The Southwind Jaguars have been treated to some special quarterback play over the last three years from former star Kelvin Perkins.
From 2023-25, Perkins amassed more than 7,000 yards passing
while finding the end zone 115 times with a 62% completion rate during his high school career. He also won the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award twice (2025 in 6A, 2023 in 5A) and led the Jaguars to two state semifinal appearances.With Perkins now at Austin Peay, it's time for a new signal caller to step into that role. Kirby transfer Malcolm Jack will be that player.
Jack, a senior, understands the pressure that comes with replacing a program legend as it faces the start of the TSSAA football season.
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"I feel like people want me to live up to what KP did here last year," Jack said. "I feel like I'm the right guy to do it. I just want to keep my head down, keep pushing and lead everybody the right way."
At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Jack is a dual-threat quarterback who uses his speed and agility to extend plays.
Jack and Perkins have similar builds, but the senior quarterback wants to create a path of his own. While he understands the expectations from the Southwind community, he does not want to be viewed as a replacement for Perkins.
"We have similarities in some ways, but I want to separate myself," Jack said. "I don't want to be him. I want to be myself."
Southwind coach Jerome Griffin believes the senior has already shown why he deserves the opportunity to lead the Jaguars' offense.
"His pocket presence and the way he's picked up the offense have impressed me the most," Griffin said. "We do a lot of different things offensively, and he's come in, made good reads and learned it really well."
Griffin also credited Jack's two years as Kirby's starting quarterback, saying his experience helped make the transition smooth and gave the coaching staff confidence in him. He led Kirby to a second-place finish in Region 8-4A and an appearance in the playoffs, but Jack wants to prove he's more than just a running quarterback.
"Most people like to say I just want to run the ball," Jack said. "I want to prove this season that I can do it all. I know what I can do out there. I just want to show everybody."
Griffin believes Jack has taken major strides as a passer, particularly on intermediate throws, deep balls and out routes. He also credited Jack's growing chemistry with senior receiver DeSean Brown.
Brown said that connection grew when Jack transferred to Southwind, as the two spent time training together in the spring.
"The first day I found out he had transferred to Southwind, I felt like he had a good work ethic and we were actually training together," Brown said. "Working together every day in the weight room and getting reps at practice, I feel like that's just built our chemistry."
That relationship has helped both players push each other heading into the season.
"He's a hard worker," Brown said. "Every day he comes in and pushes me, I come in and push him. I motivate him, he motivates me. Just staying consistent every day, that's what's going to get us to the top."
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Malcom Jack stepped into QB role once held by a Southwind football legend
