NATCHEZ &045; Exactly a month to the day after it held its last game before a series of all-star events, the business of college football will reach its peak on Wednesday.

The Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 4 determined LSU was the Bowl Championship Series national champion.

On Wednesday, the Tigers will again be in the national radar with another talented recruiting class.

But it’s not a one-horse show, as National Signing Day has become perhaps a more meaningful ritual on the diehard fan’s calendar than most fall Saturdays.

Major colleges throw telethon-like events with the day-long marathons fully catered, equipped with live entertainment and a huge screen announcing commitments one-by-one like a tote board of financial pledges.

The phenomenon extends into the Miss-Lou, as several Division-I programs will be eager &045; like children on Christmas morning &045; to know where several Miss-Lou players will be mailing their national letters of intent for next season.

It might not be the first autograph these players have signed, or the last, but it’s the most significant.

&uot;It was always a good area to recruit when I was at Mississippi State,&uot; said new Copiah-Lincoln Community College head coach Glenn Davis. &uot;Natchez always has good football. I don’t know if it gets looked over. I know people say it’s hard to get to, but I think people are aware of the football that is played there.&uot;

The former South Natchez High coach (1982-85), who was 15-5 in his first stint at Co-Lin (1995-96), is focused primarily on restocking an undersized offensive line for a pack of Wolves that was 2-7 last year.

Davis, who was the running backs coach at Mississippi State since 1997, is eyeing several offensive linemen in Natchez, while also zeroing in on several guys that can add speed and quickness to some skill positions.

&uot;The big thing about Wesson is it’s a great community and safe community for parents to send their kids,&uot; Davis said. &uot;We’re behind a bit, so it’s been hard on us that the kids don’t know much about us.&uot;

From the looks of it, there might be only one surefire lock at this point in Natchez, that being Natchez High defensive back Michael Williams, who has made an oral commitment to Southern University in Baton Rouge.

Williams’ teammate Anthony Strauder, a defensive lineman, is mulling his choice of Southern Miss over competing two schools, State and Oklahoma State; and Adams County Christian School running back Luke Ogden will wait to retake the ACT this Saturday before deciding on known offers from Delta State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss.

Former Trinity Episcopal wide receiver Dudley Guice Jr.’s September commitment to Mississippi State is, at best, shaky.

&uot;Me being a receiver, I’m just trying to look out for my best interests,&uot; said Guice, who acknowledged State had asked him about possibly moving to safety next year. &uot;I’m in between. I’m looking at the schools who pass the football.&uot;

For now, Guice (6-3, 205) &045; who caught 55 passes for 944 yards and 17 touchdowns &045; is a man without a home, calculating his next move.

Schools such as Oregon and Clemson have come into the picture with Southern and Jackson State also viable options.

&uot;I might have to sign later than Wednesday depending on what happens,&uot; Guice said. &uot;Hopefully, it’ll work out for the best. I’m not stressing about getting it over with.&uot;

Strauder made the trip with Guice to Mississippi State several weeks ago for an official visit and was impressed with head coach Sylvester Croom’s visions.

&uot;Mostly, everybody like Oklahoma State, Southern Miss and State are projecting me on the defensive line,&uot; said Strauder, whose uncle, Herman Carroll, played in Starkville from 1990-93 before playing a year in the NFL with New Orleans (1994). &uot;If they say I’m ready and can play, then I will. But if not, I have no problem taking a red shirt. I’ll work hard at it.&uot;

Strauder (6-4, 290) collected 40 tackles &045; six for loss &045; and five sacks in only six games before missing the final five games in the Bulldogs’ 1-11 campaign thanks to a broken left fibula.

While he said nothing is final until a 9 a.m. announcement at the school on Wednesday, Strauder is loyal to Southern Miss, his verbal committment.

&uot;Coach (Jeff Bower) let me know they hadn’t forgotten about me,&uot; Strauder said. &uot;I still like them, but I’m looking around at different things.&uot;

Williams (5-9, 165) is confident in his decision on the Jaguars. Who can blame him? Not to be outdone by its cross-town neighbors, Southern was crowned black college football’s national champions after going 12-1 last season.

Head coach Pete Richardson solidified his place and believes a prospect like Williams could add a punishing element to his team.

&uot;The coach who has been calling, and recruiting me said as soon as (Richardson) saw the tape there were no questions asked,&uot; said Williams, who had more than 60 tackles (40-plus solos), four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2003. &uot;(Richardson) called and said, ‘We want you.’ He was a former defensive back and a defensive backs coach, so that’s a great evaluation of whether you can play or not.&uot;

Williams is appreciative Southern recognized his abilities despite playing on a team that was 2-31 since his sophomore year.

&uot;I knew I’d get a shot somewhere because I’m a good athlete, work hard and put God first. This is the opportunity He gave me,&uot; he said. &uot;Most coaches aren’t big on players from losing programs. But they saw I could play and had a good attitude.&uot;