Roman Womack (No. 79)
Some might think it was a difficult decision for offensive tackle Roman “Chop” Womack to decide he would continue his career at Ole Miss after a stellar start at Northwest (Miss.) Community College.
Why?
Well, because his father, Floyd “Porkchop” Womack, was one of the most decorated and talented players in the history of…wait for it…Mississippi State. The elder Womack, also an offensive tackle, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks out of Mississippi State in the 2001 NFL Draft.
It must be said, that this reporter actually covered the elder Womack when he was starring for East Side High School in Cleveland, Miss., back in the late 1990s.
Porkchop, the elder version, also played for the Cleveland Browns, logging nine seasons in the National Football League.
That’s legacy stuff in Starkville.
Now, all of a sudden, Roman Womack is a Rebel. He will move to Oxford later this month and officially become an Ole Miss Rebel.
“First of all, I just want to give all glory to God for putting me in this situation,” Womack said when asked why Ole Miss.
Then he answered the question.
“The reason why I chose Ole Miss was because I just fell in love with the coaching staff,” he continued. “The city of Oxford…I really felt a connection when I came down there, especially talking football. The coaches are really great people. I had never heard anything bad about them, so that definitely was a plus. They have a lot of NFL experience, as well, and that should set me up for the future.”
Womack, who was born in Seattle in the midst of his dad’s NFL career, currently stands 6-6 and 298 pounds.
Ole Miss recruited Womack to play offensive tackle.
“They said I have the body of a tackle and the work of a tackle,” he said.
Now, let’s get down to the dirty. What was dad Porkchop’s take on his son becoming an Ole Miss Rebel?
“He is with me a hundred percent. He said, ‘Hotty Toddy.’ When I was ready to commit, he was there with me. We were locked in a hundred percent,” said Womack.
Roman Womack
Did the current status of each program…Ole Miss and Mississippi State…play a part in his decision? Ole Miss made the college playoffs last year. Mississippi State did not.
“Yes. I feel like when it comes to trying to get somewhere as far as like the big leagues, you’d rather be put on ESPN every week, putting on a show for the scouts. I feel like being at a bigger program would make that happen, sour sure,” Womack explained.