National Signing Day 2014 HQ

Todd Grasley

February 5th is National Signing Day! This is the first day athletes around the country (and world) can make their college commitments official.
 
Many of the top stars around the country will have official signing ceremonies on National Signing Day, while others may do so in the coming days in weeks. We want to applaud all of our college-bound seniors and celebrate their decisions of where they will spend the next four years.
 
Who will be the college programs to line up an amazing class to make then national championship contenders over the next years? On National Signing Day the picture starts to become clearer!
 
Send your signings announcements and signing ceremony photos to todd.grasley@flocasts.com and we will get them posted. You can also let us know via our Facebook Page or via Twitter @flrunners #signing.
 
 
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Lake Highland Prep senior Deanna Hill, one of the top sprinters in the state and nationally, signed with the University of Southern California in a fun event filled with food, family, and friends.




Stanton Prep senior Kendal Williams is one of the top sprinters in the country. On Wednesday he committed to what is shaping up to be a dynamic recruiting class for Florida State University.

 

The University of Florida landed two powerhouse throwers from powerhouse program Miami Northwestern. Lloydricia Cameron, one of the nation's top discus and shot put throwers in the country, will be joined by teammate Jontavia Dykes as they form a dominant duo up in Gainvesille.

Another Miami Northwestern standout chose their college choice on National Signing Day. 400 meter specialist/hurdler Jeffery Green will compet at Clemson University in the fall of 2014.

One of the state's top hurdlers/jumpers wll team up with Daeshon Gordon and attend LSU.



3A Cross Country Finals Champion and Gatorade Florida Female Cross Country Runner of the Year will run for the University of Alabama in the fall of 2014.

 
The Gayle sisters from Holy Trinity will not be separating from each other in college! Stanford for both!

Father Lopez thrower A.J. McFarland always wanted to be a Gator. His dream was to play baseball for the University of Florida, but instead he will be throwing a discus and a shot put. He is a three year letter winner and has a shot put personal best of 43"3' and hopes to eclipse the 180 mark in the discus and content for a 1A state championship. Coach Sue O'Malley had this to say about McFarland.

"AJ is athletic,joy to coach, motivated, competitor,fun-loving, awesome attitude, going after a record breaking year, lovable and a leader, adaptable, never gives up and very dedicated. He is a true champion on and off the field of also integrity, humbleness, and honest. He has a wonderful network of people who have helped mold him to the person he is today and will become, especially his mom and dad and older sister."

 

State champion and nationally ranked hurdler Daeshon Gordon chose LSU over offers from Clemson, UCF, Tennessee and Miami.





A strong balance of athletics and academics have made the University of Pennsylvania the perfect fit for Foot Locker National finalist Karen Xiang.
 
 

Six-time state champion Darrielle McQueen can have her cake and eat it too. The North Florida Christian senior will sign with the University of Florida.



Niceville's Nick Morken signs on the dotted line to attend the University of North Florida. Morken is one of a number of distance runners who picked the Jacksonville school this signing period.

Distance standout Madison Harris will stay close to home after choosing to attend Florida State. (Photo and article by Herb Wills)

Tony Cruz, an integral part to St. Thomas Aquinas' cross country state champioship, will head to Tampa and run for the University of Tampa.


 

 

Shorecrest Prep senior Ross Porter has pledged to run for Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.


 



It's definitely been a journey for Juan Paul Green who graduated from Miami Carol City in 2012. From the University of Illinois, to South Plains College, and today signing with track powerhouse the University of Arkansas.

  

Mount Dora Bible seior Troy Clark has decided to run for Florida Gulf Coast University. Clark, a distance standout finished fourth at the 1A Cross Country Finals this year. As a junior, he was 4th in the 1600 and 6th in the 3200 meters at the outdoor state championship. Also, signing for Mt. Dora Bible is Christina McKinney who is headed to UNF.

Bolles senior Harry Glasser will make the short trip to Gainesville and attend the University of Florida. The pole vaulter has already gone 16 feet in indoor action this year.

 

Shorecrest Prep senior Alex Eaton, the 1A Cross Country Finals runner-up in 2013, had what seemed like the whole school behind her as she signed her NLI to the University of Georgia.



Cade Zimmerman of Chiles proudly holds up his NLI to Appalachian State.

Lake Nona thrower Gabrielle Durant won't have too far to travel when she attends the University of Central Florida.

Nease distane runner Alyssa Rodale picks the University of South Florida.





Gulf Coast distance standout Caroline Barlow is headed to the University of Alabama.



Flanked by family American Heritage sprinter Deja Parrish signs with Clemson.



Ole Miss dives into the Florida panhandle to grab Pensacola Booker T. Washington distance standout Mark Robertson.




Lyman distance runner Cameron McCutcheon pledges his services to Troy University in Dothan, Alabama.


UNF hits the trifecta at Land O'Lakes High School landing distance duo Travis Nichols and Tyler Stahl as well as sprinter Hallie Grimes on the girls side.

First Academy's state championship sprinter Kwad Smith announces he will be a Missouri Tiger.

Cake, signs, and a crowd of supporters; Freedom distance runner Connor Ferrentino had it all for his signing ceremony. Ferrentino will run for the University of Alabama.


Winter Park distance runners Morgan Morris, who is headed to the Coast Guard Academy and Charlotte Stephens who signed with Georgia Tech, pose with Coach Kristin McWilliams on National Signing Day.

Lakewood Ranch sends three distance runners off to compete at the next level. Mitch Arnold is headed to the University of Tampa. Michelle Last signed with South Wesleyan University and Emily Perez rounded out the signings staying in state with Southeastern University.

UCF stays local and grabs another distance talent in Titusville's Claire Castillo.



Frostproof senior Rakaya Neely chooses Bethune-Cookman to continue her volleyball and track and field careers.



Springstead sprinter Wilena Little heads south Florida and selects FIU.

Gulf's Kari Grippo had a solid senior season. The distance standout considered several schools before deciding on Saint Leo University.

 

Tabatha Henry chooses the University of Central Florida. Go Knights!

 

Miami Booker T. Washington is one of the top football programs in the country and the one of the top track programs in the state. It's no surprise that several track standouts signed for both sports on National Signing Day. Nigel Bethel is headed to Texas Tech (pictured above left), K'Rondis Larry to Samford (pictured above right), Deltron Hopkins to Appalachian State, and Terrawn McPhee to Glenville State College

Stanton Prep distance standout Wesley Norton was the first to jump on board the UNF express when he chose the Ospreys in November.

 

Williams and Norton weren't the only Stanton Prep runners to sign on National Signing Day. Joining them are mid-distance runner Kayla Thomas who will join Williams at FSU (pictured above left), Ray Tiller Jr. (Sprints-Football, Carson Newman), and Eric Tallbacka (Distance-Florida Southern) The whole group is pictured above on the right.



FGCU signed two very hard workers and talented runners out of Immokalee in 2A Cross Country champion Leonel Delacruz and 2A Cross Country Finals fourth place finisher Anita Munoz.

One of the state's top hurdlers Jabari Hill will join the Gators in the fall of 2014.

Papers in hand, Gator nation adds one of the state's top distance runners in Niceville senior Thomas Howell. Howell was the 3200m state champion in 2013.

Pine Crest mid-distance runner John Decker has signed to run for Babson College in Massachusetts.

Episcopal pole vaulter and jumper Nikki Vandervelde joins her pole vault training partner Harry Glasser at the University of Florida.



Sarasota High School mid-distance runner Emily Harding has signed with the University of South Carolina.

300 meter hurdle specialist Tamara Style of Northeast High School will attend Allen Community College.


Class of 2012 West Orange sprinter Terika Henry signed with Allen Community College out of high school and on Wednesday announced the next step on her journey. In the fall, she will join the University of Central Florida and become a Knight.