VALDOSTA — Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles head coach Jeff Bower has invaded Lowndes High and apparently he’s liked what he’s seen.

Bower and his staff got a verbal committment from Vikings’ senior offensive tackle Jacquinn Wrice earlier this week almost a month after Wrice took a visit to the Hattiesburg, Miss., campus late last month.

Wrice, a 6-foot-3, 276-pounder was a dominant force in Region 1-AAAAA during Lowndes’ run to the Class AAAAA state title in 2004.

He was an all-region selection and an all-state pick in the state’s largest classification.

“They’ve got a good campus and a good atmosphere,” Wrice said of Southern Miss, a Division I-A school that’s part of Conference USA. “(Bower) said if I come in and work hard I may have a shot at early playing time.”

Wrice is listed as a two-star player by rivals.com, which has him listed as running a 5.34-second 40-yard dash at the Atlanta Nike Training Camp last May.

Wrice said the Southerm Miss staff indicated they will likely move him inside to offensive guard next fall. He said he may still take a visit to Middle Tennessee State, which has also shown interest, before National Signing Day Feb. 2.

According to Wrice, he may not be the only Viking headed to Southern Miss.

Wrice said Lowndes senior defensive end B.J. Wright and fullback/linebacker Octavius Everett will also sign with Southern Miss, although Wright wouldn’t confirm or deny a commitment to the Golden Eagles, prefering to make the colleges requesting his services wait until early February.

“I ain’t saying nothing,” Wright said Thursday after taking his official visit to Southern Miss this past weekend. “Everybody will have to wait and see.”

Everett could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

Rivals.com rates Wright as a three-star player, having him listed as receiving offers from Southern Miss, Auburn, Central Florida and Middle Tennessee State.

The Web Site ranks Wright as the 39th best outside linebacker prospect in the nation.