Spring 2023 Showcase Nettles

Fredderick Nettles
New Purpose

Steve Freeman is a former NFL Player and NFL official who later became a rancher. Born in Lamesa, Texas, Freeman currently resides in Mississippi. Freeman was selected by the New England Patriots in the 1975 NFL Draft and later traded to the Buffalo Bills where he spent 12 NFL seasons. After retiring as an NFL player, Freeman became an official, working through the Southeastern Conference before joining the NFL in 2001 as a Back Judge. Freeman retired in 2020 and now is a full-time rancher in Oxford, MS.

Growing up as one of fourteen children in Conway, MS, Fredderick Nettles interest in Southern Studies is deeply personal and professional. Fredderick is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in general studies. Since obtaining his degree, he has started a Production Company called “Segment Productions” where he serves as CEO and Executive Producer. Fredderick decided to return to school to pursue an MA degree in Southern Studies with a focus in Documentary Expression. Freddericks’ plan for his thesis includes an in-depth analysis of the history Black athletes in Mississippi and the impact they have had on society. He will explore these themes through Film, Photography, and Oral History.