Chico Hunter was of few words this morning, but his pen did the talking as the Warren Central safety signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Southern Mississippi.

&#8220Chico is a Golden Eagle,” said WC assistant coach Brian Oakes, who handled the scholarship paperwork for Hunter and three other Vikings who signed on the first day of the national signing period.

Viking defensive end Desmond Carson signed with Jackson State, while linebacker Larry Walker and guard John Stauts signed with Southwest Community College.

Hunter’s mother, Linda Johnson, was happy.

&#8220I’m so proud of my baby because he’s done a lot of hard work,” Johnson said. &#8220I’m very happy for him.”

Hunter still has some work to do to get qualified to play at Southern Miss. He has a 2.3 grade point average and has a 16 on the American College Test.

&#8220I take it again on Feb. 11,” said Hunter, who as a junior, was named the Vicksburg Post’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.

Carson is close to meeting NCAA requirements to fulfill his letter of intent with Jackson State. He scored an 18 on the ACT, but has only a 2.3 GPA.

&#8220Jackson State told me they will help me get my ACT score up and get my grades up as well,” Carson said.

Stauts and Walker are excited to stay as teammates as the pair signed with Southwest.

&#8220I’m still not going to go head-to-head with you,” Stauts, a guard, told Walker, who he regularly had to battle with in practice.

&#8220Both of us are crazy, so it’s good we’re going down there together,” Walker said.

Vicksburg High School expects to have five sign scholarships today at 2:30 at the VHS fieldhouse.

Chavous McWhorter, a running back, will sign with Louisiana-Monroe.

Offensive linemen Trey Curtis is still trying to decide between Jackson State, Grambling and Louisiana-Monroe.

&#8220I’ve got scholarship papers for all three for him,” VHS coach Alonzo Stevens said.

Linebacker Harold Knight has papers from three junior colleges: Hinds, East Central and Itawamba.

Kicker/punter John Howard could sign with either Grambling or Arkansas Pine Bluff.

The fifth Gator signee is 2005 Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year in defensive back Willis McGowan. He is expected to sign with Hinds.

Porters Chapel Academy coach Randy Wright said Vicksburg Post 2005 Offensive Player of the Year in Chris Mixon will sign with Hinds.

&#8220Chris feels like he can play at the Division I level so he turned down Delta State, Mississippi College and Belhaven to sign with Hinds,” Wright said. &#8220He feels if he goes there, he can get an opportunity to show he can he play at the Division I level.”

The Eagles will have three players sign with Mississippi College this afternoon in linemen Sidney Meacham, athlete Kenny Simms and linebacker Chris Mann. Kicker Evan Rogers will sign with Mississippi Delta Community College.