DEKALB — If anyone questioned where Marcus Green would choose to play college football, they were answered when the Kemper County High School standout strode into the KCHS library Wednesday morning.

The Meridian Star’s 2006 All-Area Player of the Year entered wearing a broad smile and a Mississippi State University tie before signing his letter of intent to play with the Bulldogs.

Wednesday was the first day that high school football players were allowed to sign with a college, and Green wasted no time making his intentions known at a 9 a.m. press conference in front of friends and family. Green chose MSU over — among others — Alabama, Southern Miss and Ole Miss.

“It feels great to be a Bulldog,” Green said. “I wanted coach (Sylvester) Croom to be my coach. He’s a good man and good coach. I knew from day one that I was going to be a Bulldog.”

Green totaled more than 3,000 yards in 2006, rushing for 1,618 yards and 276 touchdowns and averaging 10.4 yards per carry. He also hit on 42-of-82 passing attempts for 520 yards and seven TDs; returned two kickoffs for TDs; ran for four two-point conversions and threw for another.

Since consolidation in 1989-90, Kemper County has been known for its strong basketball tradition, but Green is the first Wildcat football player to sign with a Division I school in that time frame.

“It’s a great honor,” Green said. “Hopefully it opened the door for other great players here. We’ve got some great football players here too, not just basketball.”

KCHS coach Brock Clay said he hopes Green’s signing will increase interest in the Wildcat football program, which made big strides last fall.

“I hope we will become known as a football school,” Clay said. “We had a great group of seniors who made the effort to get us to the next level. This group has laid the foundation.”

Clay was also pleased Green chose to play college football in his home state.

“I’m all about in-state schools,” Clay said. “The decision wasn’t up to me but I’m not upset that he’s staying close to home.”

Four other Kemper County players also signed to play football at the junior college level, with defensive lineman DeJay Watkins, linebacker Torris Grady and offensive lineman Johnny Lucas signing with East Mississippi and defensive back/tailback Jevorius Prince signing with Jones.

Clay said he thought each of those four players will have a chance at playing at a four-year college in two years — especially the 6-foot-7, 330-pound Watkins.

“He has exceptional potential on what he can do,” Clay said. “He only played two years of football and made real strides to become a good football player. If he continues his work ethic, he can definitely play Division I football.”

Clay called Grady “the leader of the defense”, complimented Prince on his “great work ethic” and said Lucas is a “huge kid that once he sets his mind to do something, he can be very good.”

Here’s a brief look at other area standouts who signed Wednesday:



Heidelberg High

The Oilers’ biggest two linemen — literally — signed with Jackson State while four other Heidelberg players are headed to junior colleges.

Six-foot Joshua Stephens and 6-foot-3 Rashad McGill — who both tip the scales at 300 lbs. — are headed to Jackson State. Both players were two-time all-state selections by the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

McGill, the son of former Heidelberg coach Larry McGill, had 68 pancake blocks and graded out at 94 percent last season. He and Stephens each played both ways during their careers and had several Division I schools interested.

Another lineman, MAC second-team all-stater Sedrick Jenkins, signed with East Mississippi, while the trio of Donny Bramlett, Darius Dear and Marcus Strickland all signed with Jones.



Enterprise

Senior tailback Demarcus Taylor is also headed to Jones, Enterprise coach Joel Speed said.

Taylor helped the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record and the Region 5-2A championship last fall. His 782 yards led a balanced rushing attack, and he averaged 7.9 yards per carry. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder also caught three touchdown passes.



Union

Four Yellowjackets signed Wednesday, including three with East Central.

Wide receiver Kenny Slaughter inked with Alcorn State after hauling in 38 passes for 736 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall when he was a Class 2A All-State choice by the MAC.

Signing with East Central were end/lineman Jaquarius Talley, linebacker Quadarius Wallace and quarterback/defensive back Jacob Massey.

Talley was one of Union’s top blockers at tight end, while Wallace was a second-team, All-State MAC choice with 113 total tackles.

Massey ran for 1,120 yards and 19 touchdowns and passed for 1,261 yards and 16 TDs and was also an All-State choice by the MAC.



Neshoba Central

Three Rockets signed with East Central Wednesday: Punter/kicker Derek Crenshaw, tailback Ken Robinson and linebacker Harvey Brown.

Robinson, a two-time All-Area selection by The Meridian Star, ran for 785 yards and caught 16 passes for 366 yards — totaling 16 touchdowns for the Rockets.



Others …

Noxubee County lineman Wallace Phillip and cornerback Avery Brewer both signed with EMCC, while Noxubee offensive lineman Eric Taylor inked with Jackson State … Leake Academy tight end/offensive lineman Justin Moore signed with ECCC … Sumter County defensive end Cordarro Law signed with Southern Miss after a breakout senior season in which he had 105 tackles and also ran for 1,026 yards and 11 touchdowns. Law is also a first-team, all-state selection in basketball … Lanky Philadelphia wide receiver Kylanski Hunter (6-foot-4, 190) signed with Jackson State … and Southern Choctaw linebacker Terrell Johnson signed with Mississippi State after registering 113 total tackles last fall.