WEST POINT — West Point High School senior running back Aeris Williams always has been a soft-spoken leader on and off the football field.

That is why it came as quite a surprise when Williams, the Dispatch’s Player of the Year in 2013, predicted some future wins for Mississippi State in its Egg Bowl rivalry with Ole Miss.

“I look forward to winning some Egg Bowls (with Mississippi State),” Williams said after he signed his National Letter of Intent to play football with Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs.

Williams was the biggest name in a group of six signees for West Point on Wednesday morning at the school auditorium. The crowd broke into applause when Williams fired the first salvo of his MSU vs. Ole Miss career. The assault continued later on Twitter when Williams took to his personal account to express pleasure he was given an opportunity to play for the team, which has won four of the past five games in the rivalry series.

“From the beginning, it just felt like right fit,” said Williams, who backed a verbal commitment he gave the opening week of fall camp prior to the 2013 season. “It was a chance to play in the Southeastern Conference and play close to home, so it was an opportunity too good to pass up. My family would have been disappointed if I decided anything else, and I couldn’t have that.”

Williams ran for 2,209 yards and 30 touchdowns while earning Mississippi Association of Coaches and Clarion-Ledger All-State honors. West Point had an atypical season on the defense, which played a role in a 7-5 finish and loss to Pearl in the first round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A North State playoffs.

West Point still saw six players sign scholarship offers Wednesday. Williams was joined by Roger Thomas (Northwest Mississippi Community College), Ladarius Gallion (Itawamba C.C.), and Rashad Jones, Dvanta Randle and Eddious Webb (East Mississippi C.C.).

West Point football coach Chris Chambless expects that number to grow as additional players complete last-minute deals.

“This is such a proud day for our program,” Chambless said. “One of the reasons why you are in this business is to help young men be in a position to earn college degrees. You won’t have football for the rest of your life, but you will have that degree. We work awfully hard to make sure our basketball players, football players, whatever the sport, are taken care of and provided for. We want as many students as possible to experience the thrill these young men are experiencing.”

Senior defensive back Dvanta Randle said his decision to attend EMCC was an easy one. After all, the Lions have won 32 of the last 34 games they have played, including the National Junior College Athletic Association national championships in 2011 and 2013.

“The program has had a lot of success, so it is exciting to go down there and be a part of that,” Randle said. “You look at the careers of (former West Point players) Justin Cox and (Lakenderic) Thomas. They went down there and became team leaders and all-world type players. To be able to send three of us down there is real exciting. I am looking forward to going this summer and putting the work in to be able to make some contributions right away.”

Williams also is excited about the next chapter in his life. The pressure will be off a little bit after he was the undisputed every-down back at West Point. Other team’s game plans were centered around stopping No. 22.

Few were successful.

“My experience at West Point was great,” Williams said. “I think I really progressed as a player and matured as a leader. Now it’s a chance to go somewhere and help them do something special.”

Meanwhile, Chambless is on the hunt for the next Williams. His passionate plea to the audience was amusing and sincere.

“Get your sons, nephews, cousins out for the football team,” Chambless said. “We need them when they are young. These are success stories here on this stage. We need more of them.”

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.