Vicksburg High linebacker Rory Johnson is all smiles after he signed to play college football at Mississippi State on Wednesday. (Jenny SevcikThe Vicksburg Post)

[2/5/04]Rory Johnson is wrapped up in maroon and white.

The Vicksburg High linebacker, who was one of the most sought-after recruits of the 2004 class, has signed a national letter of intent to play football at Mississippi State.

“Mississippi State was pretty much always my school,” said Johnson, who made his decision after a campus visit to Starkville in January but held off on an announcement until the last minute. “I just wanted to keep everybody in suspense as to what I was going to do, but I knew. I’ve known for about a week.”

He was one of five Gators to sign with a four-year school on Wednesday, the first day high school players are allowed to do so. Wide receiver Maurice Taylor signed with Southern Miss, running back Michael Rainey and offensive lineman Mike Smith signed with Grambling, and offensive lineman Fred Kelly signed with Alcorn. All except Johnson honored previous non-binding verbal commitments.

“I always wanted to play down there, and stay close to home,” Taylor said of Southern Miss, where he committed to play in early January. “I always wanted to go there.”

Rainey and Smith are the fifth and sixth VHS players to sign with Grambling in the last three years. Rainey signed on for a chance to play alongside his brother, Antonio, a defensive back for the Tigers. Michael Rainey played running back for the Gators, but may be switched to defensive back in college.

“I prefer to play offense, but if they need me to play defensive back that’s what I’ll do,” Michael Rainey said.

In addition, defensive back William Erves and offensive lineman Chris Noye signed with Itawamba Community College. Warren Central defensive linemen Kenny Stewart and James Henderson, as well as safety Jason Williams, will sign with Southwest Community College today.

Another VHS recruit, wide receiver Ben Shelton, did not sign with a school on Wednesday. He was still weighing several junior college offers. Division I-A programs Troy State and Cincinnati were also showing some very late interest.

Johnson was the top prize from Warren County, though. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound outside linebacker with 4.3-second speed in the 40-yard dash had 239 tackles and 15 sacks in three seasons as a starter for the Gators, and had scouts from Lincoln, Neb. to Hattiesburg drooling.

His final four choices included MSU, Southern Miss, Nebraska and Ole Miss. All but State fell off for various reasons.

“I did consider Nebraska, but it’s so far away. I’m too spoiled. I can’t leave my mama,” said Johnson, who visited Lincoln last weekend. “Plus it was cold. When I got off the plane it was 2 degrees.”

Johnson liked Southern Miss, but was worried that he would party too much. Ole Miss fell off his list when linebackers coach Jim Knowles left the school last week to become the head coach at Cornell.

That left only Mississippi State, which had been high on Johnson’s list since his campus visit.

“Every summer we go to Mississippi State, but I never really looked at the campus. I just loved everything about it,” he said.

State’s new head coach, Sylvester Croom, and his status as the first black head coach in the Southeastern Conference, also played a large part in Johnson’s decision.

“Coach Croom, when I met him he just blew me away. He’s got a good personality. He talked to me right and everything,” Johnson said. “Coach Croom is a straight-up type of coach. He told me everything was wide open … Coach Croom helped my decision a whole lot. I just like to start new. It makes the whole experience better.”

Although Johnson knew where he was heading, he did his best to give false clues to everyone else. He talked about how much he liked Nebraska after his visit there, and even wore an Ole Miss jersey to school last week.

“I wore my Ole Miss jersey that day just to see how everybody was going to be,” he said with a laugh. “Everybody was like, Oh, you’re going to Ole Miss.'”

Johnson added that it will be a relief when the recruiting craze dies down and his phone stops ringing.

“It’s heaven,” he said with a laugh. “Now I can actually get some sleep.”