EMCC defensive lineman killed in Saturday wreck in Jones County

East Mississippi Community College is grieving the loss of one of its football players killed in a car crash Saturday.

Tyone Clemons, a defensive lineman at EMCC and a former West Jones High School all-star, was killed in a one-vehicle crash on Summerland Road in Jones County.

Maj. Jamie Tedford with the Jones County Sheriff's Department said deputies were dispatched to the scene at 11:32 a.m. and found both Clemons, the sole passenger, and driver Timothy George Brown alert and talking.

Both Brown and Clemons were sent to a hospital by ambulance. According to Tedford, Clemons "coded" en route, but it was not immediately clear if he died then or at the hospital. Deputies, Tedford said, indicated there was no way to tell from Clemons' demeanor at the scene how substantial his injuries must have been.

"Our hearts are heavy today. Please keep our team, coaches, staff and the EMCC family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this very difficult time. And more importantly, keep Ty's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with the unthinkable," reads a Facebook post on EMCC's page.

Across social media, EMCC faithful and others changed their profile pictures to a red "99" — Clemons' number — on a black background.

"He was a special young man with a great future, and he will be deeply missed," said EMCC President Thomas Huebner.

Clemons, known as "Philly" to many of his friends because he was born in Philadelphia, was a Mississippi Athletic Conference 5A defensive lineman at West Jones. He signed with EMCC in February 2016.

EMCC, ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA with a 10-1 record, is slated to play in the 2017 NJCAA National Football Championship on Dec. 3.

In EMCC's 11 games this season, Clemons had 16 tackles, five assists and three quarterback sacks.

Clemons' teammates, friends and family widely lamented his loss on social media.

"Just found out I lost a teammate today," wrote Eriq Kitchen above a photo of himself with Clemons and two other teammates. "You was like a brother to me..."

"My whole heart just shattered," wrote Clemons' girlfriend, Sules McDonald.