SENATOBIA - Early National Signing Day proved to be a huge success for the Northwest football program, as 13 Rangers made their four-year destinations official on Wednesday, either signing National Letters of Intent or accepting preferred walk-on offers.

Since taking over as the Rangers' head coach in 2016, Benjy Parker has seen 117 of his players continue their careers with four-year programs across all levels. Of that total, 91 have signed or committed to the Division I ranks, including 66 to FBS programs.

All of the Rangers officially moving on to the four-year level are listed below and more names will be added when signings become official.


Michael Hiers, QB (6-0, 215)
Samford University
       Serving as one of the nation's most accurate passers during his two seasons in the JUCO ranks, Birmingham native Michael Hiers has elected to take his talents back to his home city, joining Samford University. Hiers amassed 4,519 passing yards over his two-year career with the Rangers, ending his Northwest career at fifth all-time. He also concluded the 2021 season with 3,093 passing yards, joining Will Hall (3,982; 2000), Russell Evans (3,293; 1992) and Gardner Minshew (3,288; 2015) as only one of four Ranger quarterbacks to toss for 3,000 yards in a single season.
        Hiers topped the national quarterback rankings for most of the season with a 71.4 completion percentage, while throwing for 21 touchdowns against four interceptions. For his career, Hiers tossed 34 touchdowns against only five picks in nearly 500 pass attempts, earning back-to-back All-MACCC accolades.

Jacoby Jones, WR (6-1, 200)
Ohio University
       A consistent starter during his three seasons in Senatobia, Jacoby Jones will now continue his athletic and academic career as one of three Rangers joining Ohio next season. Jones, a native of Tunica, compiled 30 catches for 366 receiving yards and scored his lone touchdown of the 2021 campaign in a win against Itawamba on October 21.
       Prior to his third and final season in a Northwest uniform, Jones accounted for 26 receptions, 479 yards and three touchdowns during the 2019-20 seasons. He earned several MACCC and NJCAA academic accolades off the field and was tapped to JCGridiron.com's Preseason Receiver Watch List prior to the 2020 season.
       Jones concludes his Northwest career by being a part of a 23-6 stretch that consisted of three playoff appearances, two North Division titles and a pair of MACCC championships.

Vance Van Every, OL (6-2, 285)
Ohio University
       A consistent starter on coach Jim Jones' offensive line, Vance Van Every chose Ohio over several other FBS offers. The Hernando native and Magnolia Heights alumnus played in all but one contest during his three-year Northwest career and was chosen for second team All-MACCC honors in November.
       As the only JUCO conference to compete in the fall of 2020, the MACCC helped shine a spotlight on Van Every, who was selected for All-MACCC and All-Mississippi Gridiron honors, while also being named as a second team All-American by JCGridiron.com. Van Every concludes his Northwest career by being a part of a 23-6 stretch that consisted of three playoff appearances, two North Division titles and a pair of MACCC championships.
       Off the field, Van Every was selected for numerous academic honors from the NJCAA, MACCC and Northwest.

Rayyan Buell, DL (6-2, 275)
Ohio University
       Buell is the third and final member of the 2021 Northwest squad to sign with Ohio. A native of Hornell, N.Y., Buell made an immediate impact upon his arrival at Northwest prior to the 2020 season, playing and starting in every game for defensive coordinator Paige Anders and defensive line coach Rashad Pittman over the past two seasons.
       Buell collected 32 tackles, four hurries, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and a forced fumble this season, including a career-best seven-tackle effort in an October 14 victory at Mississippi Gulf Coast. He was named as a second team All-MACCC selection this season, while also earning Distinguished Academic All-MACCC and first team NJCAA All-Academic selections last year.

Davion Carter, OL (6-2, 290)
Memphis
       2021 proved to be a phenomenal season for Davion Carter, as the Pearl native was named as the Offensive Line MVP for the MACCC North Division last month. The two-year starter was another reliable force for the Rangers' offensive front, paving the way for a successful Hiers-led offense in 2020 and 2021.
       Carter's efforts helped the Northwest offense rank third in the conference in rushing yards and seventh nationally prior to the NJCAA Division I Playoffs. The Rangers' passing offense also ranked sixth in the nation and was the highest in the MACCC this season.

Tanner Gillis, K/P (6-0, 195)
Memphis
       In his two seasons with the Rangers, Gillis became one of the nation's best punters while climbing the program's record ladders. Gillis helped Northwest to eighth nationally in average yards per punt (40.2), while booting 41 punts for 1,650 yards, including five punts for 50-plus yards. The Olive Branch native ended his career with 23 punts inside the 20-yard line, tying Jim Speights (2014-15) for fourth all-time.
       For his efforts on kickoffs, Gillis also earned the rare distinction of two spots on this season's All-MACCC team, earning first team honors as a kicker and second team recognition as a punter.
       
William Stewart, LS (6-0, 225)
Memphis
       Helping Gillis in his punt success was long snapper William Stewart, who will also be joining his teammate at the U of M. Stewart arrived at Northwest after earning a 4.5 star Rubio Long Snapper rating following his senior season at Lewisburg High School. He graded out at 100 percent consistency of all snaps during his junior and senior seasons at LHS and carried that success over to Northwest, paving the way for Gillis to finish eighth nationally in average yards per punt (40.2).
       Stewart was also the receipient of several academic accolades, including selections to the President's List, Vice President's List and All-MACCC and NJCAA All-Academic recognition.

Ethan Bumgarner, OL (6-2, 290)
Southern Miss
       Bumgarner committed to Southern Miss earlier this week, officially putting the wraps on a solid two-year career at Northwest. The West Point native and Heritage Academy product played in every game for the Rangers over the past two seasons and joined teammates Carter and Van Every in forming one of the most robust offensive fronts in the NJCAA, which paved the way for 5,402 yards of total offense (third in the NJCAA; first in the MACCC).
       Off the field, Bumgarner collected several academic accolades, including an Academic All-MACCC selection last season.

Kylan Robinson, LB (5-11, 210)
Eastern Kentucky
       Robinson's third and final season with Northwest has been a dominant one, as the DeSoto Central product has raked in 74 total tackles, good for second on the team. He earned second team All-MACCC honors as part of a strong linebacker core and has also totaled 4.5 tackles-for-loss, four hurries, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup in 2021.
       For his career, Robinson has accumulated 139 total tackles, 12.5 TFLs, six hurries and five sacks.

Tyson Keys, TE (6-1, 255)
Alcorn State
       Keys caught the attention of Alcorn State after hauling in seven passes for 119 yards this season, scoring his lone touchdown in a home win against Northeast on September 23.
       Keys, a native of Hattiesburg, capped off his three-year Northwest career with 14 catches for 181 yards and earned third team All-American honors from JCGridiron.com last season. Off the field, he was a consistent recipient of MACCC and NJCAA academic honors.

Micheal Campbell, LB (5-11, 205)
UT Martin
       Campbell's final season in a Northwest uniform was a stellar one, as the Horn Lake native earned second team All-MACCC accolades after totaling 46 tackles and a team-leading nine tackles-for-loss. The Horn Lake native also has five hurries, four pass breakups and two sacks for the 2021 season, while his career is highlighted by 71 total tackles, 12.5 TFLs and eight hurries.

Roderick Daniels, DL (6-0, 250)
Alabama State
       A two-year starter on the Rangers' defensive front, Daniels signed with Alabama State following a Northwest career which featured 50 total tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, eight sacks, eight hurries and three forced fumbles. The Horn Lake native was one of seven Rangers to earn a spot on the 2020 All-Mississippi Gridiron Team last season.

Jarvis Townsend, DB (5-10, 185)
Delta State
       Third time was the charm for Jarvis Townsend this season, as the Rangers' three-year defensive back posted his best season in 2021. Townsend, a native of Pearl, compiled 59 total tackles, including 12 at Holmes earlier this season, but it was his pass defense that ultimately turned heads. Townsend finished tied for fourth in the nation with five interceptions for 105 return yards, including two in a victory at Jones College in the MACCC Semifinals.
       Additionally, Townsend totaled three pass breakups and two tackles-for-loss this season and ended his career with 125 total tackles.