RAYMOND – Hinds Community College’s lone blue chip prospect, Vicksburg linebacker Rory Johnson, faces a tough road to Ole Miss,.

Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound sophomore, must graduate from Hinds by August in order for last week’s committment to Ed Orgeron’s Rebels to turn into a scholarship for next season.

Hinds CC football coach J. Mike Smith says Johnson needs more than that.

&#8220He’s a long-shot to make it to Ole Miss. His grades are just not very good,” Smith said Thursday. &#8220A lot of schools fell off of him because of his grades but Ole Miss has decided to stick with him.

&#8220He intially registered back here on Tuesday, but today he was trying to enroll at our Utica campus. That might be better for him. He’s got a long way to go.”

The former Vicksburg High product was the top player for the Eagles who went 3-4 in a season shortened because of Hurricane Katrina.

Johnson’s play-making ability drew interest from LSU and Mississippi State, a school he originally signed with out of high school.

Attempts to reach Johnson were unsuccessful.

Smith said the Eagles’ other Vicksburg starter, receiver Ben Shelton, has enrolled at Mississippi State.

&#8220Ben is walking on at Mississippi State,” Smith said.

The only other Eagles’ to get offers to sign on Feb. 1 are David Cooper with Louisiana-Monroe and Willie Williams to Jackson State.

Hinds assistant coach Brad Griffin said four Warren County players have been protected by the Eagles.

&#8220We’ve protected Chico Hunter and Desmond Carson of Warren Central, Willis McGowan and Trey Curtis of Vicksburg High,” said Griffin, who recruits Warren County.

Hunter was the 2004 Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year but missed nearly all of the 2005 season after suffering a knee injury.

McGowan, a defensive back, earned the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year.

Carson, a defensive end, and Curtis, an offensive tackle, were both on the 2005 All-Warren County team.

National Signing Day is set for Feb. 1, the first day high school players can officially sign scholarships to play college football.