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Vicksburg High football players, from left, Willie Edmond, DeCorey Knight Jr., Mincer Minor, Dennis Battle and Mickell Jones pose for a photo at a signing day ceremony on Wednesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg High football player Mickell Jones sits alongside his parents Thomas and Doris Jones after signing with Clark Atlanta University on Wednesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg High football player Mincer Minor sits alongside family members after signing with Mississippi Delta Community College on Wednesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg High football player DeCorey Knight Jr. sits alongside family members after signing with Holmes Community College on Wednesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg High football player Dennis Battle sits alongside his father, Dennis Battle Sr., after signing with Southwest Mississippi Community College on Wednesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg High football player Willie Edmond sits alongside family members after signing with Southwest Mississippi Community College on Wednesday. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Several members of Vicksburg High’s Class of 2025 have been mainstays in the starting lineup for years. They won’t get to play for the Gators anymore, but their football careers are far from over.

Offensive linemen Mickell Jones and Willie Edmond, defensive back Mincer Minor, running back DeCorey Knight Jr., and linebacker Dennis Battle all signed with college programs Wednesday, on national signing day.

Jones signed with four-year Division II school Clark Atlanta University. Edmond and Battle both are headed to Southwest Mississippi Community College, Knight to Holmes Community College, and Minor to Mississippi Delta.
All five Gators were starters for at least two seasons. Battle was a four-year starter.

“Coach threw us in the fire early, so when we got to our junior and senior year we already had that experience,” Edmond said. “That’s what helped us play better throghout our high school career.”

Edmond was a three-year starter at offensive tackle and a first-team MHSAA Class 6A All-State selection in 2024, but also played on the defensive line. He wasn’t yet sure where Southwest Mississippi planned to use him, but was just relishing the opportunity to move on to the next level.

“It feels good. This is the dream you dream of, is going off to play in college, meet new people, do new things. It’s a great experience,” Edmond said. “A lot of people wish they could go to college, but some people don’t have money or be able to. I’ve been blessed with coaches, teammates, and this community that I can go to college.”

Edmond’s counterweight on the line, Jones, is heading home. The South Carolina native came to Vicksburg in junior high and was a stalwart on the varsity roster for three seasons. Signing with Clark Atlanta, he said, was a chance to move back closer to his family after a long time away, as well as play right away.

“I’m originally from South Carolina, so getting back close to home is great for me,” Jones said. “They’re in need of an offensive tackle. I knew I could come in and step in that role.”

Edmond and Jones both blocked for Knight while he was setting records and achieving milestones. Knight set Vicksburg High’s career rushing record with 2,996 yards — breaking a 45-year-old mark held by former NFL star Sylvester Stamps — and scored a combined 41 touchdowns rushing and receiving.

Knight’s ability as a runner and receiver also helped him reach an unprecedented milestone. The Class 6A All-State player is the first in Warren County history to eclipse 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 receiving in their high school career. He had 68 rushing yards as a freshman at Warren Central before transferring to VHS before his sophomore year, which nudged him just over 3,000 for his career.

“It was very awesome. I didn’t think it would happen. But me going out and playing, being who I am every Friday, it showed,” Knight said.

Knight joined a Warren County pipeline to Holmes during this signing cycle. He’ll join Warren Central players Larry Reynolds Jr., Tekarius Qualls and Dekasei Crump on the Bulldogs’ roster next season.

Besides having some friends along for the ride — Reynolds hustled across town to join Knight at his signing day ceremony about an hour after Warren Central finished its own — Knight said there was a comfort level at Holmes that led him to sign there.

“It’s a family culture, family-oriented, nice environment. The coaches remind me a little of my staff. First and foremost they put God first, so that’s what showed me it’s a nice place to be,” Knight said.

Minor had a winding road to his scholarship offer from Mississippi Delta. He started his high school career as a quarterback, but couldn’t unseat four-year starter Ronnie Alexander. So Minor switched to defense in 2023 and became a standout two-year starter at cornerback, which is where he expects to play next season at Mississippi Delta.

Minor had two interceptions and was a first-team All-Region 2-6A selection in 2024. He is also a starter on Vicksburg’s basketball and baseball teams.

“I felt like (Delta) was the best fit for me. I created a bond with all the coaches, from the offensive coaches all the way to the defensive coaches. When I went on my visit they made me feel like I was at home,” Minor said. “It’s just a blessing. I can’t say nothing more. Not everybody gets a chance to do it, so having the chance to do it is exciting.”

Battle was the most experienced player among the Gators at Wednesday’s signing day ceremony. He was inserted into the lineup as a freshman and never left.

While rotating between linebacker and edge rusher positions, Battle amassed nearly 300 tackles and 11 sacks during his high school career. He believes his experience and versatility will make him an asset to Southwest Mississippi’s roster.

“I’m going to be the same down there like I am here. I’m going to be a hybrid. I can go on the line, I can go in the back, I can drop, I can rush the passer. I’ll just do a little bit of everything,” Battle said. “Coaches like to see an athlete. I can just go to linebacker like I was in 10th grade, or I can rush the passer. I can do a lot. I’m an athlete. I’m going to play ball wherever I go.”

Just like he and the rest of this year’s Gator signees have done for years. After playing together for so long, Minor said it was another highlight for them to sign together.

“That’s all we talked about coming up. All we dreamed of, going to college and playing ball,” Minor said. “For me and for them to be able to do that, it’s just a blessing for all of us.”

Vicksburg Warren School District athletics director James Lewis praised all of the signees at both Vicksburg High and Warren Central. The two schools have a combined 12 football players, plus three team managers, from the Class of 2025 heading on to the college ranks.

“I’m so tremendously proud of the effort and hard work our student-athletes have put in,” Lewis said. “It’s amazing to be able to earn the opportunity to get a free education based off your mindset, dedication and ability to play sports. I’m happy for the families, I’m happy for the coaching staffs, and I wish every student-athlete the best of luck because they’ve earned it.”

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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