When the dust settled on national signing day, Warren County had contributed heavily to the Class of 2016.

Fifteen players from the area signed or accepted spots as preferred walk-ons. Countywide, it was one of the largest classes we’ve had in a while. The stunning thing wasn’t the number of recruits, however, but where they went.

Of the 15 signees, 13 opted to play for one of Mississippi’s junior colleges.

To the uninitiated, junior college football is looked down upon as second-rate. To those in the know, however, junior college football — at least as it’s played here — is often a better option than a four-year program.

For players with upside, playing one or two years at a junior college is a chance to prove themselves. If you were overlooked or undersized and think you can play at an even higher level, then it’s an excellent place to achieve your goals.

The list of juco players from Mississippi who have gone on to four-year schools and the pros — and not just in football, but all sports — is too numerous to count. This year alone, Hinds Community College sent seven players on to four-year schools, including three to the Southeastern Conference. Former Warren Central stars Devontae Wilson (East Central/Delta State) and DeArius Christmas (East Mississippi/Grambling) also went the two year-four year route.

The reasons for Mississippi’s juco success are many. The talent level in the state is excellent, which means even the guys who slip through the cracks tend to be able to hold their own. Quite a few schools put an emphasis on it as well, with East Mississippi and Northwest Mississippi winning the last three junior college national championships, while Hinds, Copiah-Lincoln and Mississippi Gulf Coast are mainstays in the national rankings.

With all of that in mind, players in Mississippi don’t look at junior college offers as an insult. They view them as an opportunity, and rightfully so.

“Our guys understand that it’s a stepping stone. It’s about advancing to the next level,” said Warren Central coach Josh Morgan, who sent seven players to jucos on Wednesday. “Next to a Division I scholarship, it doesn’t get much better than a Mississippi junior college.”

It’s hard to argue that point.

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Ernest Bowker is a sports writer for The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at ernest.bowker@vicksburgpost.com or at 601-619-7120.