DeMichael Harris and Josh Price have been best friends since they were in the second grade together at South Park Elementary.

Just because they’re headed off to college doesn’t mean they needed to go their separate ways.

Wearing matching white shirts and maroon suspenders, the pair of St. Aloysius seniors made good on their previous verbal commitments by signing letters of intent with Hinds Community College on Wednesday. Harris, a running back, will play football and track and field, while the defensive lineman Price will play football only.

A third St. Al player, kicker Casey Griffith, signed with Southwest Mississippi Community College.

“It beats lining up on the opposite side of the ball from (Price),” Harris said. “It’s definitely going to help motivate us. We’ll stay on each other’s butts and make each other better.”

Harris is a two-time Vicksburg Post Offensive Player of the Year and the 2015 Gatorade Track and Field Player of the Year for Mississippi. He was recruited by a number of schools and received scholarship offers from the track programs at Ole Miss and Southern Miss.

Hinds, though, was the best offer that allowed him to do both sports.

“It was an opportunity for me to showcase both of my talents on the next level,” Harris said. “I didn’t want to give football up for track. I’ll do my two years and see what my options are after that.”

Price had offers from most of the same schools as Harris — several junior colleges, plus Alcorn and Jackson State — but felt Hinds was the best fit. His older brother Norman played there and went on to become a starting offensive tackle at Southern Miss, and he liked the feeling of familiarity.

“When I visited Hinds it was something about the environment and seeing familiar faces,” Price said. “My brother went to Hinds, and having coaches who know my background, I feel like it’s going to be a comfortable environment.”

Like Harris, he said having a close friend and likely roommate to keep him on his toes will be beneficial.

“We already know some people, but having a close friend is going to help with our grades and keeping each other on track academically and athletically,” Price said.

While Harris and Price were heavily recruited since last year, Griffith was eyeing tryout dates until about a month ago.

Griffith hit 76 consecutive extra points in 2014, and 112 of 116 over the past two seasons. He also made five field goals this season. Despite that success, he didn’t have any scholarship offers until Southwest Mississippi called.

“It shocked me when I heard it,” Griffith said. “I was hoping. I knew all along somebody would pick me up. I was going to try out if it didn’t happen.”

Although Southwest was his only offer, Griffith said that wasn’t the reason he signed with them. He liked what he saw on his visit and what they have to offer.

“It was a clean place and they have some good programs, school-wise. All the football players graduated with a 3.0 (GPA) or better last year,” Griffith said.