Thomasville sends six to the next level
Feb. 8—THOMASVILLE — On National Signing Day, six Thomasville Bulldogs put pen to paper to continue their football journey at the collegiate level. This year's Thomasville signing class includes seven Bulldogs, Cole Shaw signed with Mercer earlier in the school year so that he could enroll for the spring semester.
This year's signing class included four Bulldogs headed to Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. Tyreek Williams, Angelo Davis, Jay Randall and Logan Thomas will all be headed north to play college football together. They will join former Bulldogs Kamarius Bradshaw and Hakeem Myrick who signed with Union last year.
"That's huge," said Thomasville head football coach Jonathan DeLay about his players going to the same program. "The two guys that went, Kamarius Bradshaw and Hakeem Myrick, last year they kind of paved the way. Their work ethic and their character and what they do allowed these four to have the same opportunity. They got the same offer that those guys got and it's because of establishing relationships between us and Union and these guys are going to carry on that same tradition."
When asked how he felt about already knowing some of his teammates headed into college, Randall said he feels more comfortable with a support system already established.
"I just feel like it will be better. A better support system," Randall said. "I go in there with people I know, so they can just teach me the way."
Also signing were Keshawn Jordan and Andrew Bennett. Jordan, who led the Bulldogs in sacks and was number two in tackles per game, is headed just up the road to Albany State University.
Punter Andrew Bennet will be headed to North Carolina where he will attend UNC Charlotte. The punter, whose stellar senior campaign made him one of the top punters in the nation, said playing at the next level is a dream come true.
"It feels amazing. It's really just a dream that I've kind of had my whole life. It's just a dream come true really," Bennett said.
Bennett has set some lofty goals for himself in his freshman season, including earning the starting spot and making a name for himself in Charlotte.
For DeLay, football is icing on the cake to the education that these young men will get. After all, a free college education is something most can only dream of.
"When you look at those guys and the things that they've done, they're able to go play at the next level and go get a degree because of what they can do on 120 yards of turf or grass," DeLay said. "It's pretty special to think about that. The challenge to them is go take your talents and go get your education, so that when football ends for you at some point you have something to fall back on."
