The stressful weight of deciding where to attend school after graduation has been lifted for three Vicksburg High seniors.

Ishmael Williams, Brandon King and Jared Bell are the latest VHS seniors to choose where they’ll take their talents.

Williams and King will continue a recent pipeline of football talent to Arkansas Baptist and Mississippi Delta Community College, respectively. Bell signed to play tennis at Holmes Community College.

Williams, a defensive end, is the third Vicksburg player to sign with Arkansas Baptist this year. He’ll join teammates Roderick Williams and Timothy Jackson at the junior college in Little Rock.

King, a wide receiver, will follow Antonio Brown and Torrey Price to Mississippi Delta. King was fourth on the team with 10 receptions for 100 yards last season.

After signing their letters of commitment in front of families, friends and coaches the students felt relieved in their decisions.

“Knowing that I’m going somewhere and not having to worry about if I’m going to sign or not,” King said.

Bell is separating himself from the pack by playing tennis at Holmes. He chose the two-year school in Goodman because of the family atmosphere on campus with the opportunity to have a big role on the team.

Rogers said Bell’s signing with Holmes to play tennis speaks to how well rounded of an athlete he is. He added that because tennis is played it the spring, Bell has afforded himself an opportunity to play football as a walk-on.

Bell played wide receiver for Vicksburg’s football team, but wants to walk on as a free safety at Holmes.

Bell said it was different to sign on to play collegiate tennis and not football. He added that he was first looked at to play both sports, but told the football coach of his plans to be a dual-sport athlete.

Bell’s tennis coach Vickie Bailey said he has natural talent and ability.

“The speed and power is there. He’s just an all-around player,” Bailey said. “It just needs to be more groomed and that’s what is going to take him to the next level and I think that’s what Holmes is going to give him, is that opportunity for more individualized coaching.”

Through campus visits and recruitment, the Gator trio made their decisions based off of need and how the coaches perceived their skills.

“The coach liked the way I played, he liked my skills and he gave me a call,” said Ishmael Williams, who had 19 tackles including four for loss last season at defensive tackle. He also played on the Gators’ offensive line.

With graduation around the corner, they’ll get ready for the collegiate level by working on strength, agility and footwork.

The signatures from Williams, King and, to an extent Bell, make 11 of 19 seniors on this year’s football roster that are headed off to play at two- or four-year schools.

“It’s real rewarding,” Vicksburg High football coach Marcus Rogers said. “The rewarding thing about this is these kids are undersized. Sometimes they don’t get the exposure bigger schools get. People kind of look over our kids and we kind of fly under the radar. No matter what schools they’re singing to and going to attend, I got 10 kids out of 19 that’s going to further their education and further their football career.”