TIGER — Despite all the hype and noise now associated with National Signing Day, most northeast Georgia-based recruits spend their time quietly readying themselves for perhaps the biggest decision of their young lives.
That includes even some standouts bound for play at the highest levels.
Rabun County's Charlie Woerner has been happily tucked away in the Appalachian foothills, calmly biding his time as he prepares to sign a Letter of Intent to play for the University of Georgia.
The high-profile wide receiver/safety recently led Rabun County football to its best season (Region 8-AA champs, 11-2, with a trip to the Class AA quarterfinals) since 1998. But long before that the 6-foot-5, four-star recruit knew where his football future led.
“My uncle (Scott Woerner) played at Georgia, but I really didn’t decide until about two weeks before they offered,” Woerner said. “Georgia had visited me and said they were probably going to offer me, and I started thinking about it and when they did it was an easy decision.”
On Wednesday, Woerner -- along with dozens of other northeast Georgia standouts -- will finally make official what has been nothing but pure speculation for much of the last few months (or, for some, even longer).
The first Wednesday of each February represents the first official day senior football players may sign Letters of Intent, formally binding them to the school of their choice.
Woerner said the waiting has been the hardest part -- especially the in weeks since his final prep football season ended.
“I’ve been working toward this it seems like forever and really I’m just ready to get back to work and start getting ready for next season,” he said. “That has been the hardest part. I’m excited to get to celebrate this with my family and friends. It’s really not as big a deal to me now because I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.”
Woerner has plenty of reason for excitement. Adding to the momentous personal occasion is the fact that he will join a talented group of fellow recruits for the Bulldogs, including a signing class that features the nation’s No. 1-ranked quarterback in Jacob Eason as well as highly-touted tight end Isaac Nauta -- who played three seasons and won three state titles at Buford before moving to Florida for his senior season. Both Eason and Nauta are already enrolled in Athens, while Woerner will join up with his new teammates following the spring semester.
“I like the new coaches and I think the guys coming in will give us a great offense,” Woerner said. “I’m real excited because I’m sure we’re going to throw it a lot.”
Helping set the pocket for that young air attack will be yet another northeast Georgia standout already enrolled in Athens, in the form of hulking Stephens County offensive lineman Ben Cleveland.
And Georgia's signing class could also feature yet another area star used to dominating in the trenches -- just from the other side. The Bulldogs will likely figure in the reckoning of Lanier defensive lineman Derrick Brown, and while the high school All-American is yet to make a commitment -- Auburn and Tennessee are also heavily in the mix -- the eyes of Bulldogs fans around the state will be on Brown's announcement come 3 p.m. Wednesday at Lanier High in Sugar Hill.
Brown's decision could be the highest-profile of the day in a state replete with big-name talent -- though he won't be the only standout making up his mind on Signing Day, as other gridiron hopefuls also make their futures public for the first time. Yet, for most high school stars, that decision was made weeks -- or even months -- ago. The only thing remaining is the flourish of a pen and the whir of a fax machine.
That will be the case in Blairsville on Wednesday, as Union County’s Joseph Mancuso will realize a dream that this time last year he wasn’t sure was going to happen.
“I had a backup plan working,” Mancuso said Monday during a phone interview. “I didn’t have any offers so I was thinking of probably going to Louisiana where I have family and going to school over there. I had schools look at me during my junior year but no one offered me anything.”
Not long into his senior year, however, the Panthers’ quarterback got more than just a look from Richmond, which competes in the Football Championship Subdivision via the Colonial Athletic Association. The Spiders, perhaps based on Mancuso's 8,000-plus yards passing and 2,000-plus yards rushing over three seasons, gave him the offer he was hoping for.
“I didn’t know what to say, really,” Mancuso said. “I thought about all the hard work I had put in. I just felt grateful, really. Then I went on a visit and I loved the campus.”
Mancuso will sign his Letter of Intent in the school gym at 11:30 a.m. in front of a big crowd of family and friends.
“I’m real excited about it, It should be pretty cool and to have my coach and parents there will be great,” he said.
Union County coach Brian Allison said he always enjoys Signing Day.
"It's very satisfying as a coach to see the kids you work with see their dreams come true," Allison said. "Joseph is a great kid and really worked hard for this. I'm very proud of him and for him."
It's a sentiment that will be shared throughout the nation, state and -- certainly -- here in northeast Georgia, as a long list of standouts make their collegiate choices official. And while a number of stars from other sports will also be honored in ceremonies around the area, many of them have already signed their Letters of Intent -- National Signing Day being the first opportunity for senior football players to do so.
West Hall's Anthony Lotti is another that cannot wait to see years of hard work bear collegiate fruit, as he signs to play with the University of Wisconsin.
"It will definitely be a stress relief along with a huge slice of excitement because of what's coming next," said Lotti, who will punt for the Badgers (Editor's Note: We'll bring you more on Lotti's unique situation on Signing Day). "It's been tough, but I don't know if I'd change anything about it."
-- NOTE: Standouts from throughout the area, including several sports stars within Hall County and Banks County will be honored in the Greater Hall County FCA's Signing Day ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. at Longstreet Cafe in Gainesville. The ceremony will be broadcast live on 1240 AM ESPN Radio and will feature interviews with dozens of standouts from a number of schools and sports.
