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Calling it the toughest decision he's had to make, East Hamilton defensive back Martez Durrah switched from his monthlong commitment to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and instead will sign with Middle Tennessee State University today.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder committed to UTC on Christmas Day but changed his mind after visiting the FBS school in Murfreesboro last weekend.
"It wasn't easy, that's for sure," Durrah said. "I had a good relationship with Coach (Will) Healy and the staff here and it's my hometown team, but after MTSU has been recruiting me from the start and they're playing some big-time football there.
"I got back and talked it over with my family and told them that I realized I wanted to be at MTSU instead. I'm glad the whole process is over, and now I can just concentrate on getting ready to play ball."
Durrah attended an MTSU camp the summer before his junior year and said the Blue Raiders staff has been recruiting him ever since. He also had scholarship offers from Indiana, Tennessee State and East Tennessee State.
Last season he was in on 65 tackles, forced four fumbles, returned two fumbles for touchdowns and had one interception. He has been timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash and was the No. 6-rated player in the Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen preseason prospect list.
"He really busted his butt this year to get his grades in shape so he could be eligible to play college ball," East Hamilton coach Ted Gatewood said. "If his grades had been more certain before his senior year he would've had much bigger schools offering, but some of them backed off a little. MTSU and UTC both did a great job of staying with him, and he was going to be a steal for either one of those once he got his grades squared away.
"I'm proud of him for the way he has communicated with both schools and let them know how he was feeling. This is tough on these kids sometimes, and I think it's been an emotional drain on him the last few days trying to decide. He's a special player and I think he's going to have a big-time career."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.