Justin Lucas likes to smile.
The 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker has a demanding disposition on the football field.
Off the field, the former Aberdeen High School standout carries a warm-hearted persona that affects everyone around him.
For the two-year East Mississippi Community College standout, Wednesday was another reason to smile and smile big.
Lucas was one of several junior college players signing a National Letter of Intent to play senior college ball. The Mississippi Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player will attend Troy.
“Being able to sign a senior college scholarship is like a dream come true,” Lucas said. “From the beginning, this is the goal. You start playing Pee Wee football with hopes of one day being able to play college ball. I feel blessed 10 times over to have this opportunity.
“Troy is the perfect fit for me. I am looking forward to getting started.”
EMCC won its second straight National Junior College Athletic Association national championship by defeating Iowa Western Community College 34-17 in the seventh Mississippi Bowl earlier this month in Biloxi.
Lucas had a team-high 14 tackles in the win, including two for loss. For the season, Lucas had a team-high 85 tackles, including 15.5 for loss. He will go to Troy with EMCC linebacker William Lloyd, of Rosedale. Both will be reunited with Dontreal Pruitt, who quarterbacked the Lions to the 2013 national championship.
Players quickly moved from the bowl game to strong finishes in the classrooms. After that, it came time for many to pick a senior college.
Junior college players who have completed course work for an associate’s degree could sign Wednesday. They will be able to enroll at the senior college of their choice in time for the spring semester.
Also from EMCC, reserve quarterback and slot back Todd Mays signed with Oklahoma State. Mays quarterback Olive Branch High to the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A state championship in 2011. After a redshirt season at Arkansas State, Mays transferred to EMCC where he played two seasons.
“The Oklahoma State opportunity was too good to pass up,” said Mays, who had 10 touchdowns as a runner, thrower and catcher. “Oklahoma State recruited me as a quarterback, and that really meant a lot to me since that is my natural position. Their offense is similar (to the one at EMCC), so I am sure they will find a lot of different ways to use me.
“I really liked getting to know (head) coach (Mike) Gundy and the assistants. Stillwater was a really great place to take a visit. I am looking forward to this opportunity.”
According to the Oklahoma State athletic web site, Mays chose OSU over Mississippi State, Missouri, Cincinnati, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, and Troy.
EMCC quarterback Chad Kelly, a transfer from Clemson University, signed with Ole Miss on Wednesday.
In his lone season at EMCC, Kelly was named the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Player of the Year after throwing for 3,906 yards with a nation-best 47 touchdowns. The yardage total was second best.
Kelly follows EMCC quarterback Bo Wallace in Oxford. Wallace led EMCC to the 2011 national championship before playing three seasons with the Rebels.
Ole Miss also announced the signing of EMCC defensive tackle D.J. Jones. A native of Pelzer, South Carolina, Jones was considered by some publications as the nation’s top junior college defensive prospect.
On the offense, EMCC center Jacob Feeley, of Picayune, announced via his Twitter account he was going to Ole Miss next summer.
EMCC defensive lineman Marco Montgomery is headed to Memphis. He had given a verbal commitment to Alabama-Birmingham before it announced plans to end its football program. EMCC defensive lineman Brandon Hodges, of Aberdeen, is going to Texas. EMCC sophomore offensive lineman Jamal Danley is going to Oklahoma. EMCC sophomore safety Evan Grimes signed with Alcorn State. EMCC sophomore wide receiver Kameron Myers is going to Indiana.
According to the official EMCC twitter account, kicker Drew White is headed to Arkansas State, but he will enroll next summer.
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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