02/08/08 - The Hinds Community College football program has signed an impressive class of high school seniors for the 2008 football season, head coach J. Mike Smith announced on Friday. The 19-member class will grow in quantity in the coming days, as the coaching staff is still waiting on the arrival of a couple of scholarships.

"We signed 20 out of the 22 players that we protected, and that is the most I can remember on National Signing Day," Smith said. "We were able to fill our greatest need by signing seven defensive linemen who are all quality players. We were also able to pick up a couple of key guys in our skill positions, particularly Wesley Mounger of Clinton High School, who we fill can be a very good quarterback or wide receiver for us.

"As far as out-of-state recruiting goes, we are still in the process of finding what we want. We have signed a wide receiver, but are still waiting on his scholarship to come back in," Smith said.

"On defense, we are looking to sign an impact defensive tackle, and possibly a linebacker or cornerback. On offense, we would love to sign a couple of wide receivers who can make an impact, and probably a quarterback," he said.

"I really think we signed a quality list. These guys are not only good players, but are very good kids character-wise," Smith said.

The signing list is as follows:

• Kyle Black, Defensive lineman, Murrah High School
• Demetrius Bryant, Defensive lineman, Murrah High School
• Brillian Cherry, Defensive lineman, Wingfield High School
• William Crump, Defensive lineman, Provine High School
• John Gilmore, Offensive lineman, Hinds Agricultural High School
• John Harvey, Linebacker, Northwest Rankin High School
• David Lindsey, Defensive back, Northwest Rankin High School
• Signon McAfee, Defensive back, Brandon High School
• Bobby McGowan, Linebacker, Raymond High School
• Wesley Mounger, Quarterback, Clinton High School
• Chris O'Bannon, Defensive lineman, Callaway High School
• John Qualls, Wide receiver, Vicksburg High School
• Codarrell Smith, Offensive lineman, Provine High School
• Curtis Spann, Running back/Def. back, Pearl High School
• Chance Starkweather, Tight end, Richland High School
• Quenton Truly, Wide receiver, Warren Central High School
• Cordell Watkins, Defensive back, Vicksburg High School
• Mark Weathersby, Tight end/Defensive end, Magee High School