Quartet of Yellow Jackets sign

Making their marks for college football commitments are North Augusta High School football players, from left, Tyrell Hillary, Montez McGuire, DeVontez Rouse and Vinny Miller. Staff photo by By Bill Bengtson.

NORTH AUGUSTA -- Dan Pippin isn't necessarily done with this year's football signings from North Augusta High School, but the football coach made another major statement Wednesday, when four players put their names on the line.

Vinny Miller, the 2011Aiken Standard Offensive Player of the Year, confirmed his plans to play for The Citadel, looking to build on the momentum that he established as a spectacularly successful running back for Pippin.

Montez McGuire, a wide receiver, is headed west, getting on board with Georgia Military College, in Milledgeville. Heading north, both to North Greenville College, are WR/DB DeVontez Rouse and quarterback Tyrell Hillary.

Miller, who described himself as interested in studying engineering, said he has come to appreciate the quality of a Citadel education and also the brotherhood that exists among Bulldog students and alumni. "You never really lose contact."

He said he considered some other football programs, "but not really anything outstanding, like The Citadel."

Hillary, who said he plans to study civil engineering, described himself as looking for a starting spot. The location and environment at North Greenville are factors in its favor, as is the fact that the Crusaders have a new head coach. "I hit it off with him very well," he confirmed.

"I'm just ready to go ahead and get down there and get comfortable with the environment, the coaches, the players, the students, teachers and just ... ready to start playing football," Hillary added.

Rouse, confirming that he looks forward to heading off to college with a fellow Yellow Jacket, said he expects to play as a safety and - like Hillary - to focus on civil engineering in the classroom.

He added, "I'll put in a lot more work this summer, with collegiate players, to help me prepare for the next level, so it shouldn't be too unfamiliar when I get there."

McGuire is looking to continue service as a wide receiver, he said. "For me, it's different, since I'm going to a junior college. I've got time to develop and pick up my academics, so after I go from there, then I'll just be trying to get into business, computer science, or something like that."

McGuire's connection with the Bulldogs was strengthened by having a former teammate there, he said, "and I had a couple of other choices, but I just wanted to pick my academics up a little bit more, so I can see what else is out there."

As for Wednesday's crop of high-yardage performers, Pippin said, "I think it says a lot, first, about the kids. I think it says a lot about their parents, and I think it says a lot about our program - just how far we've come, where we're signing four kids pretty much every year. We'll probably get a couple more as we go on."

The Jackets went 12-2 in 2011, reaching the semifinals in Class AAAA, Division II for the second year in a row, and the program has racked up 42 wins over the past four seasons.

Among those offering congratulations Wednesday was local real-estate agent Bob Bolton, who handles sideline reporting for radio broadcasts of the Jackets' football games.

Referring to the Signing Day gathering, he said, "It showed the hard work they've put in during the season and the good, hard effort in the classroom, to be able to get the scholarships. They don't normally give scholarships to people that don't do well in school."

"We've come pretty far in the past four years," Miller said, "and I think, as a program, we've gotten way better and we've gotten the opportunity to send more people to the next level."

"The assistant coaches do a great job of developing talent," said Pippin. He noted that North Augusta is on track in terms of helping produce "good kids" - not only successful players but also solid students who move on to make a positive impact in the community and beyond.

Those are big factors in measuring a football program's success, he said. "And we're winning, so that makes it even better."