SENATOBIA - Though Northwest sent 10 players to the four-year level during December's early signing period, an additional 10 Rangers have also moved on to the next level at various NCAA programs.

Receiver Jarnorris Hopson, defensive back Lamarion "L.J." Shumpert, tight end Derrick Harden, defensive lineman Jalyn Nickelberry, tailback Cameron Young, specialist Shade Foster, linebacker Zion Edwards, linebackers Dyllon Bullard and JyKeon Cunningham and long snapper Patrick Helms have all joined Division I or Division II institutions since the early signing period drew to a close. In all, the Rangers have now sent 19 players off the 2023 squad to the four-year level.

Though he only suited up for one season with Northwest, Hopson caught 35 passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns this season. The Horn Lake native and Mississippi State transfer recorded his best game in the Rangers' September 28 win at Itawamba, hauling in seven passes for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Shumpert will take his talents to Ohio University, continuing a successful pipeline to the Bobcats in recent years. In two seasons with the Rangers, the Booneville native totaled 20 tackles with a forced fumble. He captured four tackles in a career-high performance came against East Mississippi on October 5.

Harden, a native of Olive Branch, is bound for Alabama State. He hauled in seven passes for 76 yards during his two seasons at Northwest, including a career-best two catches for 22 yards in a road win at Coahoma as a freshman.

Nickelberry will join the roster at Mississippi Valley State. The Pearl native captured four tackles this season, with two of those coming in the Rangers' Week 3 win against Pearl River. He was also credited with a quarterback hurry in an October 12 road win at Mississippi Delta.

As a new member of the Murray State football program, Young concludes his Northwest career with 518 yards on 149 carries, with two touchdowns. The West Point native rushed for 258 yards this season, including a career-high 70 yards in the Rangers' October 19 win against Coahoma. 

Additionally, Young caught 18 catches for 73 yards over his two-year career, including 10 catches for 56 yards as a sophomore.

Foster and Edwards are both expected to join Southern Miss for the 2024 season, adding to a long list of Rangers-turned-Golden Eagles. In two seasons as the primary punter for Northwest, Foster booted 72 punts for 2,760 yards, with 31 landing inside the 20-yard line and 10 punts going for 50 yards or more.

Foster also had limited experience as a quarterback for Northwest, mostly on trick plays. He completed five of his eight pass attempts with one interception, while also rushing for a touchdown in the Rangers' October 19 win against Coahoma.

Edwards, a native of Petal, combined for five tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. Both of his hurries came in the Rangers' October 19 victory against Coahoma.

Cunningham, a linebacker from West Point, collected 96 total tackles over a two-year span with Northwest. He also finished his career with five quarterback hurries, four tackles-for-loss an interception and a pass breakup.

Cunningham also recorded two games with 10 tackles, both road wins at Mississippi Delta and Holmes.

Bullard became an everyday starter for Northwest in his sophomore season, racking up 60 of his 69 career tackles in 2023. The Horn Lake native also totaled 7.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks for a loss of 21 yards over the past two seasons, along with a fumble recovery in the season-opener at Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Helms played in every game as the Rangers' long snapper during the previous two years. The Tupelo native also recorded a tackle in an October 12 road game at Mississippi Delta this season.

Since Benjy Parker took over the coaching reins in 2016, Northwest has sent 171 players to the four-year level. Of those players, 139 have signed to the Division I level and 90 have joined FBS programs.

Northwest finished the 2023 season with a 7-3 overall record and the program's 10th straight postseason appearance. Since 2016, Parker and the Rangers have compiled a 65-19 record and a .774 winning percentage.