Evangel’s Robinson inks with Pitt; Haynesville’s Jackson with La. Tech
Evangel’s Tyreek Robinson says he isn’t intimidated by the thought of playing football in the snow and that’s one of the reasons the speedy Eagle chose to sign with the University of Pittsburg on Wednesday during National Signing Day.
A 5-foot-9, 165-pound three-star recruit, Robinson was one of a slim number of Northwest Louisiana football standouts inking with FBS programs during the late signing period. Haynesville’s Alonzo Jackson Jr. signed with Louisiana Tech, Haughton track and field standout Aniya Hill and Ruston’s Zoie Holstead inked with Louisiana-Lafayette.
“I always wanted to go Power Five and play bigtime football,” said Robinson, whose other main offer was from FCS Southeastern Louisiana. “God blessed me with that offer, so I went with Pitt. I love snow.”
On the FCS side, new Grambling coach Mickey Joseph picked up Evangel’s Jamal Jordan, one of the top tacklers in the state last season, and Minden sensation Jakobe Jackson. Evangel's Jacob Carpenter chose Nicholl's State, while Benton’s Jeff King is headed to Central Arkansas to throw the javelin.
SPEED DEMON: Here’s why Evangel’s Tyreek Robinson is one of the fastest receivers in the state
ALL-CITY FOOTBALL: Meet the Shreveport Times All-City high school football team for the 2023 season
Other than those, most of the collegiate opportunities Wednesday went to athletes opting for NAIA, Division II and Division III schools or as preferred walk-ons.
One of the more interesting signing stories was Northwood’s pink-haired Aniyah Hudson, who broke down while talking about her senior year “being taken away.” The LHSAA ruled her ineligible to play for the Lady Falcons after her eligibility was challenged by a Bossier City school despite her living in the Northwood attendance zone, according to Northwood principal Shannon Wall.
“I started to give up, mentally check out and feel emotionally destroyed,” Hudson said. “I questioned God and at times I didn’t feel worth being where I am today. I felt like I was doing everything wrong.”
But with the help of her family, coaches and an encouraging school environment, Hudson rebounded and earned a scholarship to East Mississippi Community College, the school that was the subject of a Netflix series on its football program.
“Know that this is only the beginning,” Hudson said.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
Also playing collegiately:
North DeSoto
All FB: Tristan Hopper, ETBU; Gage Caskey, ETBU; BT McMillian, Harding College; Landry Wyatt, PWO La. Tech; Lake Bates, PWO ULL
Glenbrook
FB: Garrett Brown, Louisiana Christian University
Ruston
Peyton Beck, LSU Eunice, baseball; Cade Campbell, Centenary, swimming; Ronald Findley, Centenary, FB; Zoie Holstead, ULL, CC; Semaj Jones, LCU, FB; Logan Malone, LCU, FB; Jade Smith, Houston Christian, VB; Cala Wilson, Lamar, softball; Jamar Woods, LCU, FB
Haughton
Aniya Hill, ULL, track and field; Kayleigh Goss, BPCC, softball
Airline
Sincere Walker, Arkansas Tech, FB; Tre Jackson, LCU, FB
Benton
Jen Willis, Centenary, soccer; Christina Gregg, BPCC softball
Northwood
Queen White, Jefferson CC, basketball; Gianni Robinson, Hendrix College, softball; Jeremiah Reed, Centenary, FB; Desmond Harris, Hendrix, FB
North Webster
FB: Tutt McGlothan, SAU
Parkway
All FB: BJ Patterson, LCU; Michael Collier, ETBU; Dolan Williams, ETBU; Carter Wells, PWO Southern Arkansas
Calvary
All FB: Hutch Grace, Ouachita Baptist; Tre Davis, Trey Houston, Chaz Whitaker and Chris Jackson, Centenary; Randal Hermes, PWO La. Tech
Evangel
All FB: Parker Fulghum, PWO Clemson; T’ziah Glyenn, LCU; Kennedy Calhoun, ETBU; Mathew Jarett, Centenary; Kris Jenkins, Centenary; Jacob Wilson, Centenary
Captain Shreve
All FB: Jordan Wiggins, LCU; Timahj Jones, PWO ULL
Huntington
All FB: Quan Bradford and Michael Casey, Harding University; Preston Summage, Centenary
Minden
All FB: Cameron Mitchell, Brian Turner and Keithric Kimble, NAU in Stafford, Texas
Haynesville
All FB: Jake Acklin, PWO La. Tech; Germetrius Speech, PWO Grambling
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Evangel’s Robinson inks with Pitt; Haynesville’s Jackson with La. Tech
