Photo by: Kevin Brunt
By: Tim Latiker | ICSL Sports/ISN Media
October 29, 2026
KOSCIUSKO, Miss. — Before the explosive receiving performances, the touchdowns, and his commitment to Jackson State University, Jontavious Roundtree was a young athlete whose first passion wasn’t football. It was basketball.
But somewhere between his early days playing youth football for the Kosciusko Cardinals and scoring his first touchdown in junior high school, something changed. The game became more than another sport. It became something he wanted to pursue with everything he had.
Today, the Kosciusko High School senior is making his mark as one of Mississippi’s productive Class 4A wide receivers. Behind the statistics is a story of determination, a serious knee injury, unwavering self-belief, and a young man who understands that success requires more than talent.
Where the Love for Football Began
Roundtree began playing football around age five with the Kosciusko Cardinals youth program. Although basketball initially captured his attention, his experiences on the football field gradually changed his interests.
During an exclusive conversation with ICSL Sports / ISN Media, Roundtree recalled the excitement of scoring his first touchdown in junior high school. That moment helped deepen his connection to the sport.
He was especially drawn to the wide receiver position.
“Just watching people run routes, catch the ball and score touchdowns,” Roundtree explained. “I just loved seeing that and made me want to be a wide receiver so bad.”
Football was also familiar within his family. During the interview, he spoke about an uncle who played quarterback at McAdams and a cousin with ties to Mississippi State football.
But it was his own experiences, along with the coaches who taught him the fundamentals in youth football, that helped shape his development.
An ACL Injury That Tested His Determination
Every athlete faces challenges. For Roundtree, one of the biggest was suffering a torn ACL.
The injury presented a difficult recovery process and tested his commitment to returning to the field.
“When I tore my ACL and the recovery was the biggest challenge,” he shared, “but I had to keep working so I could come back to be the best version of me.”
For a player whose game depends on speed, route running, and creating separation, returning from a serious knee injury required determination.
Yet Roundtree said he never lost confidence in what he could accomplish.
“I never really doubted myself as a player because I knew what I was capable of doing,” he explained.
That belief has become an important part of his identity as a competitor.
A Performance That Demanded Attention
One of Roundtree’s defining performances of the 2026 season came against Olive Branch.
In Kosciusko’s 42–27 victory, he recorded seven receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns — an explosive outing that demonstrated his ability to change a game through the passing attack.
Roundtree described the performance as his best of the season.
“I did everything I could to help my team win that game and we came out with the victory,” he said.
Through seven games reflected in MaxPreps’ 2026 regional statistics, Roundtree had recorded 32 receptions for 782 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, averaging more than 24 yards per catch.
Those numbers tell part of the story. Roundtree believes his ability to run routes and separate from defensive backs is what makes him particularly difficult to defend.
“I think my route running and speed separates me from everybody else,” he said. “I feel like I could get separation on any DB in the state.”
His confidence is unmistakable, but so is his commitment to improving.
Locked In Before the First Snap
For Roundtree, preparation begins well before kickoff.
He described spending much of game day mentally focused on the challenge ahead. Even while sitting in class, his thoughts are often on the upcoming game.
He studies film, visualizes potential situations, and thinks about how he wants to perform once he steps onto the field.
His favorite NFL wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, is one of the players he looks up to. Hill’s speed and playmaking ability reflect qualities Roundtree values in his own game.
When a critical moment arrives and Kosciusko needs a big play, Roundtree embraces the responsibility.
“Everybody is counting on me and I have to make the play,” he explained. “No matter what is happening in the play I have to do everything in me to make it happen.”
That mentality is about more than catching passes. It is about being dependable when his teammates need him most.
Leadership Beyond the Statistics
While fans may recognize Roundtree for his touchdowns and receiving yards, he wants people to understand another part of his character.
He considers himself a leader.
“I’m a leader on the field,” Roundtree said. “I give my team talks in the huddle to lift them up and try to make everybody play at their best.”
For Roundtree, leadership means encouraging teammates, maintaining confidence, and helping the entire team remain focused.
One piece of advice he received has stayed with him throughout his development:
“No matter your size go play like your the best on the field.”
It is a message he has carried into competition, relying on effort, preparation, and confidence rather than allowing physical measurements to define his potential.
Jackson State and the Dream Ahead
Roundtree’s football journey has reached another important milestone with his reported commitment to Jackson State University.
The opportunity represents another step forward for a young athlete who began his journey on the youth football fields of Kosciusko.
But before he turns his attention fully toward the next level, Roundtree has unfinished business at home.
He wants to help Kosciusko pursue a Mississippi Class 4A state championship.
Individual recognition matters, but his conversations reveal a player motivated by something larger: contributing to his team’s success and making the most of the opportunity in front of him.
A Message Built on Experience
From discovering football after initially loving basketball to overcoming an ACL injury and developing into a productive high school receiver, Roundtree’s journey reflects the importance of persistence.
His message about achieving goals is straightforward:
“Never give up, if you think you can achieve something I promise you can achieve it, just put the work in that no others would want to do.”
It is advice shaped by his own experiences — the early practices, the injury recovery, the preparation, and the belief that hard work can create opportunities.
For Jontavious Roundtree, the next chapter may take him to Jackson State. But the foundation of his journey will always lead back to Kosciusko, where a young basketball-loving athlete discovered a passion for football and began building a dream of his own.
ICSL Sports / ISN Media — Exclusive Player Spotlight
Original interview conducted by Tim Latiker. Photograph courtesy of Kevin Brunt, used with permission.