8 Roswell Football Players Sign D-1 Scholarships

By Mike Blum

Eight Roswell High School football players signed scholarships Wednesday with NCAA Division 1 schools, with at least two others from the Hornets’ state runner-up teams from 2015 and ’16 expected to play in college at the D1 level and others signing with non-D1 schools.

The ceremonies were held as part of National Signing Day, which fell on Feb. 1 this year.

Defensive backs Xavier McKinney and LeAnthony Williams signed with the two teams that played for the recent national championship, with McKinney, a safety, signing with Alabama and Williams, a cornerback, signing with Clemson. Williams will join former Roswell teammate Tre Lamar, who played as a freshman at linebacker for the Tigers.

Offensive tackle Jordan Tucker will also join a former Roswell teammate at North Carolina. Outside linebacker Tyrone Hopper signed with the Tar Heels the previous year and was red-shirted his freshman season.

Quarterback Malik Willis, who enjoyed an outstanding senior season after transferring from Westlake to Roswell, signed with Auburn to play quarterback after originally committing to Virginia Tech to play a different position.

Wide receiver Jayden Comma and cornerback Justus Harris will both play for Big 10 schools, with Comma signing with Maryland and Harris with Minnesota. Wide receiver Corey Reed is the Hornets’ third ACC-bound player, signing with Louisville. Running back Sheldon Evans, who rushed for over 5,000 yards as a three-year starter, signed with Marshall.

Also signing scholarships were offensive lineman Jack Nichols (Gardner-Webb), defensive lineman Max Boyd (Lenoir-Rhyne), linebacker Sam DiRoberto (Valdosta State) and kicker Turner Barckhoff (Stetson).

Defensive end Justin Ellis is considering offers from several D1 schools, and fellow defensive end Koby Cumberlander will play for a junior college in Iowa. Long snapper Matthew Smith will join McKinney and Willis in the SEC, making a last-minute switch from Mississippi State to South Carolina.

Offensive lineman Grant Silver, defensive lineman Lamon Titus and linebacker Mitch Stone all have offers from non-D1 schools.

Other North Fulton athletes also signed football scholarships on National Signing Day. Alpharetta wide receiver Carlos Carriere will join Comma at Maryland. Milton cornerback Troy Simon signed with Wake Forest and teammate Chase Hooper, a defensive lineman, signed with Florida Atlantic.

Milton offensive lineman Josh Hall will play his college football at Harvard. Blessed Trinity offensive linemen Jacob Bolton and Griffin Gilder signed with Iowa State and William & Mary respectively, and Blessed Trinity tight end James Ellis will play at Dayton. Johns Creek kicker Jake Friant signed a scholarship with Texas-El Paso.

Several local athletes are headed to service academies, with Centennial linebacker Jacob Gregory and Northview defensive back Chike Otaluka going to the U.S. Naval Academy and Cambridge running back Kaelyn Bird and Chattahoochee wide receiver/defensive back Isaac Kinsey going to West Point to play for U.S. Army.

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