hartsfield will arrive in West Texas in January. In the meantime, he's been working to improve all aspects of his game.

"I can feel myself improving already. We've been really hitting it hard in the weight room and I can feel some of that work already paying off," he said. "The coaches here are great and they really know what they're doing. We've been working to improve my speed, and of course just continuing to work on my technique."

"I just want to use this time to make myself a better football player all the way around. If I leave here without making any improvements, I feel like it would be a waste of a good opportunity to get better. I'm working hard to make sure that doesn't happen."

Harsfield has spent most of his time at linebacker, both inside and outside, but he's also diversified his game somewhat with the time he's spent at strong safety.

"I don't know if being a defensive back is in my future, but I think it's definitely going to help me down the road. It's really allowed me to read and react a little quicker I feel like. It's another world back there in the secondary."

The 6-foot-4, 237-pounder has continued to remain in frequent contact with Texas Tech assistant coach Robert Prunty.

"Oh yeah, Coach P and I still talk all the time," he said. "It's a real blessing to have a guy like that in your life and I don't waste any chances I have to talk with him. It seems like he's always got some motivation to pass along. It's not just about football, though. He wants to make sure I'm motivated to be a better person too. I really can't wait to get to Tech and be around Coach P, and the other coaches, on a regular basis."

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