Next season, St. Aloysius offensive lineman Robert Arledge will trade one set of purple for another.

Arledge received an academic scholarship and will play football at Division III Millsaps in Jackson next season. NCAA Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.

He’ll be the second former St. Al player to suit up for the Majors after defensive lineman John Robert Burnett, who graduated in 2011, in recent years.

As for his position, Arledge said while the Millsaps coaching staff is leaning towards playing him on defense, he could also play on the offensive line. Either way, Arledge just wants to get on the field.

“I want to go to medical school and not only will I get a chance to play, I’ll have a chance to get a great education,” Arledge said. “They’ve got a great coaching staff and a great program at Millsaps.”

It’s been a long journey for Arledge, who tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the first game of his sophomore season and required season-ending surgery. But he’s played in every game since for the Flashes, starting at center on the offensive line and playing in the interior on the defensive line, where he had 57 tackles last season.

St. Al coach B.J. Smithhart is going to miss one of his best senior leaders.

“He (Arledge) brings us a sense of steady to us and was a rock at center,” Smithhart said. “He always gave his all and was a great example for our younger kids.”