GAINESVILLE — Dreams came true once again on Wednesday for area football players at what has become an inspiring annual National Signing Day event.
Nearly five dozen area gridiron standouts (58 in all) inked scholarships around northeast Georgia on the first day they were allowed to sign Letters of Intent. More than two dozen northeast Georgia athletes representing seven different sports from seven area schools sat down with accessWDUN on Wednesday at the Greater Hall FCA Signing Day ceremony at Longstreet Cafe.
Below are exerts from the players that showed up at Longstreet Cafe to discuss their experiences during their recruiting process:
Cody Parker, Banks County, Baseball — Toccoa Falls College: “It’s a good Christian school and it was a great fit for me because I should be able to come in and play right away. I enjoyed the process and seeing all the schools but it’s like 1,000-pounds lifted off of me (to sign).”
Tyler Bryant, Banks County, Football — LaGrange College: “Me and Jody and Zack all wanted to play together and we all liked the school. It just feels good to know I get to play at the next level. I’m real glad it’s all over.”
Jody Poole, Banks County, Football — LaGrange College: “LaGrange looked at us a package and it was a small school, which is something I was looking for. It’s a life-changing event for sure. I’m glad it’s over but I’m also looking forward to the future.”
Zack Patrick, Banks County, Football — LaGrange College: “It had a small-town feel and we all liked that. I enjoyed the process but now that it’s over it means game time to me. It’s time to get started. I’m ready to go.”
Will Davidson, East Hall, Wrestling — Campbell University: “It’s a great program with great coaches. To me (signing) just means a lot about all the years of hard work I put in paid off. I really enjoyed the whole process and feel blessed to get this opportunity.”
Ashlyn Ellison, East Hall, Basketball — Armstrong State University: “I just loved the location. It’s a good program and it’s close to the beach. I’m just extremely happy and it feels great to know that I have somewhere to go after high school.”
Breanna Locke, Flowery Branch, Basketball — Lenoir-Rhyne University: “I want to be a doctor and they have a great medical sciences department. I felt it was a good fit for me team-wise as well. I signed early so I could just concentrate on the season. It was a blessing but also a big weight off my shoulders.”
Maddie Hetzel, Flowery Branch, Basketball — University of North Georgia: “I really loved the academics for what I wanted to do and their style of play really suits me. I was waiting for this my whole
life so it felt great and signing that paper was a huge load off my shoulders.”
Kohlton Hamann, Flowery Branch, Baseball — East Georgia State: “I loved the environment of the school. Their was a passion in the coaching staff to make you better. I’m actually going to sign a little later but there is a relief of where I’m going and it’s also a motivator for me that there is a future for me.”
Bailey Sims, Flowery Branch, Softball — Belmont University: “I’m undecided (on a major) but there were some things in particular I was looking for in a school and I thought this was a great fit for me. It was a big weight lifted (when I signed) but it was a great day. It was a culmination of everything I had worked for.”
Cortez Davis, Flowery Branch, Football — UT Chattanooga: “They had a great tradition of building good teams and developing players. I enjoyed the process; it was fun visiting schools. But I’m glad it’s over. Now I can just every the rest of high school.”
Jesus Alvarado, Flowery Branch, Football — North Georgia Sports Academy Junior College (Cornelia): “It’s a life-changing event for me. I didn’t think I would get to play (after high school) so it just felt great to be able to sign a scholarship to play. Hopefully I’ll get to play my freshman year but it’s a relief that it’s over now.”
Jonathan Gettys, Gainesville, Baseball — LSU: “When I took a visit I just loved the atmosphere of the games. Plus, I didn’t really want to stay that close to home. I’m ready to get going on this season and try and win a state title in my final year.”
Spencer Ralston, Gainesville, Golf — University of Georgia: “I knew where I wanted to go early on but I did visit a lot of other places and I enjoyed the process overall. I signed earlier in the year and I just thought about all the hard work I had put into things so it felt great. But I’m ready to get going on this season.”
Messiah Dorsey, Gainesville, Football — Highlands Junior College (Kansas): “I wasn’t looking at JUCO at first but I talked to them and they liked my skills and in my heart I still want to play quarterback and they’re going to give me a chance to do that. There was a lot of pressure during the process but I kind of enjoyed that. But it also feels great to get this done and I’m just going to try to work hard and get ready for the next phase of my career.”
Tae Turner, Gainesville, Football — Bethel University (Tennessee): “It was a Christian school in a small town and I feel like that’s something I need to stay focused. This is what I have always wanted do and I just wanted to make my dad proud. So glad it’s over and I know where I’m going to be after high school.”
Dylan Blanchard, Gainesville, Football — Mars Hill: “Me and (Gainesville teammate Cole Handte) discussed it to make a commitment to play together so we both took a visit and it felt like a place you can call home. I was a just blessing to get a chance to sign somewhere. It’s also nice to know where I’m going to be for the next four years.”
Jase Lint, Gainesville, Football — Rhinehart College: “It was a quick process for me because I didn’t get an offer and then I got a whole bunch. It’s close to home and a good program and a good fit for me. I’m just doing the work right now to get ready for next year.”
Alexis Gopfert, Lakeview Academy, Golf — Biola University (Los Angeles): “I always wanted to go out and live in Los Angeles and I heard they had a tryout so I went. They only took one and there were six of us and I was able to shoot the low score and they offered me a scholarship. They only gave me a month to decide so that was kind of stressful but I feel real about my decision.”
Thaddeus Webb, Lakeview Academy, Football — Alcorn St.: “I’m from Mississippi originally so it was a way for me to be back close to home. It was great to get an offer from them and they have a great coaching staff. I enjoyed the process but it was definitely a relief when I got to sign.”
Michael Carew, North Hall, Wrestling — Shorter University: “I learned a lot about how college works through the process and they offered me the best scholarship offer so that’s the one I went with. I signed early so I could just concentrate on this season and that has been a big relief.”
Alexis Flanagan, North Hall, Soccer — Reinhardt University: “It was a hard process overall trying to decide from a big school or a small school. I got hooked as soon as they showed me their locker room and I just loved the environment overall during my visit. I really wanted to sign before the season started and I was able too. It was a dream come true for me.”
Ashley Goines, North Hall, Softball — University of Pikeville (Kentucky): “They recruited me at a tournament in Savannah so when I went up for a visit I just loved everything about the place. It was a stressful process so I was just glad to get it over with.”
Kwon Williams, West Hall, Football — Georgia State: “It was a heart-dropping decision for me. I had some good choices but I thought (Georgia State) was a good fit for me. It was very stressful but a good experience overall. Definitely glad it’s over.”
Tyquan Statham, West Hall, Football — Cincinnati: “I was a really tough process and decision for me because I had a lot of offers and they were all good. In the end I just loved the atmosphere (at Cincinnati) and the academics and it’s a good fit for me. Hopefully I’ll get to play right away. It was fun at first but then it got real stressful. I’m definitely glad it’s over.”
Anthony Lotti, West Hall, Football — Wisconsin: “I just loved the beauty of the campus, and the academics and the coaching are excellent. It’s a great fit for me. It got real crazy as we got closer (to signing day) because I got a bunch of late offers and they were all good, especially the one from Georgia. But I felt good with my commitment (to Wisconsin) and wanted to keep my word. I’m very happy with it all ended up.”
