Last Chance U


Last Chance U is an American documentary web television series that is produced and premiered by Netflix. The six-episode first season explores the football program at East Mississippi Community College, which features several collegiate athletes that have had trouble in their lives and struggled with finding structure. The players are then required to perform at the junior college level, under the stewardship of coach Buddy Stephens, in order to prove themselves and return to Division I.
The series' second season returned to Mississippi, but transitioned to Independence Community College in Kansas for the show's third season, which premiered on July 21, 2018. This was followed by a return to Independence for the fourth season; it debuted on July 19, 2019. The final season took place at Laney College in Oakland, California and premiered on July 28, 2020. In 2020, it was announced that a scripted drama based on the first two seasons would be produced by and starring Courteney Cox.

Synopsis

The first two seasons focus on all aspects of the football program at East Mississippi Community College, one of the most successful JUCO programs in the country. Major themes include the academic struggles of the players - some of whom have come from severely disadvantaged backgrounds. This is set against an overall redemption and coming-of-age “last chance” theme for the group of men struggling to find their place. Team academic advisor Brittany Wagner is featured prominently as she is tasked with getting all team members to graduate on time. Head coach Buddy Stephens' struggles with controlling his temper is also a major theme, which is often juxtaposed with his devout Christian faith that he attempts to impart on the team.

Season 1

The crew followed the EMCC Lions during their 2015 season as they attempted to capture their fourth JUCO national title. While the team appeared dominant for much of the year, their season was derailed after a brawl broke out during their game with Mississippi Delta. EMCC was disqualified from the state playoffs and a potential berth to the national championship game.
Ranking: NJCAA released prior to game.

Season 2

Netflix returned to Scooba to follow their 2016 season. Once again holding national championship aspirations, the team faced a major hurdle in that only 32 of their players were eligible for their opening game with Jones County Junior College due to suspensions related to the previous season's brawl. EMCC lost that game, 27–25, their first season-opening loss since 2010. The Lions would go on to win the rest of their games, but were left out of the national championship game when they finished the season ranked No. 3 in the polls.
Ranking: NJCAA released prior to game.

Season 3

Despite being invited back to EMCC for a third season, producers decided to move the show to Independence Community College of Kansas. The new location is different in that ICC has historically had much lower expectations than EMCC; in 2016, it ended the season 5–4, its first winning season in ten years. The ICC Pirates had a very successful recruiting campaign for the 2017 season, landing many acclaimed players who began at NCAA Division I schools.
Jeff Carpenter, the long-time Voice of the Indy Pirates delivers the back story of the team and the town of Independence, KS.
Ranking: NJCAA released prior to game.

Season 4

The fourth season continues in Independence, where the team fails to live up to high preseason expectations, finishing 2–8. After the season, Coach Brown is forced to resign for insensitive remarks.
Ranking: NJCAA released prior to game.

Season 5

The fifth season takes place in Oakland, CA at Laney College alongside football head coach John Beam.

Reception

The series was given a positive review by SB Nation's Jason Kirk, who summed it up as a "carefully crafted drama with personalities to care about."

Featured staff

EMCC

PlayerPositionTransfer inTransfer outNotes
DeAndre JohnsonQBFlorida StateFlorida AtlanticAfter sitting out the 2017 season due to blood clots in his arm, Johnson competed with Oklahoma transfer Chris Robison for the starting quarterback position. After not starting for FAU, Johnson transferred to Texas Southern in 2019.
Isaiah WrightRB—West GeorgiaWright participated in spring football at WGU but left the school before the season began. He was arrested for criminal homicide in September 2017. On November 8, 2017. the charges were dismissed against his brother Camion, also featured on Last Chance U. On August 8, 2018, Wright plead guilty to facilitation of aggravated robbery in exchange for having his criminal homicide charge dropped. He received credit for time served and was sentenced to five years of supervised probation. During 2019, Wright joined the Alcoa Alloys of the Independent American Football League.
Chauncey RiversDLGeorgiaMississippi StateRivers was redshirted for the 2017 season due to academic ineligibility. During the 2018 season, Rivers had 2.5 sacks and 24 tackles for the Bulldogs. After the 2019 season where he had 5.0 sacks and 40 tackles, Rivers was named to the 2019 All-SEC football team. In April 2020, the Baltimore Ravens signed Rivers as an undrafted free agent.
Dakota AllenLBTexas TechTexas TechHad a breakout junior season in 2017, with 92 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and six forced turnovers. Named All-Big 12 by Pro Football Focus and second-team All-Big 12 by coaches and media. Allen was officially invited for the NFL Scouting Combine in 2019. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft and became the first player of the show to be picked in the NFL Draft. He signed a contract with the Rams on June 7, 2019. He was signed off the Rams' practice squad by the Oakland Raiders in September, and made his NFL debut the following month. However, he was waived by the end of the month, and returned to the Rams' practice squad again in November, leaving a second time to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars in December.
Kamonte "Kam" CarterDLPenn StatePittsburghPlayed sparingly at Pitt and in January 2018, announced he was transferring. Ultimately transferred to Duquesne for the 2018 and 2019 season, where he made the All-NEC First Team both seasons.
Tim BonnerDLLouisvilleFlorida Atlantic
Vijay MillerQB——Also played baseball at EMCC as a pitcher and was drafted in the 14th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. After pitching for the Arizona League Padres for the summer, Miller returned to EMCC for the 2018 season.

PlayerPositionTransfer inTransfer outNotes
Malik HenryQBFlorida StateNevadaHenry failed to receive an offer from a Power Five conferences school, and was listed on the 2018 ICC football roster. He announced in January 2019 that he would be walking-on at Nevada. He started two games and then left the school.
Rakeem BoydRBTexas A&MArkansasRushed for 1,133 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Kerry BuckmasterOLVentura CollegeLindenwoodLater transferred to West Texas A&M. Quit football in March 2019.
Kingston DavisRBMichiganUABCut from the team following an arrest. Later transferred to Lane College.
Carlos ThompsonWRTexas TechMissouri WesternDecided to forgo his Senior season and declared for the 2019 NFL Draft.
Emmit GoodenDL—Tennessee
Calvin JacksonWR—Washington State
Keith WilliamsOL—Colorado State
Delrick AbramsDB—Colorado

PlayerPositionTransfer inTransfer outNotes
Jay JonesQBGeorgia Tech
Chase HildrethQB—Texas State
Markiese KingWR—LamarKing signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Lamar, but he withdrew from Independence before graduation, making him ineligible to play Division I college football.
Jermaine JohnsonDL—Georgia
Bobby BruceS—Manatee NeptunesA student reported $250 stolen from his dorm room. Bruce was seen on video entering the room with two other people and leaving with a full bag in his hand, he hadn't had with him while entering the room. Bruce was cut from the football team. Subsequently, signed to play arena football for the A-League's Manatee Neptunes. In February 2020, he was arrested for cocaine possession.
Kailon DavisDL—Arkansas State
Chance MainDL—Incarnate Word

PlayerPositionTransfer inTransfer outNotes
Dior Walker-ScottWR—Hawai'iPreferred walk-on
RJ SternWR—Decommitted from Tusculum
Day'Marr JohnsonWR—Merritt
Nu’u TaugavauOL—Murray State
Ryan MackeyQB——
Kentrell PierceDB—Lincoln
Rejzohn WrightDB—Oregon State
Keyshawn AshfordRB—Foothill
Alex GonsalvesRB——

Crew