Two offensive linemen were among five area players to sign football scholarships Wednesday with Tusculum College. Silverdale Baptist’s Zach Capehart and Dade County’s Nick Lawson joined Rhea County quarterback Cameron Tallent, Red Bank defensive lineman Iziah Rutledge and East Hamilton kicker Logan Cornelius as Tusculum signees from the Chattanooga area.
Capehart (6-foot-1, 265) was a two-year Seahawks captain and twice was selected to the All-District 5-A team. Lawson (6-3, 345) had 55 pancake blocks as a senior, including 11 in one game, to help the Wolverines to a 10-2 record last season.
Cornelius (6-0, 190) was one of two kickers the Pioneers signed to replace their departing All-American. Cornelius went 22-of-22 on extra points and 7-of-12 on field-goal tries in 2010.
“Out top concern was to find a place-kicker, and I feel we’ve done that with [Daniel Boone High’s] Brandon Burkey and Logan Cornelius aboard,” Tusculum coach Frankie DeBusk said in a signing-day release.
Tallent, also a defensive back, is listed at 6-1 and 190 pounds, Rutledge at 6-1, 250.
Several other area players of note have not yet decided where they will sign to continue their college careers. Included among those are Signal Mountain quarterback Hogan Whitmire, who was a Mr. Football finalist, and teammate Donnie Garner, the offensive MVP of the Class 2A state championship game.
Also undecided are South Pittsburg running back Raquis Hale, the offensive MVP of the 1A championship game, and Tyner all-state defensive backs Sean Neal and Travis Jones.
Grades are not an issue for any of those players, as all are academically qualified.
Manning to Eagles
Ooltewah quarterback Richard “Goose” Manning will sign Carson-Newman scholarship papers this afternoon, joining Owls running back Randall Freeman with the Eagles.
“I’m not sure where they’ll play him,” Owls coach Shannon Williams said of Manning. “They’re signing him as an athlete, and because of the offense they run [split-back veer] he may get a shot at quarterback.”
Manning filled that role his senior season after playing mostly defense his sophomore and junior years.
“We used him at quarterback because of his athleticism. You do what you can with what you have, and we knew he could run,” Williams said. “He might get a shot at quarterback, but I really see him as a safety or outside linebacker type, and his best shot to get on the field early is on special teams because he’s physical and he’s a pretty good tackler.”
Three Murray finalists
Murray County principal Gina Linder announced this week that the Chatsworth school’s search for a new football coach has been cut to three finalists. In line to replace the retiring John Zeigler are former Southeast Whitfield assistant coach David Gann, current Murray assistant John Hammond and former Ridgeland defensive coordinator Keith Mariakis, Ridgeland head coach Mark Mariakis’ brother.
The Indians were 4-16 under Zeigler the past two seasons and just 5-35 the past four years. Linder said in an e-mail that the final decision would be made soon.
Napier on Dalton staff
Dalton football coach Matt Land announced this week that longtime Murray County coach Bill Napier is now the Catamounts’ quarterback coach.
Napier, who coached the Indians for 16 seasons and compiled a 94-78-1 record, was as an assistant coach at Southeast Whitfield after he left Murray County following the 2006 season.
According to Land, Napier will be a community coach, though the school is hoping to find a teaching position for him next season.
Georgia areas start
The GHSA traditional area tournaments begin today, including the Class AAA Area 7 event at Allatoona, where three state title contenders will try to advance as many wrestlers to next week’s sectionals as possible.
Defending state champion Gilmer County, LaFayette and Heritage each have title hopes, though a poor showing this weekend could prematurely derail those.
“It’s the toughest region in the state, no doubt, so we have to wrestler our best,” Heritage coach Kenny Hill said. “If we can get out of there with 10 or so, I’ll feel good about it.”
Defending area champion Sonoraville will be the heavy favorite at the 7-AA tournament at Dade County, while Gordon Lee is a favorite in the Area 3-A tournament at Darlington and Northwest Whitfield will battle a strong field in the 7-AAAA tournament at Creekview.