Update: Local Football Recruits Make College Commitments

Correction: Former Mauldin High player Tiquention Coleman, whom we originally reported had committed to the Wisconsin Badgers, instead has de-committed and has elected to play for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Coleman will follow Bret Bielema, the Badgers' head coach, who recently was hired to take over the Arkansas program next season. We regret the error. 

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A pair of former Mauldin High football standouts, currently playing for junior college programs, will each head to big-time football programs next season.

Former Mavericks' offensive lineman Jonathan McLaughlin, who prepped this season at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, had originally committed to East Carolina University, but last week switched his commitment and will play for the Virginia Tech Hokies next season, the Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported.

The 6-foot-4, 288-pound McLaughlin, is a three-star prospect, the 27th-ranked prep player nationally and the third-ranked offensive tackle, according to 247 Sports.

"Coach Frank Beamer came to see me at Fork Union, then he went to go see my parents in South Carolina," McLaughlin, who lived in Danville, Va., until he was 8, told the newspaper. "And that meant a lot for a legendary coach to do that."

McLaughlin originally signed with ECU last February, but didn't qualify academically. He hopes to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse in time to join the Hokies in January. If he is not, he'll enroll in June, the paper said.

Joining McLaughlin in making a commitment was former Mauldin High player Tiquention Coleman, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound cornerback, who is set to join the Arkansas Razorbacks next season from Georgia Military College. 

The sophomore had made a commitment last month to the University of Wisconsin Badgers, but instead will follow Badgers' head coach Bret Bielema to Arkansas. Bielema was recently hired to take over the SEC program.