Picayune’s Ken Breland has a pair of championship football rings for his play on the football field over the past few seasons.

He now has a chance to earn another.

Breland signed a scholarship with Nicholls State University earlier this week. He has been a cornerback at East Mississippi Community College the past two seasons.

He signed with the Lions after being a guiding force on defense in 2011, when Picayune won the Class 5A state title.

Last month, Breland and EMCC won the National Juco championship with a victory in The Mississippi Bowl over Georgia Military College.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Breland chose the Colonels over Central Arkansas, Murray State, Jacksonville State, Mississippi College and Jackson State. He also heard from Ohio, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Utah State and Western Kentucky.

Nicholls has secured three mid-year junior college players for next season as Breland joins wide receiver Hakeem Flowers and running back Tobias Lofton, both of Itawmaba, as the first official signees of the 2014 class.

”I enjoyed my time at EMCC, but now its time to continue my legacy and make Picayune and my family proud,” Breland said. “My signing with Nicholls was a blessing straight from God, early on I didn’t have the offers that I had wanted but my grandma told me to keep having faith that I would end up with options. I ended up with about six scholarship offers. I chose Nichols because the situation coming in with playing time, maybe even a starter is very high. They have a great communications program and is number three in all schools in Louisiana with graduation rate.”

East Mississippi went 12-0 this past season in capturing the crown. Breland played in all 102 games for the Lions, recording 16 tackles, one sack, one pass break up and forcing a fumble. For his two-year career, he had 34 tackles and two interceptions – one which he returned for a touchdown.

He was also a major contributor on special teams for the Lions over the past two seasons as well.

Breland prepped at Picayune Memorial where he was named first-team all-State as a senior after recording 70 tackles and eight interceptions while helping lead his team to a state title. He played in the North vs. South Mississippi All-Star Game and was invited to play in the Mississippi vs. Alabama Game.

While at Picayune, Breland was a two-time all-state honoree in track in the 200 meter and long jump.

Breland is one of 12 Lions signing with four year schools.