By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
Six members of the Rapides Parish Journal’s All-Parish football team announced their college decisions on Wednesday.
Two signed Division I college scholarships, two are headed to play for junior colleges and two accepted offers to walk on at in-state colleges.
A quartet of Alexandria Senior High players will continue their football careers at the next level.
Amyrion Mingo, who began his Trojan career as a wide receiver before flipping over to defense this season as a cornerback, signed a scholarship with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a Football Championship Subdivision program that plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Mingo, an all-parish selection at cornerback, finished the season with 27 tackles, a team-leading three interceptions and 11 pass break-ups on defense while making 19 receptions for 204 yards and four touchdowns.
Jaylin Johnson, who was a three-year starter at cornerback and wide receiver, signed with Butler Community College in Kansas, while defensive end Aayden Walker will play for Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi.
Johnson and Walker both were selected as members of the all-parish Best of the Rest – Johnson at athlete and Walker on the defensive line.
The Trojans’ free safety, Jason Blackwell, accepted an invitation to walk on at Northwestern State.
Despite battling injuries all season, Blackwell was an all-parish selection at safety after finishing with 76 tackles, four pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and one interception returned for a touchdown.
Tioga free safety Ja’Corian Norris signed a scholarship with Louisiana-Lafayette, while Peabody running back and receiver Dartavin Depass will be a preferred walk-on at Grambling.
Norris, an all-parish selection at safety, finished the season with 34 tackles and nine interceptions, including five returned for touchdowns. He also made 16 receptions for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and was one of the top return men in the parish with four kickoffs returned for touchdowns.
Depass, who was selected to the all-parish team as an athlete, was the District 2-4A Offensive MVP after compiling 1,609 combined receiving and rushing yards and scoring 30 touchdowns.