Walton Salutes Football Seniors on Signing Day

Brad Noble was joking when he said he signed to play football at Samford University "because of the chocolate milk dispenser in the locker room.

"I knew they were going to take care of me."

Walton's graduating defensive end was one of five Raiders seniors honored Wednesday night on National Signing Day, as football players and high school athletes in other sports announced their college choices. 

They were the leaders of a Raiders team that finished 7-4 and reached the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs. 

Even while their high school playing days were in full swing, they had plenty to ponder about college life beyond their prospects on the football field. 

Still, head coach Rocky Hidalgo said that they should consider themselves privileged to be among the 13,000 high school seniors who will move on to the college football ranks later year. 

"We're going to have five guys who have the opportunity to go off and do this in college," Hidalgo said. "These experiences are going to guide you for the rest of your lives. There will be so many things you will learn how to do," not just as football players, but in the process of becoming adults. 

Tailback Kyle Vorster, a member of the Cobb Touchdown Club's all-county team, is headed to Georgia State, where coach Bill Curry made a deep impression on a recent visit "not just about a scholarship, but because he got to know me and my family personally. That's one of the things that sold me."

For Walton's other three seniors, who remain undecided about where they'll go to college, football isn't the only consideration. 

Quarterback Bradley Kilborn just returned from a visit last week to Rhodes College of Tennessee, which has a non-scholarship football program, while mulling over walk-on possibilities at South Carolina and North Carolina. 

"Right now I'm just weighing all the options," he said. "I'm seeing what will give me the best opportunity to play and get a good education."

Defensive back Matt LaMontagne also is choosing between Rhodes, Samford and Johns Hopkins, with a combination of factors involved. 

"I'm not sure what will make me swing one way or another," he said. "All three schools have a lot to offer. That's why I'm undecided."

Wide receiver John Ficarrotta is looking at Birmingham-Southern and LaGrange College. 

"We'll see how it goes, but I feel that football is my passion," he said. 

Here are Walton signees in other sports: 

Baseball -- Trevor Kieboom, Clemson.

Basketball -- Bria Bourgeois, George Washington; Karl Cochran, Wofford; Sarah Durdaller, Furman. 

Lacrosse -- Ned Kaish, Lenoir-Rhyne; Jack Chase, Presbyterian.

Soccer -- Britney Conley, Missouri;  Julia Holz; Appalachian State; Johanna Liney, Alabama-Birmingham; Kiana Nicholson, Columbus State; Matt Shreiner, Lehigh. 

Softball -- Camilla Gibson, Harvard; Kalie Hastings, USC-Beaufort.

Swimming -- Brian McClintock, North Carolina.

Tennis -- Stephanie Falcon, UNC-Greensboro; Claire Marshall, DePauw; Amelia McIsaac, Rollins; Maxie Weinberg, Connecicut; Emily Zabor, Alabama.

Track and Field -- Chris Foster, Georgia.