By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

Troup High’s J.C. Copeland had a change of heart.

The defensive lineman, who verbally committed to play football at Tennessee last year, instead signed with LSU Wednesday morning.

Copeland was one of six Troup players who signed letters of intent to play college football.

Fullback Brandon Worle is also going to LSU.

Also for Troup, cornerback Cardarious Sanders signed with South Carolina, an SEC rival of LSU’s.

Cornerback Jacorious Cotton is heading to Southern Miss, Vondre Jackson signed with South Alabama, and quarterback Jaquante Holloway signed with Valdosta State.

Copeland remained firm in his committment to Tennessee even after head coach Lane Kiffin left to take the job at Southern California.

But after taking a recruiting visit to LSU last weekend, Copeland changed his mind.

“I chose LSU because I feel it was a more stable environment for me,” Copeland said. “The coaching staff really loved me there and I really loved the campus. When I came home (from the visit), I tried everything in my power to make them look bad, but at the end of the day it came down to LSU.”

At Callaway, standout wide receiver Quantavius Leslie made a lot of West Virginia fans happy when he signed with that Big East school.

Also for Callaway, defensive lineman Jamal Bruce signed with Duke, while offensive lineman Chaz Bowles and Chase Bowles signed with Shorter, an NAIA school in Rome.

Senior safety D.J. Rutledge is going to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.

At LaGrange, quarterback Jamius Gunsby signed with the South Florida Bulls, the Tampa-based school that plays in the Big East.

Gunsby had a number of offers on the table, but he felt South Florida was the best fit for him.

“It’s a great place to be,” Gunsy said. “They made me feel welcome. It just felt like that was the place I needed to be.”

LaGrange place kicker Joseph Mansour, who owns the third-longest kick in state history with the 59-yarder he booted against Columbus, signed with Kentucky.

Defensive lineman Johnderrius Lovett is headed to Valdosta State, and defensive back Josh Manning signed with Southwest Mississippi College.

Manning hopes to go to Kentucky after his stint in Mississippi.

For more on Wednesday’s signings, see Thursday’s sports section.