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National Signing Day For High School Athletes

News Channel 8 photo by BOB HANSEN

Armwood's Petey Smith signs his letter of intent to attend Alabama. His parents, Eric and Lakisa Smith, are with him.

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TBO.com

Published: February 3, 2009

Updated: 02/04/2009 04:22 pm

Check back all day for live updates from various sites around the region from Signing Day.

8:30 a.m., Middleton High

It was something of a bittersweet moment for former coach Harry Hubbard, who was let go by the school after seven seasons on the job. He recently accepted the head coaching position at Middleton's longtime rival, Blake, but he still has strong feelings for the Tigers' program and the people he will be leaving behind for his next job.

"It's always hard when you develop friendships and loyalty to a school," Hubbard said. "I'm definitely going to miss this place but I'm looking forward to what we can do at Blake."

During his tenure at Middleton, Hubbard helped 49 of his players earn scholarships to colleges of various levels. Wednesday, he watched defensive lineman Andrerel Coleman sign with Georgia Southern and offensive lineman Luis Polanco sign with Western Kentucky.

Hubbard was particularly pleased with Polanco earning a scholarship. Polanco moved to Tampa with his family from the Dominican Republic just three years ago. When he arrived, Polanco didn't speak English and had never played football. Wednesday, Polanco looked every bit the role of a college football player and there's just a slight hint of an accent in his perfect English.

"Sometimes, I still can't believe all that's happened in the last three years," Polanco said. "I owe a lot of it to Coach Hubbard and my teammates."

Bill Ward

9 a.m., Plant City High

There were no surprises, as seniors Duran Lowe and Denzel Drone signed scholarships with the schools they had previously given verbal commitments.

Lowe, a safety, signed with Wake Forest, while Drone, a linebacker, signed with Michigan State. It was the second consecutive year Plant City had two players sign with Division I programs. In 2008, offensive lineman Mark Popek (South Florida; Division I FBS program) and running back Keith Dawson (Jacksonville; Division I FCS program) were the Raiders' two signees.

Lowe had long figured out his college destination, committing to the Demon Deacons last fall. Drone, on the other hand, didn't have colleges beating down his door and was set to accept an offer to Western Kentucky (he had verbally committed to the program) before the Spartans swooped in late to land his services.

"Michigan State was on the radar, but it got to the point where we thought Western Kentucky was it," Plant City coach Jason Strunk said. An offer from Michigan State is "something a kid can't turn down. It was pretty incredible."

Adam Adkins

Riverview High, 9 a.m.

Senior linebackers Shannon Burch Jr., and Devin Ray Jr., spent their high school careers playing alongside each other.

So it was fitting the two would be seated next to each other as they completed their letters of intent on National Signing Day.

"They're both team captains, and their both absolutely as good as it gets on and off the field," said football coach Bruce Gifford.

The duo was surrounded by friends, family and faculty who celebrated by snacking on sandwiches and pastries and taking pictures of the future college football players.

Burch committed to Pennsylvania's Cheyney University and plans to study sports medicine and physical therapy, while Ray is committed to play football for North Carolina A&T and will study engineering.

John Ceballos

Alonso High, 9 a.m.

Signing day at Alonso was numerous (six signees), varied (three sports) and heavy on Florida's universities (four).

The highest profile athlete, linebacker DeMonte McAllister, signed with Florida State, breathing a huge sigh of relief after verbally committing to the Seminoles last summer.

"Even though I told everyone I was going to Florida State, a bunch of other schools kept calling me and telling me I should come visit their schools," McAallister said. "But I'm not that type of person. I committed and that was it. And, you know, all that attention with the schools and the press, that's not me either.

"So yes, I'm very, very relieved. It feels great to finally sign."

The other football player to sign was Edward Williams, the lone Raven to sign with an out-of-state school. Williams chose Toledo over South Florida, Maryland and Hofstra.

"I wanted to go out of state so I could get a new experience," Williams said.

Also signing with the Gators was girls soccer player Brittany Burrows, who most likely will play against her Alonso teammate, Tifani Mullen, who signed with FSU. The Ravens' third girls soccer player to sign was Michele Larrinaga, who chose the University of North Florida.

The one softball player to sign was Arianna Stewart, who chose Florida A&M.

Scott Purks

9 a.m., Armwood High

Armwood's football program celebrated its biggest National Signing Day class in program history as nine Hawks seniors signed a National Letter-of-Intent.

Perhaps more impressive was the fact all nine of the Hawks players signed with Division I programs, either at the Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision level.

Signing for the Hawks were linebacker Petey Smith (Alabama), defensive lineman Ryne Giddins (USF), safety Angelo Hadley (North Carolina), quarterback Mywan Jackson (North Carolina), offensive lineman Justin Cabbagestalk (Vanderbilt), fullback Matt Eastman (Elon), receiver Rob Jones (Delaware) and linebacker Casey Callahan (Stony Brook), while running back Sirchauncey Holloway (Liberty) was an early enrollee in January.

Jesuit High, 9:15 a.m.

No National Signing Day ceremony is complete without a cake. So after Jesuit athletes signed their letters of intent to various colleges, one of the parents delivered a giant cookie cake.

That parent just happened to be former Major League Baseball player Fred McGriff.

"You baked?" someone asked, and McGriff just laughed.

His son Erick was one of five Jesuit High athletes who signed letters today. McGriff, the Tigers' leading receiver, committed to Kansas. His football teammates John Plasencia (Northwestern) and P.J. Hobson (Penn) also signed letters.

Cross country standout Connor Revord committed to Penn State, and Keith Sierra, one of Jesuit's top soccer players, signed with Marquette.

Katherine Smith

Chamberlain High, 9:45 a.m.

It came down to what opportunities were ahead.

Chamberlain senior quarterback Dontae Aycock, the 2008 Guy Toph Award recipient, realizes only two percent of college athletes make it to the NFL.

"And my dream is to go the NFL," he said. "I've been around NFL players all my life with my brother [Detroit Lions safety Dwight Smith]."

With that, Aycock signed with Auburn, picking the SEC school over Georgia Tech, a school he secretly committed to three weeks ago, only to de-commit once he visited Auburn this past weekend.

"What it came down to was, 'Do I really want to be a quarterback or a running back?' " Aycock said. "Nothing against Georgia Tech, but I just felt Auburn was the right place for me."

Auburn recruited him as a running back. He committed to the Tigers on Monday.

"They want me to play running back in their offense, the Wildcat offense," he said. "It's just football and school there. It's a big weight off my shoulders."

Nick Williams

Jefferson High, 10 a.m.

Jarrod Gant was a baseball player first. But he seized an opportunity his sophomore year to give another sport a try.

"My mom never wanted me to play football," Gant said. "She was on a business trip when I first started playing.

The Jefferson High offensive lineman signed with Elon, grateful he gave football a shot.

"There weren't too many 300-pound pitchers," Gant said. "Once I played football, I knew I loved it. You get to do things, like hit people, that you'd get I'm trouble for in most situations."

Katherine Smith

Hillsborough High, 10 a.m.

Darren Baker, who had not previously verbally committed, signed with Murray State. Baker is an offensive lineman.

Bill Ward

Freedom High, 11 a.m.

When he woke up Wednesday morning, Freedom boys soccer player Deion Jones didn't think he'd be making history.

As he signed his letter of intent to play soccer for Florida Gulf Coast, Jones became the program's first Division I player.

"I thought there were other Division I players before me," said Jones, who leads the Patriots in assists and is tied for second in goals scored. "Now I'm the first."

Meanwhile, football player Carl Saunders signed with Jacksonville University. The 6-foot-2, 270 pound offensive lineman was undecided before Wednesday.

Senior girls tennis player Bridget McKenna signed with Erskine; girls soccer star Monique Lamontte signed with New Hampshire; baseball star Chris Bonti signed with Wesleyan; and senior defensive tackle Coril Joseph signed with Charleston Southern.

Nick Williams

11 a.m., Wesley Chapel High

It's been a long wait for Kamran Joyer. As the Wesley Chapel offensive lineman went through the recruiting process, he and his parents learned one thing – get it over fast.

Joyer made his decision to continue his education at the University of South Florida on June 17, but couldn't officially sign the documents until Wednesday.

"Staying in touch with my family was a big factor in my decision," Joyer said. Joyer also has five uncles who went to USF.

He selected the Bulls over offers from Tennessee and South Carolina as well as interest from the University of Florida.

One of the biggest supporters of all student-athletes in Pasco County – Superintendent Heather Fiorentino – was in attendance.

"I always try to attend these events when I'm asked," Fiorentino said. "We always hear about the bad things so I think it's important to support the good things."

Rick Harmon

11 a.m., Pasco High

Peering up to his right at his mother from the high-backed chair inside the principal's office, Josh Johnson jokingly asked his mother, Nicki Craig, why she wasn't crying. She told him he hadn't left home yet. When that time comes, he will be attending Purdue University in Indiana on the football scholarship he signed Wednesday morning.

"I told him there will be times when I sit there and cry. I even told the people at work if you see me crying, it's not because I'm said," Craig said. "I'm happy my son is gone, but it's sad that he's far away and I can't talk to him in person. … As long as he's doing something good in his life, I'm going to settled with that."

Although there were no tears for teammate Mylon Brown, inside, the Pasco lineman was bubbling with satisfaction as he signed to play football at Vanderbilt. Brown injured his right knee in Week 2 and missed the remainder of the season recovering.

His mother, Jennifer Dunnwood-Brown, admitted she tried to keep him home and off his knee, but, crutches and all, Mylon Brown missed just one game due to his official visit to Vanderbilt. The rest of the time, he was right there on the sidelines.

His retort to his mother's wishes: "That's my team."

Eddie Daniels

Wharton High, Noon

Andrew Clifford, Jairus Jones and Hunter Stout were part of one of Wharton's most highly recruited football classes since the school opened in 1997.

Clifford, a quarterback, signed with South Carolina, Jones, a strong safety, with Michigan State and Stout, an offensive lineman, with Louisville.

Jones and Clifford both committed this past weekend while Stout committed to Louisville two weeks ago.

"(Michigan State) fits me perfectly," said Jones, a 6-foot-2, 215 pound three-star recruit. "They have a brand new facility and I'm cool with all the players."

Clifford, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback, wasn't heavily recruited entering his senior year. He won the Golden Jersey at an Elite 11 regional quarterback camp last summer, which featured some of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation, but still no one offered him a scholarship. When South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier asked him to visit the campus for an official visit last week, he immediately accepted. On Sunday, Spurrier offered him a scholarship.

Nick Williams

Noon, Tampa Bay Tech High

C.C. Culpepper's first National Signing Day experience as head coach turned out to be an interesting one, to say the least.

Just hours before the Titans' signing day ceremonies, Culpepper received a call from coaches at Western Michigan, who had a player back off a commitment and sign elsewhere earlier in the morning and were trying to hold up defensive back Antonio Wallace from signing with Northern Michigan so they could try and sway him to join their program. Wallace, however, stood true to his commitment and signed with the Wildcats, and joined offensive lineman Markeil Floyd (Bethune Cookman) as the program's first signees on National Signing Day since former Titans standout Maurice Crum signed with Notre Dame in 2004.

"It is a happy day, but a sad day as well," Culpepper told the crowd of supporters assembled in the school's conference room, referring to the thrill of having two players sign National Letter-of-Intent's but also of losing players of Wallace and Floyd's character and ability. The two players were instrumental in Tampa Bay Tech reversing its fortunes on the field, helping a program that suffered through consecutive winless seasons in 2005 and 2006 post winning records the last two years, including a program-best 10-2 mark in 2008 that included the Titans' first playoff win in program history.

Culpepper expects a few more seniors to sign in the coming weeks, but is already looking forward to his 2010 signing class, which he thinks has the potential to include upwards of 10 players.

Adam Adkins

1 p.m., Gaither High

Gaither coach Mark Kantor hasn't reached the 50-win career mark yet, but he's got an even more impressive number.

Kantor watched his 44th, 45th and 46th players sign letters of intent. Justin Lattimore signed with Illinois; Yemi Oyegunle signed with The Citadel and John Nenos signed with Furman.

"That's better than my overall win record, but this is why we're here - for the kids," Kantor said. "To get kids to the next level is tremendous."

Katherine Smith

1:30 p.m., Spoto High

Ten years from today, Sergio Robinson will walk the halls, taking a trip down memory lane. Then, as he approaches the main office, he'll find a picture of himself dated Feb. 4, 2009.

"I actually made a mark in history," Robinson said.

On Wednesday, Robinson, a 6-foot-3, 240 pound defensive lineman, signed his letter-of-intent to play football for Charleston Southern, becoming Spoto's first Division I athlete. The school opened in 2006.

"Its mind boggling," said Robinson, the only athlete from Spoto to sign a scholarship on national signing day. "I'm a role model. I really feel special."

The administration surprised Robinson with a gold bracelet.

"I wasn't expecting that bracelet," Robinson said.

So he'd never forget his accomplishment, 'SPOTO' was engraved on the jewelry.

Nick Williams

2 p.m., Plant High

Four members of Plant's state championship team took steps today to play at the next level. Defensive lineman Javon Mention signed with Georgia Southern and wide receiver Nathan Marvel signed with the University of Charleston.

Center Frank Nicholas and safety Hunter Baldwin committed to be preferred walk-ons at FSU.

The Panthers also had two girls soccer players signing letters of intent - Lexi Rakestraw (Colorado) and Courtney Zwetsch (Florida Atlantic).

Katherine Smith

2:15 p.m., Newsome High

Newsome celebrated its largest signing class in school history, as five student-athletes signed letter-of-intent's on National Signing Day.

Four of those athletes were members of the girls soccer team, which on Tuesday night defeated River Ridge in a Class 5A regional semifinal to earn the program's sixth consecutive appearance in a region final. Senior goalkepper Kendall Graham, who signed Wednesday with Florida, said it's probably one of the best 24-hour periods for her and her three teammates – Ana Cate (Auburn), Ashley Evers (USF) and Morgan Sammons (Florida Southern) – who also signed Wednesday.

"I would have to say so," Graham said. "Last night was nervous for everyone, but we got it done."

The girls soccer team returns to the field Friday night at Newsome as the Wolves host Lakeland Jenkins, the team that knocked them out of the state playoffs last season, with a berth in the state semifinals on the line.

Football standout Conor O'Neal capped the five-member signing class for Newsome. O'Neal, recently named a first-team all-state selection, signed with Boston College. The senior two-way lineman became the football program's first Division I signee.

Adam Adkins

2:30 p.m., Bloomingdale High

Senior goalkeeper Cristina Coca said she wanted to play for a competitive program in college, and on Wednesday, signed her letter-of-intent to play for Saint Leo University, a Division II school that won the Sunshine State Conference this past season.

"I thought it was the best place for me, academically, and they have a great soccer program," Coca said.

As a freshman, Coca helped lead the Bulls to the girls soccer state championship match. The last three years, she's led the team to the playoffs.

Coca owns a 4.6 unweighted GPA and plans to major in history with a minor in sports management.

Nick Williams

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