FAYETTE &045; One of the area’s most intriguing stories during National Signing Day last Wednesday was the histrionics of former Trinity Episcopal wide receiver Dudley Guice Jr.

Approximately a week after the high-water mark came and went for players to make their first declaration, Guice made things official late Tuesday by becoming the 15th signee of Division I-AA Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La.

It’s certainly not the Southeastern Conference and Mississippi State, the program Guice initially committed to during the fall while still at Trinity.

Nor is it a program of the caliber of Clemson, Oregon or Texas Tech, all schools who expressed interest when the 6-3, 207-pound wide out withdrew his State proclamation after an official visit to Starkville in mid-January.

&uot;I know I could’ve gone to an SEC, Pac-10 or ACC school, but when it came down to it I wasn’t going to let others make my decision for me,&uot; Guice said Wednesday. &uot;In other words, I’m not going to go wherever people expect me to. I’m Guice. I do what makes me happy.&uot;

Instead, Guice, who caught 54 balls for 1,011 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior, will join a .500 football team (6-6), but one that is thought to be one of I-AA’s up-and-coming programs with 17 starters returning.

Demons head coach Scott Stoker made no qualms about the awkward road that brought Guice to his doorstep. However, when opportunity knocked, the second-year head coach knew he had to answer.

&uot;Dudley fell into our lap on this deal. We weren’t shopping for another receiver, but you can’t pass on the chance to add a player and person of Dudley’s caliber to your program,&uot; Stoker said. &uot;We’re in the business of constantly trying to improve our program, and we’ve done that by signing him.&uot;

Guice was the second major commitment NSU received after last Wednesday, the first official day to sign.

Clavorris Sibley of Westlake (La.) High School penned his name to becoming a Demon after an All-State season saw him run for 24 scores and nearly 2,000 yards.

The 5-11, 200-pound back played his junior season at Ruleville High School in Mississippi where he totaled 20 touchdowns.

Stoker is plum tickled to have both players, specifically Guice, who will be as tall or taller than any receiver that the Demons suited up in 2003.

&uot;I don’t know what happened at State. But I do know this business, and sometimes as a recruit you get dropped,&uot; Stoker said of Guice. &uot;But I think since he’s coming from a small school, he was looking at a smaller environment to be honest. He probably wanted a chance to play faster.&uot;

But how much of a first-year swoon Guice makes depends on his development, of course, but also whether the Demons suddenly become pass-happy overnight.

Neville (La.) High product Toby Zeigler led NSU receivers with 31 receptions, while Wossman (La.) High product Derrick Doyle had team highs in yards (487) and touchdowns (3) last season.

&uot;I want to jell with everybody, but I also want to take care of my business first,&uot; Guice said. &uot;I didn’t want to leave too far from home. I wanted to go to a school where I can have a quick impact.&uot;

Stoker believes that feat can be accomplished with the vast amount of resources in Natchitoches. Although Stoker is now in the uncomfortable position of hiring a new receivers coach after Darryl Mason was hired away from Northwestern by Tulane on Wednesday.

The former NSU quarterback, who at one time held the school’s single-season passing record, said academy ball players are typically hindered unless they stand out from the competition.

&uot;It does weigh on your opinion because if he can’t dominate and be that man among boys, who knows?&uot; Stoker said. &uot;But (Guice) did, and a year from now he’s going to be a lot different player. I don’t think he even knows yet how good he can be.&uot;

Guice does not plan on treating his time at Northwestern State as a junior college but admitted the attraction of playing major college football still exists.

&uot;I feel like that night-in and night-out I’m always gonna have critics on my back. I just have to prove it to myself,&uot; he said. &uot;A good athlete will always try to be the best, never settling for anything less. I’m gonna dig deep, do what I do best and rise to the competition.&uot;

Also on Wednesday, Jefferson County offensive tackle Terrance Lee (6-4, 297) and wide receiver/defensive back Joshfer Nichols (6-0, 155) signed football scholarships with Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, JC head coach Jeffrey Harness said.