NATCHEZ — Even since he was in the junior-high ranks, Southwest Mississippi Community College’s Sidney Davis has had aspirations of playing football at the Division I level.

The former Natchez High School football star is on the brink of having his dream come to fruition.

Davis is set to sign college scholarship papers next week with Troy University and will be eligible to suit up for the Trojans this fall.

“At first, when I was in middle school I didn’t think much of it — how far football could take me,” Davis said. “But when I got in high school and realized how good I was, I knew it could take me a long way in life and help me get an education. I’ve been working for this for a long time.”

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound dynamic wideout received his scholarship earlier this month, and after a visit to the Troy, Ala.-based campus, Davis said he felt at home with the Troy football program.

“When I came to visit the campus, all the coaches made me feel loved,” Davis said. “They wanted me to be there and play. What they have going on there is pretty good, as far as academics and athletics. So I just decided to go ahead and make that move.”

Davis chose Troy over interest from Grambling State University, the University of Southern Missississippi and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“They told me I could come in and get a lot of early playing time,” Davis said. “They said they were going to find different ways to use my skill set.”

Davis witnessed his recruiting interest ramp up following his freshman campaign after his name began to make its way across social media.

“My name started blowing up on Twitter, and different (college) coaches started hitting me up,” he said.

Davis spent just one season at Southwest, where he said he racked up five touchdown receptions.

Although it was a short stint, Davis said he learned a great deal in his year at Southwest.

“Southwest made me a better and more humble person,” Davis said. “Coming out of high school, most people thought I would be going to a big-time school, but I ended up going there, and it just humbled me and helped me not take things for granted.”