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By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
In a rare occurrence among two truly heated rivals of high school football, Northside High and Warner Robins High recruits celebrated their upcoming college careers … together with a show of solidarity at the Eagles’ campus.
Wednesday was National Signing Day for high school football players all over the country. The way things worked out in the International City, Warner Robins held a ceremony for three players beginning at 9 a.m. Northside High held a similar gathering, only it began at 10.
So, by the time the three Eagle prospects got all the paperwork out of the way, who would all show up in the cafeteria but those three Demons fresh off making everything official.
The day didn’t end there, for at Houston County High Wednesday afternoon two members of the Bears did the signing thing as well.
In terms of the biggest schools, the Southeastern Conference won the services of two local players. Jeffrey Whitaker, Warner Robins High defensive tackle, announced his commitment to Auburn University on Monday.
Several months before the start of the regular season in 2009, Northside High defensive back Brison Williams committed to join Steve Spurrier’s program at the University of South Carolina.
Houston County High continues to be a feeder program of sorts for Purdue University of the Big 10. Last year, it was tight end/defensive end Justin Kitchens signing with the Boilermakers in Indiana.
In 2010, Jalani Phillips, who played as many as four different positions in his career with the Bears, became the third player overall from Houston in the last decade to join Purdue.
It won’t be too long when the Valdosta State Blazers, a perennial national title contender in NCAA Division II, could start a defensive line loaded with Warner Robins players. Tackles Andrew Lauritsen (Warner Robins) and Greg Clark (Northside) and end Matt Mazick (Houston County) are all ecstatic about their futures at VSU.
Northside placekicker Devon Pike turned his outstanding high school career into a scholarship offer with Elizabeth City State University, a Division II school in North Carolina. Warner Robins High running back Jonathan Jackson, who stunned the Northside football community with a game-winning touchdown catch this season to end the Demons’ four-game losing streak in the series, will get his college career started at the junior college level at Butler in Kansas.
“It was the first school I had an offer from,” said Williams about his choice of South Carolina. “They told me I could play, so I committed. I really liked it up there. I like (the coaches). If I work hard, do what I have to do, I’ll get to play.”
Williams made his football reputation picking off passes and cutting off the edges from the Northside secondary. He had 88 total tackles as a senior with 11 for a loss to go with three interceptions.
Eagle fans really thank him for making a game-tying touchdown catch in the state quarterfinals against Peachtree Ridge. Northside went on to win that game in overtime and carry the momentum all the way to the state championship.
“That was one of the best moments of my high school career,” he said. However, it may not repeat itself in college, for Williams said the focus will be on defense and special teams.
“Everybody’s good at (the SEC) level,” he said. “I have to work hard to get where everybody else is. We worked hard here … they make us work hard.”
“I plan on doing the best I can do to help the team any way I can,” said Clark, who had nine tackles for a loss as a senior. “(Northside) taught me how to work hard, be a leader and never let up.”
Phillips said Kitchens, who was a red-shirt in 2009, was a big part of his decision to accept Purdue’s offer. In his official visit, he said he enjoyed what he called “the college experience.”
But what is Purdue getting? A safety? A linebacker? A tight end? A wide receiver?
“A linebacker, but I’ll probably turn into a defensive end as the years go on,” said Phillips. “I need to add a little more weight, then I’ll be ready. I’ll be red-shirted (in 2010), but I plan on starting and hopefully trying to make it to the next level.”
In stature, Phillips certainly would resemble Kitchens, both around 6-5, but there could also be comparisons to Quintin Banks, a former Bears safety at the University of Georgia.
“I’m probably in-between,” said Phillips. “I have the size almost like Justin, but then again I play Quintin’s position. I play his style of football. I’m myself.”
Clark heard from Georgia State and Middle Tennessee, but became sold on Valdosta State through his visit. He said he thinks the Blazers are on the verge of another national championship soon, which would be the program’s third.
“I know we will,” said Lauritsen about the potential formidability of Valdosta State’s D-line. “The Lord’s blessed us very much. We’re going to do good.
“Everything’s perfect (about VSU). Coaches are perfect. The players are perfect. It’s going to be a good time.”
Lauritsen said he heard from Middle Tennessee and Appalachian State, but didn’t get any real offers. So the Blazers win out on the player who got three quarterback sacks last season, proving to be much more than just a compliment to Whitaker.
“It was a trip,” said Lauritsen about lining up with Whitaker the last three years. “It was so fun playing next to an All-American.”
“They’ve always had a great program,” said Mazick, who had 11 sacks. “Going (to VSU) is a great honor. It’s going through a lot of changes, so I am excited to see what it’s going to look like when it’s all done.”
Mazick actually converted to defensive end from tight end at the conclusion of his junior season.
“After that game, I made a pact with myself that I was going to get bigger and stronger,” he said. “(For college) I have to gain about 15 pounds, so I’m working out every day, eating right. I think they’re going to red-shirt me, so I’ll have another year to get bigger.”
Conrad Nix, retiring Northside head coach overseeing his last Singing Day, quipped that Pike made his college choice based on sand, surf and sun. Pike said Elizabeth City is located near the beach, right at the border with Virginia, and he certainly plans to be “hanging out” in his off time.
Pike said he has the chance to be the main field-goal, extra-point and kickoff man at Elizabeth City. He holds Northside kicking career records and booted a 50-yarder at Valdosta High as a senior.
He was also a 37-yard plus average punter in high school, but has no desire to punt in college though he will be the backup in that area.
Jackson is going to the nation’s winningest junior college in football for the past decade. The Grizzlies have six national titles overall, 12 straight seasons in the top 10 rankings, and it usually sends its players to the Division I level.
“I’m planning on staying focused, and when the time comes to choose where I’m going … when I told big Jeff I would be down (at Auburn) with him, he doesn’t believe me, but I’m going to do it,” said Jackson. “I’m going to work hard. The coaches are as nice as they can be, and I felt at home.”
Butler would welcome the 6.8 yards per carry in the 105 rushes Jackson had for the Demons in 2009.
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