TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - A number of football players from Itawamba, Northeast Mississippi, and East Mississippi Community College signed with four-year schools on Wednesday, the first day junior/community college players could officially sign.
Northeast's Nick Thomason signed with Skip Holtz's Louisiana Tech team on Wednesady. Thomason was a First Team All-State selection in 2012, even though he missed three games with an injury.
He averaged over 12 tackles a game during the 2012 season.
Two Itawamba Indians signed with a Big 12 school on Wednesday, and it was the same Big 12 school. The school announced Wednesday that defensive back Terrell Pinson and wide receiver Ronald Carswell have both signed with West Virginia.
Pinson, a Tupelo native, picked off four passes in 2012 and recorded 36 tackles for the Indians.
"I'm just glad to have the opportunity to go to West Virginia, take my talents there," said Pinson. "I'm just looking forward to becoming a Mountaineer."
Carswell led ICC with 44 catches and finished second on the team with 429 yards receiving, scoring one touchdown.
"Ronnie came in and was a one-year player for us, was a great possession receiver for us," said ICC head coach Jon Williams. "He led the team in receptions this year, so just did a great job for us."
East Mississippi announced that 10 Lions have signed on to play for four-year schools. Three players - Jarrod Atterberry (OL -Mississippi Valley State), Nick Brassell (WR/DB - Ole Miss) and Justin Cox (DB - Mississippi State) - signed on with in-state teams.
Other Lions signing with four-year schools on Wednesday were defensive linemen Za'Darius Smith (Kentucky), Maurice Bennett (Western Kentucky), Darious Cummings (Florida) and Martavius Foster (Colorado State), quarterback Quez Johnson (Florida Atlantic), linebacker D.J. Jordan (UT-Martin) and wide receiver Billy Shed (Alcorn State) all signed their names on the dotted line Wednesday.
