On the dotted line: Big Bend athletes sign to play college sports on National Signing Day

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On the dotted line: Big Bend athletes sign to play college sports on National Signing Day

Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat · Tallahassee Democrat

Wed, Feb 7, 2024 ·

7 min read

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Cross the T's and dot the I's, it's National Signing Day.

Big Bend athletes made their college commitments official by signing their national letters of intent on Wednesday, solidifying commitments to play at their respective universities.

With college football currently ruled by the transfer portal, high school recruits are still making waves on signing day, with dozens of area athletes signing to play at the next level, including some staying home.

Trojans sign seven to the next level.

Big Bend athletes sign letters of intent on national signing day at both Lincoln High School and Florida High on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

It was a busy morning for Lincoln football, with seven players signing to play college football.

One of the largest signing classes in the Big Bend this year, the Trojans saw Samarian Robinson sign to Rutgers, Alexander Gale sign to Middle Tennessee State, Ajani Mason to Alabama State, Conner Gilbert to Valdosta State, Julius Darity to Southeastern, Vencent Bostik to Thomas University and CJ Dawson to LaGrange College.

Heading to the Big 10, Robinson joins the Scarlet Knights in one of College football's most competitive conferences, something that enticed him to commit to Rutgers and follow his dream.

Robinson joins a program that currently has three players in the Super Bowl and loads of NFL players, and the linebacker hopes to add his name to that list of Scarlet Knights in the pros.

"It's very important due to the fact that it's been my dream since I was young to go to the National Football League," Robinson said. "With that said, I just felt like I had to go to Rutgers and put in more hard work."

One of Lincoln's top linebackers, Robinson joins a long list of talented Trojan defenders to play at the next level. Robinson credits current Georgia and former Lincoln player Raylen Wilson for helping develop him into a high-caliber player.

"I'd like to give thanks to Raylan Wilson, he put me on game and he took me under his wing and I put in a lot of work with him," Robinson said. "His mom helped me out, feeding me some protein shakes and helping me get bigger."

Lincoln is known for developing offensive linemen, and Gale is one of the Trojan's top products in recent seasons.

Signing to Middle Tennessee State, Gale was originally committed to Akron but once he visited the Blue Raiders, he felt at home.

"It just felt right, honestly," Gale said. "It was also a little closer to home, so that was important."

One of the top players for Lincoln, Gale was a standout on the offensive line for the Trojans during his time in high school.

"I'll feel like I'm ready and I am real grateful that I can even be here right now," Gale said. "I put the work in to get here but my coaches, my family and God really helped me get where I am today."

Five football players, one softball player highlight Florida High's class

The Seminoles will be well-represented in Tallahassee next year.

Two Florida High football players singed with Tallahassee's top universities, as Micahi Danzy signed to Florida State and linebacker Darrick McGhee Jr. made it official with Florida A&M.

Dazny , who signed with FSU in December, is staying with the Seminole name and joining the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Seminoles. The opportunity to play close to home was too good for Danzy to pass on.

"It feels great," Danzy said. "I want to make people in Tallahassee proud."

After suffering an injury that cut his senior season short, Danzy is ready to get back to FSU this summer following his final track season with Florida High.

"I'm excited, I get to work with new people," Danzy said. "I want to see where I'm at compared to these five stars. Got to restart, so I'm ready."

McGhee joins FAMU as a third-generation Rattler, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents in going to the highest of the seven hills.

"There was no question, I knew I was going there," McGhee said. "It's a family."

Heading to FAMU in the summer, McGhee said he's ready to work under new head coach James Colzie and has already been in contact with some current Rattlers.

"I'm excited man, I'm talking to some of the players and some of the coaches every day," McGhee said. "I'm ready to work."

For Seminoles offensive linemen Wyatt Crosby (Georgia Miltary College) and Mark Faircloth (Florida), the opportunity to play at the next level is something the duo has dreamed of. With high school recruitment taking a hit because of the NCAA transfer portal, the duo were aware they needed to work harder to stand out.

"It's definitely an honor because there are so many kids who work so hard and just don't get the opportunity," Faircloth said. "I really feel blessed to be in my shoes right here where I can continue at the collegiate level."

"I feel like it's just a huge weight off my shoulders because we had to do so much more than those in years past to get up to this moment," Crosby said. "I'm proud of me and the guys for being able to sign. I'm very excited to get going."

Ashton Hampton joins Danzy in heading to the ACC as the star safety is heading to Clemson. Hampton said the consistency in the coaching staff and commitment to success drew him to the Tigers.

With dreams of making the NFL, Hampton felt Clemson gave him the best opportunity to reach that level.

"I'm coming in, I'm focusing on doing my time there, maybe three to four years there, and continue to help build on the standard and leave a legacy for the next generation," Hampton said."

For Iza Howard, she wasn't signing to play college football, but softball rather. Making her commitment to Eastern Nazarene College official, Howard is a utility player for Florida High and is heading to Massachusetts to play catcher.

"It was amazing," Howard said on signing her letter of intent. "It was almost a relief that I have a home."

What sold Howard on Eastern Nazarene was the school's culture and community.

"I love the coaching community," Howard said. "It's a very small school and everybody knew each other and I thought that was great."

Where did Big Bend athletes sign?

If your name/player is missing, please send athlete's name and university to lrooney@gannett.com

Football

Florida High's Ashton Hampton signs to Clemson

Florida High's Micahi Danzy signs to Florida State

Florida High's Darrick McGhee signs to FAMU

Florida High's Wyatt Crosby signs to Georgia Miltary College

Florida High's Mark Faircloth signs to the University of Florida

St. John Paul II's Tremain Hughes signs to Air Force

St. John Paul II's Calvin Washington signs to St. Thomas University

Godby's Everett Valcourt signs to St. Thomas University

Leon's De'Rodrick Hepburn signs to Huntingdon College

Rickards William Hadley Jr. signs to Thiel College

Rickards Jaishun Frazier signs to LaGrange College

Rickards Amarion Wilson signs to Walsh University

Rickards Myles Dugans signs to Bethel University

Madison County's Varian Terry signs to Lane College

Madison County's John Christian signs to Lane College

Lincoln's Alexander Gale signs to Middle Tennesse

Lincoln's Samarian Robinson signs to Rutgers

Lincoln's Ajani Mason signs to Alabama State

Lincoln's Conner Gilbert signs to Valdosta State

Lincoln's Julius Darity signs to Southeastern

Lincoln's Vencent Bostik signs to Thomas University

Lincoln's CJ Dawson signs to LaGrange College.

Chiles Bobby Engstler signs to the University of California Berkeley

Chiles Chase Harllee signs to Keiser University

Chiles Cayman Pope signs to Warner University

North Florida Christian's Ethan Fisher signs to Samford

North Florida Christian's Josh Schuchts signs to UTEP

Wakulla's Haden Klees signs to Samford

Wakulla's Leon Washington Jr. signs to Florida Atlantic University

Wakulla's Marcus Gardner signs to LaGrange College

Wakulla's Samron Brinson signs to Edward Waters University

Wakulla's Herschel Blackmon signs to LaGrange College.

Gadsden County's Joasiah Knight signs to Mississippi State

Gadsden County's Ostin Perkins signs to Valdosta State

Gadsden County's Kemarion Gadsden signs to Valdosta State

Softball

Florida High's Iza Howard signs to Eastern Nazarene College

Soccer

Chiles Caleb Gains signs to the University of Mobile

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamroone y

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Big Bend players celebrate signing day, set to play college sports

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