[1/21/05]Austin Divinity is set to become the latest athlete from Utica to roam the football fields at Southern Miss.

The standout defensive back, wide receiver and kick returner verbally committed to the Golden Eagles and said he will report to Hattiesburg in July.

Meanwhile, former Vicksburg High standout defensive back D’Eldrick Taylor committed to Louisiana Tech. Taylor spent the last two seasons at Hinds, where he was a standout safety. Both athletes have qualified academically.

Verbal commitments are non-binding, and players can sign on Feb. 2.

“They have a lot of seniors graduating in the secondary this year,” said Divinity, a four-year starter for the War Dawgs. “I think I can get some early playing time.”

Divinity chose Southern Miss over Ole Miss.

“They are a hard-nosed defense and I like that,” Divinity said. “I think I have a good chance to go to the (NFL) if I stay there the whole time. They have a good history of sending players to the show.”

Over the past three seasons, Divinity has thrown for 1,349 yards and 10 touchdowns, run for 2,661 yards and scored 43 touchdowns and caught five passes for 131 yards.

“They said they want to work me at defensive back, wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner,” Divinity said.

The 6-foot, 2-inch Divinity said former Utica High standout offensive lineman O’Lester Pope, who played at Southern Miss, and current assistant coach Reginald Warnsley, also a USM grad, were pleased with his decision.

“Mr. Pope said it was a good place to play football,” Divinity said.

Southern Miss finished last season 7-5 and ended the year with a New Orleans Bowl victory over North Texas.

Taylor, who signed with Southeast Missouri during his senior season at Vicksburg High, said picking Louisiana Tech was pretty simple.

“Their entire secondary is leaving,” Taylor said. “There’s a good chance I can jump right in.”

La. Tech, which plays in the pass-happy Western Athletic Conference, won Taylor’s services over Southeast Missouri and several Division II schools.

“I know the style the schools play a lot of passing,” Taylor said. “Plus the conference has good teams like Boise State and Fresno State. They play a really tough schedule.”

The Bulldogs went 5-6 last season, including three non-conference losses to Miami, Tennessee and Auburn.

Taylor helped lead Hinds to the state championship game last season, a loss to eventual National Junior College champion Pearl River.

He played for three years at Vicksburg High and made a name for himself as a ferocious hitter in the secondary, once bending his facemask and another time breaking the crown of his helmet.

“I think I need to get a little faster,” Taylor said. “Other than that, everything is good.”