NATCHEZ — Belhaven University has a wave of Cathedral School football players coming its way next fall.

Three Green Wave seniors — Jadarius Ealey, Carl Hammitte and Tyler Flemming — signed to play at the Jackson-based university Thursday, and Cathedral coach Ron Rushing said Belhaven will be getting a threesome of very good offensive players.

“They are three very good athletes and even better kids,” Rushing said. “They work hard, play hard and coming from Cathedral they will be academically prepared.”

Jadarius Ealey

Ealey stood out as a running back in a pass-heavy offense this season for Cathedral, and he hopes Belhaven’s offense will allow him to show more of his abilities.

“The offense they run is more of a running offense, and I thought that’s the type of offense for me,” Ealey said.

Ealey said he made his decision a couple of weeks ago and finally signing his scholarship papers was a load off his shoulders.

“It’s a relief to know where you’re going,” he said. “You have people asking you questions about where you’re going, and you don’t know the answers and don’t know what to say.”

Ealey said Belhaven has qualities that attracted him off the field as well.

“It’s a great academic environment,” he said. “It has a beautiful campus and a great Christian environment.”

Carl Hammitte

When Hammitte was looking at colleges to attend he had one specific thing in mind.

“I just wanted to go play college (football) somewhere,” he said.

Hammitte looked at junior colleges like Copiah-Lincoln and Hinds Community College, but finally decided Belhaven was the place for him.

Hammitte will play wide receiver for Belhaven, and he thinks he will be able to contribute as a pass catcher.

“My hands (are good), I run good routes and I am just hard working,” he said.

Hammitte said he credits Rushing and assistant coach Tom Graning for helping be a good route runner and pass catcher.

Hammitte said having his friends on campus with him would make the transition to college easier.

“I will feel more comfortable being away with people from high school,” he said.

Tyler Flemming

Flemming said Belhaven really wanted him on campus next fall and the amount of interest the school showed in him is what made his decision easy.

“They thought I would be a good asset to the team,” he said.

Flemming will play the role of a versatile tight end, who can line up in the slot or on the end of the line of scrimmage and block along with catch passes, he said.

He said he hopes his versatility will help him see the field early at Belhaven.

“I am most looking forward to competing and being a freshman,” he said. “I want to try to stand out at practice.”

Flemming said playing a similar role for Cathedral would help him in college.

“Playing at Cathedral, especially being a senior and having a big role, made me step up my game and try to do the best I can,” Flemming said.

Flemming said he plans on studying biology at Belhaven.