Alcorn State University picked up a pair of Vicksburg Gator linemen, while Hinds Community College continued its foray into Warren County by landing the Vicksburg Post’s 2006 Defensive Player of the Year in Dekores Branch.

In all three cases, the decision for Branch, Mark Cabatay and David Williams came down to whether to spend two years at a junior college or go straight to a senior college.

Cabatay and Williams opted to go the four-year route by signing with Alcorn State while turning down offers with Jones County Junior College in Ellisville.

Branch turned down offers at Southern University in Baton Rouge and Louisiana College to go to Hinds in order to play his way into a better deal in the future.

&#8220Hinds is a good opportunity and it will allow me to build up my size and speed. And then after one year, I can look at my opportunities. I really want to play for a Division I program,” Branch said.

Branch’s decision was aided by some late interest from Mississippi State and Southern Miss, his mother, Delores Hubbard, said.

&#8220We had some contact from Southern Miss and Mississippi State but they were out of scholarships and they said Hinds was a good option. Coach Armstrong at Hinds also said they can get the contacts to a great program,” Delores Hubbard said. &#8220I didn’t want Dekores to go to Southern in Baton Rouge because of the high crime rate down there after all the people who moved there after (Hurricane) Katrina.”

Branch said he is currently at 220 pounds. He would like to get up to 245 so that he can play either defensive end or linebacker at a D-I level. He was also one of 20 or so players on Hinds’ protected list.

Because he is an academic qualifier with adequate grades and a passing American College Test score, Branch can leave Hinds after one season and transfer to a senior college.

Seth Adams did that two years ago. He was Hinds’ starting quarterback in 2005 and then transferred to Ole Miss where he served as a backup for Brent Schaeffer this past season.

For Williams, the choice to go to Lorman or Jones came down to position.

&#8220Jones wanted me to play on offense and I wanted to play on defense,” said the Gator lineman.

The 6-foot, 287-pounder played defensive tackle and made 64 tackles last season for the Gators. He also played some offense, rotating in at guard and as a blocking back in goal line situations.

&#8220Alcorn offered me a chance to play defense and get an education,” Williams said. He will pursue a degree in either physical therapy or engineering.

Cabatay (6-3, 300) felt there were no guarantees at Jones.

&#8220If I went to Jones I had no guarantee that there would be anything available to me after two years. If I go to Alcorn, I have a scholarship for four years,” Cabatay said. &#8220Plus, the (football) program seems to be going in the right direction.”

The son of Mina Cabatay, Mark said he will major in pediatrics.

Gators’ coach Alonzo Stevens said some coaching dismissals at Louisiana Tech and Grambling had an effect on recruiting.

Grambling coach Melvin Spears’ staff has worked the Vicksburg area hard the past few years but he was fired after a 4-7 season in 2006.

Alcorn State stepped back in.

The firing of Jack Bicknell at Louisiana Tech caused the Techsters to reevaluate Gators receiver Vernon Wolfe. He is on Hinds’ protected list and did not sign on Wednesday.

Delta State came in late to inquire about linebacker Horace Allen and lineman Devin Nelson, causing both to wait a few days instead of signing with junior colleges.