Warren Central made its annual contribution to the college football talent pool on Wednesday.

Five players from the school, plus equipment manager David Bardwell, signed national letters of intent to play at junior colleges on national signing day. A sixth player, running back Anfernee Funches, accepted a walk-on offer from Jackson State.

Cornerbacks Jalen Allen and Caleb Wilson, as well as linebacker Jeremy Miller, signed with Holmes Community College. Bardwell and defensive back Walt Hopson are heading to Northwest Mississippi, while quarterback Fred Barnum, Jr. signed with Jones County.

“It’s great just to have something to look forward to. When you get home every night, you’re not worrying about it. You’re already signed and know you’re going to college to play football. It’s a great feeling,” Hopson said.

Most of Warren Central’s players picked their schools from a collection of junior college offers. Some had less than others.

Barnum was the 2017 Vicksburg Post Player of the Year. He threw for 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and ran for 620 yards and three scores while leading the Vikings to a 9-4 record. Despite his success, Jones was the only school that offered Barnum a scholarship — and that didn’t come until last weekend.

“They didn’t come in late, but they offered late. We’d been in contact with them for a while. After they offered, I committed,” Barnum said. “They have a great campus, they get people out fast, and grades are a big deal there. And playing time — you’re going to play.”

Funches also had just one offer. He was recruited to Jackson State as a slot receiver, and will be a preferred walk-on next season. Although he won’t have a scholarship, Funches was excited for the opportunity to continue his football career.

“It’ll make you work harder. My whole life I worked hard, so I’ll join that bandwagon. I’m fired up about it. I’m a Tiger in my heart,” said Funches, who had 691 combined rushing and receiving yards and scored five touchdowns last season.

Funches will move from running back to receiver, but didn’t mind the position switch.

“Anything they put me at. They can put me at nose guard and I’m down for it,” he said with a laugh.

Most of Warren Central’s signing class wound up at Holmes Community College. Allen, Wilson and Miller will all head to Goodman and join a program that has built a pipeline into Warren County. Holmes also signed three players from Warren Central last year.

This year’s Holmes signees said being surrounded by familiar faces was a selling point, but joining a successful program and having a chance to move on to a four-year school were bigger ones.

“First, I want to thank God for giving me an opportunity to play this sport. I’m very excited to make it down there,” Miller said. “The coaches are great coaches and they’ve got an opportunity for me and a game plan for me. I hope I’ll get a ring there and continue to play football.”

Hopson, a safety, led Warren Central with seven interceptions last season while also punting, returning kicks and occasionally playing wide receiver. He’ll go to MACJC runner-up Northwest Mississippi as a defensive back and kick returner.

Hopson had an offer from Division II Mississippi College, but decided going to a two-year school was a better long-term move.

“I’ll try to do the best I can there, and go somewhere else after that. I just thought I had a better chance to do that by going the juco route,” Hopson said.

Joining Hopson at Northwest will be Bardwell, Warren Central’s equipment manager. He is the third WC manager in the past four years to earn a scholarship.

“It’s a great experience to be part of the team. Not playing, but helping out, and I enjoyed every moment with them. To move on to the next level is even better. I’m excited to see what the future holds,” Bardwell said.

Besides the players who signed on Wednesday, Warren Central padded the total with several alumni, junior college and December signees.

During December’s early signing period, offensive lineman Braden Moody and cornerback Chris Stamps signed with South Alabama and Middle Tennessee, respectively. Stamps was a 2014 Warren Central graduate who spent two seasons at Mississippi State and one at Northwest Mississippi.

Southern Miss had signed former St. Aloysius and Hinds Community College wide receiver DeMichael Harris in December.

Also Wednesday, defensive end Jaylen Whitaker signed with Northwest Mississippi. Whitaker was a three-year starter at St. Aloysius, but transferred to Warren Central in early January.

Whitaker committed to Louisiana-Lafayette last summer, but changed his mind after head coach Mark Hudspeth and his staff were fired at the end of the season.

“When I went down on my official visit, I didn’t feel comfortable with the new coaching staff. I didn’t want to go and be stuck with them for four years or have to transfer. I thought it was better to go the juco route,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker picked Northwest over Jones County and Mississippi Gulf Coast. He added he might not be at Northwest for very long. He has a 3.1 GPA and is academically qualified, meaning he could head to a four-year school as early as December.

“They were saying that since I’m academically qualified, I could leave in December and be at any school in the country if I come and do what they expect me to do,” Whitaker said.