SUGAR HILL — Derrick Brown opted for what -- these days -- passess for a low-key collegiate signing ceremony.
There were no cakes, banners or sky-dives -- just a gaggle of local and national media and a lot of happy Lanier Longhorns, especially if they also happen to pull for Auburn.
The state's top-rated recruit picked the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon, wrapping up a memorable 2016 National Signing Day in northeast Georgia, a region that continued to push a number of area gridiron stars on to collegiate programs.
Perhaps none is expected to make the impact that Brown is, however. The defensive lineman terrorized Region 8-AAAAA offenses for the last two seasons, and hopes to do so again in the Southeastern Conference after making his announcement live on ESPN via satellite. Yet all the hoopla hardly fazed the 6-foot-4 senior, who seemed very much at peace after an admittedly hard decision process.
"I made my mind up (Tuesday) morning, relaxed, played basketball yesterday and I feel good about it," Brown said. "This is great. The media and all the people here -- this is great. I love it."
(NOTE: Later this week AccessWDUN will present 2016 Signing Day Reflections, memories and thoughts from every athlete present at Wednesday's Greater Hall FCA Signing Day ceremony at Longstreet Cafe.)
As exciting as the moment -- and every instance any athlete signed his National Letter of Intent -- was, there were also plenty of reminders available to keep recruits grounded.
"This is not the end; this is really just the beginning," said Buford coach Jess Simpson before his own school's signing ceremony on Wednesday morning, which honored 12 football signees on a day when several other athletes from other sports were honored -- though with this being the first date senior football players could sign, it was them that took the spotlight.
"All around the country today there are kids with the mindset of, 'hey, I've made it.' And that's the entirely wrong mindset. This is the start of something, not that they have arrived."
That out of the way, Buford joined a number of other programs from around northeast Georgia in celebrating the accomplishments of their 2016 signing class.
"This is a celebration for these kids and the hard work they've put in," Simpson said. "And it's a celebration of an entire school and program and family."
While Buford honored 12 players -- including those headed to N.C. State, Georgia Tech and Furman and a number of programs further afield -- schools like West Hall, Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Winder-Barrow, Jefferson, Rabun County, Habersham Central, Mill Creek, Stephens County, Union County also joined in the celebration, as gridiron stars put pen to paper to make their collegiate choices official.
"I'm excited to finally make it official; I've been committed since November," said Buford's dominant defensive lineman Shug Frazier, who will play for N.C. State. "The recruiting process was really laid back and easy for me. My family backed me with whatever decision I made, and that made a big difference. I definitely had other options (than N.C. State). I wanted to be close enough to home, and I love Raleigh. It's a great environment, a great place, and I'm just thrilled.
"The real work starts now. Now it's a business. You've got to get your work done. You have to get your work done. But it's fun, so it's not really work."
Other area stars understood the weight of Wednesday's actions -- and could not wait to get started on the next step.
"To get the weight off my shoulders was great. Now I can just enjoy it and focus on getting ready," said Flowery Branch receiver/defensive back Coretz Davis, who signed with UT-Chattanooga.
"UTC has an ongoing tradition that they’re building, and I wanted to hop on board, and I can see a future after college; that’s why I hopped on board."
West Hall's Tyquan Statham not only liked what he saw in the program at Cincinnati, he also loved the plan that his new coaches have to fit him into the Bearcats' defense.
"When they showed me things on the big board of how I can help the team and play early I think that sealed it up," said Statham, who will play a linebacker/safety hybrid position and was glad to finally make his announcement on Wednesday morning. "It’s been a really tough process. From the beginning of my high school career I’ve had 23 Division I offers, and then I got hurt in my junior year playing basketball. Some schools pulled off, some kept at it. It’s just been a long time."
Gainesville quarterback Messiah Dorsey did not even get the kind of offer that appealed to him until the day before Signing Day.
"Just before Signing Day, I got a call from coach (Aaron) Arnold, the coach at Highlands Community College right now. He liked my skill, liked my ability and I made it happen. I committed yesterday," said Dorsey, who opted for the Kansas school because of the offer of a full scholarship and a chance to continue his quarterback play after taking over the starting position for the Red Elephants this season and helping them to the second round of the state playoffs. " I was really surprised; I thought they’d transfer me over to athlete, wide receiver, but they want me at quarterback. That’s where my heart’s at. I know I’ve got the feet, but I’m going to transfer that over to my upper body too, so I can be a complete quarterback."
Learning and growth will be on the agenda for each and every signee from Wednesday, even if -- for now -- there was time to celebrate a lifelong dream come true.
"It felt amazing. I know it made my mom and my dad proud, so that was a great feeling," Davis said.
2016 AREA FOOTBALL SIGNEES (Names added as we receive them -- if you want to add your name, please contact us at [email protected]):
Signees listed by high school
Banks County
Tyler Bryant, Lagrange College
Jody Poole, Lagrange College
Zack Patrick, Lagrange College
Travae Cain, Rinehardt University
Buford
Dale Craig, Middle Tennessee State University
David Andrade, Rinehardt University
Jacob Martin, Penn
Alan Bussoletti, Georgia Tech
Xavier Gantt, Georgia Tech
Shug Frazier, N.C. State
Cooper Simpson, United States Military Academy at West Point
Caleb Auer, United States Military Academy at West Point
Martin Mangram, UMass
Innis Claud, Delta State
Damario Lott, Gardner-Webb University
Dillon Vann, Furman
Commerce
Caleb Brooks, Jacksonville University
Flowery Branch
Cortez Davis, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Jesus “Chewy” Alvarado, North Georgia Sports Academy
Sterling Sykes, Reinhardt University
Gainesville
Chris Byrd, Kennesaw State
Chris Lyles, Hutchins Junior College
Cole Handte, Mars Hill
Dylann Blanchard, Mars Hill
Jase Lint, Rhinehart College
Messiah Dorsey, Highlands Community College (Kansas)
Tae Turner, Bethel College (Tennessee)
Habersham Central
Carson Ivester, Reinhardt University
Jeremiah Nicely, Reinhardt University
Jefferson
Joseph Randolph, The Citadel
Lakeview Academy
Thaddeus Webb, Alcorn State
Lanier
Derrick Brown, Auburn
Devin Miller, Hutchinson Junior College
Tahj Tolbert, FAMU
Ashton Barnes, Air Force
Mill Creek
Robbie Bell, Louisville
Tyler Vernon, Georgia Tech
Peyton Moore, Georgia State
Sidney Otiwu, Mercer
Kishawn Miller, Georgia Military College
John Hunt, Bucknell
Cole Ragon, University of St. Francis
Trevon Middleton, Cincinnati Christian University
Braxton Richaburg, Western Carolina University
Moe Samagbeyi, Middle Georgia State University
Tre Alston, Catawba College
North Gwinnett
Josh Imatorbhebhe, USC
Kameron Pickett, Buffalo
Alex Mollette, Marshall
KJ Hancock, Miami Ohio
Jake Adams, Kentucky Christian
Delon Smith, Delta State
Torron Murray, Alabama A&M
Ricci Knuckles, Moorehouse
Rabun County
Charlie Woerner, University of Georgia
Union County
Joseph Mancuso, University of Richmond
West Hall
Tyquan Statham, Cincinnati
Anthony Lotti, Wisconsin
Kwon Williams, Georgia State
White County
Bradley Hurst, Georgetown University
Winder-Barrow
Joey Junius, Presbyterian College
Cece Green, Georgia Military College
