A line of players snaked around the bookshelves in the Warren Central library Wednesday, past the donuts and Cokes placed out on the counter and spilling well into the hallway.
When all of WC’s future college signees stood together in front of the school’s flag to take a group photo, it looked more like a team picture than one of just the college bound athletes.
Nine Viking seniors signed letters of intent with college programs Wednesday, the most in over a decade for a team that went 9-2 in 2014.
DeArius Christmas is headed to East Mississippi Community College, home of two consecutive NJCAA national championships, after notching 128 tackles to lead his team.
“First off, I’m thankful. It’s just a big lift off my shoulders and a big decision you make in life,” Christmas said. “It’s a decision you need to be most comfortable with and I feel great about it … There’s no turning down back-to-back national championships.”
The Vikings will also send four players to nearby Hinds Community College. Derrick Dotson, Jamarcus Williams, Malik Steele and Derrick Thomas all signed on to play with the Eagles Wednesday in an effort to continue their football careers.
“It’s going to be amazing. We’re each going to try to do things together to try and better ourselves while trying to better the team,” Steele said. “I think we’re going to do some big things together.”
Jaron Watkins inked his name to Mississippi Delta Community College, while Marcus Ragan landed a baseball scholarship to East Mississippi Community College.
“I’m most excited about seeing all my teammates sign and go to different schools. It’s a great feeling. You’ve been playing with these guys since junior high and now we’re all going off to start our different steps in our life.”
Michael Ware might have had the toughest decision of them all. The defensive back had offers from East Mississippi, Pearl River Central and Southwest Mississippi, eventually deciding on Southwest.
“At the end of the day, he went with his heart and what he thought was best for him,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “I look for him to make an immediate impact and hit the door running.”
The biggest class in recent WC memory has also been its most productive. Not only have the Vikings led Mississippi in total defense two years in a row, they also reached the playoffs in each of the past two seasons and combined to win 17 games in two years.
“We really feel good about the product that we’ve been able to put out this year. The type of kids that we have, this group that’s here, is not normal. They are special,” Morgan said.
“They’re a special group. Here’s the thing that we’ve already recognized. Everything that they’ve done for the last three or four years, our kids behind them have picked up where they left off. That’s the mark of a true leader.”