Jackson Free Press

National Signing Day is the one day of the year that the nearly-antiquated fax machine gets a workout, as coaches crowd around a device they might not look at the rest of year, hoping to receive a national letter of intent from high school players across the country.

It has become a holiday in college football circles, where high school athletes get their day to shine as they make one of the most important decisions in their young lives. Coaches can turn around a program with a great signing day, and many will point to a coach's demise by a lack of recruiting talent.

Wednesday, Feb. 5, also marked the first day that the new Jackson State head football coach, Harold Jackson, could begin to put his mark on the Tigers program. Jackson, whom JSU hired less than a month ago, didn't have much time to hit the recruiting trail to convince recruits that the university is the place they want to be for the next four years.

Jackson also had to make sure the athletes that the school was already recruiting knew they still had a home with the Tigers. This recruiting class won't have Jackson's full hand on it like next year's will, but these are the players he will have to win with starting next season.

Jackson State signed 12 players on National Signing Day, the first day players are allowed to make their college choice. Of the 12 signees, only four are from Mississippi. The Tigers also got two recruits from Florida and one from Indiana, among others.

The day is the first chance for recruits to make their pledges, but that doesn't mean schools are done signing players this week. JSU and other schools still could add players throughout the rest of the week.

Here is a list of the new Jackson State Tigers:

Keontre Anderson, defensive end, 6'4," 230 lb, Canton High School

Shawn Bishop, defensive end/linebacker, 6'0," 235 lb, Callaway High School

Jonathan Burnett, linebacker, 6'4," 220 lb, Terry High School

Frank Carter, offensive tackle/nose guard, 6'3," 330 lb, Tampa, FL

Vincent Davis, quarterback, 6'2," 205 lb, Tuscaloosa, AL

Quatez Harris, safety, 6'0," 215 lb, Greenwood High School

Christian Jacquemin, kicker, 5'11," 180 lb, Miami, FL

Brent Lyles II, quarterback, 6'2," 175 lb, Indianapolis, IN

Asam Obi, offensive guard, 6'2," 310 lb, Baton Rouge, LA

Rodney Shorter II, defensive end/linebacker, 6'1," 230 lb, Long Beach, CA

Joshua Edet, defensive back, 6'0," 180 lb, Smyra, GA

Duante Fisher, offensive guard, 6'3," 345 lb, Houston TX

Here are the rest of the metro area players who signed with one of the other four-year universities:

Alcorn State:

Michael Brooks, defensive end, 6'3," 205 lb, Brandon High School

Jeremy Jordan, defensive end, 6'3," 265 lb, Germantown High School

Daryan Ragsdale, running back, 6'0," 198 lb, Brandon High School

Frederick Ross, linebacker, 6'1," 205 lb, Madison Central

Delta State:

Zack McCraw, wide receiver, 5'11," 160 lb, Madison Ridgeland Academy

Mississippi College:

Joeseph Satcher, running back, 5'11," 190 lb, McLaurin Attendance Center

Ole Miss:

Dayall Harris, wide receiver, 6'3," 185 lb, Callaway High School

Rod Taylor, offensive line, 6'3," 320 lb, Callaway High School

Sean Rawlings, offensive line, 6'5," 285 lb, Madison Ridgeland Academy

Breeland Speaks, defensive line, 6'4," 285 lb, Callaway High School

Mississippi State:

Grant Harris, defensive tackle, 6'3," 270 lb, Clinton High School

Jocquell Johnson, offensive line, 6'4," 308 lb, Callaway High School