RINGGOLD, Ga. - While Heritage football standouts Sam Randolph and Kobe McAllister may go back and forth on who will win their team's biggest hitter award, they celebrated a historic day together.
The hard-hitting safety Randolph and offensive bulldozer McAllister were the only classmates in the greater Chattanooga area to sign Football Bowl Subdivision scholarships Wednesday as Division I's early signing period opened.
Randolph - a Georgia Southern signee - forced five fumbles, had 55 solo tackles and totaled nearly 700 yards to go with seven touchdowns this season.
"I want to thank my teammates for putting me in position to make the plays that I made," said the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Randolph. "One of my inspirations is Sean Taylor. Playing the safety position, you have to just come down and hit. You can't be afraid. Either way you are going to get hit. It's just how hard you hit them first."
Three-star prospect McAllister (6-foot-6, 275 pounds) signed with Cincinnati after grading out at 93% for the season and totaling 110 pancake blocks for the Generals, who finished 8-3.
"This has been my dream since I first played little league," McAllister said. "You can't just rely on size to get this far. It's the constant work put in on footwork drills, hitting the weights hard and improving your speed. You have to shoot for the highest to achieve your dreams."
Heritage now has three FBS signees in school history, with the first being Justin Adekoya (Eastern Kentucky).
"I have no doubt both guys will be incredible talents at the next level," Heritage coach E.K. Slaughter said. "If you work hard and have some God-given talent, you can do something big. They have put in the work, and I can't wait to see them do big things."
Like Randolph and McAllister, Chattooga's Luis Medina was a Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen honoree as one of the Chattanooga area's top senior prospects. He recently committed to Troy University after finishing his senior season with 76 tackles, 14 of them for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Medina also is the reigning GHSA Class AA heavyweight wrestling champion and was a state runner-up in 2017.
North Murray's Chaisen Buckner made his pledge with the Naval Academy official Wednesday after helping lead the Mountaineers to their first region championship and Class AAA state quarterfinal appearance. Buckner, a defensive end and linebacker, had 147 tackles (17 for loss) and three sacks.
Hardy sticks with Owls
After some consideration, McCallie quarterback DeAngelo Hardy came back to his original commitment by signing with Kennesaw State. Hardy committed to the Owls in the summer but reopened his recruitment during the season.
Hardy, a two-time Mr. Football semifinalist who ran for more than 1,000 yards and threw for more than 1,500 this season, guided the Blue Tornado to the Division II-AAA state championship.
"The coaching staff and the overall competitive feel from the players I will be playing with helped me make my decision," Hardy said about deciding to sign with the Football Championship Subdivision program. "I love competing and I want to be out there with some hungry guys. That is what I love - doing things the right way with winners who have great character."
Batiste picks Redhawks
Tyner two-sport star Jeremiah Batiste, a three-time all-state receiver, signed Wednesday morning with Miami (Ohio).
Batiste, who had 685 receiving yards and eight touchdowns this past season, was a Mr. Football finalist as a junior and had the fastest qualifying time for the state's 100-meter dash last spring.
The RedHawks won the Mid-American Conference championship this season and will play in the Lendingtree Bowl on Jan. 6.
Aaron Swafford breaks through the Peabody defense during the TSSAA Class AA championship game Dec. 7 in Cookeville. Swafford will continue his football career at the Naval Academy. / Staff photo by Robin RuddSwafford set for Navy
One of the area's most accomplished players, Meigs County quarterback Aaron Swafford, carried through with a commitment he made last summer by signing with the Naval Academy. The 6-1, 215-pound Swafford, a three-time Mr. Football finalist and winner of the award as a junior, led the Tigers to the Class 2A state championship game for the first time since 1995 this season.
Swafford compiled a 49-5 career record as a four-year starter and holds every school record for passing and rushing, including 2,061 rushing and 1,125 passing yards this season with 41 total touchdowns.
Baylor four moving on
Baylor had four players sign Wednesday evening, including three with Southern Conference programs. Besides tight end Christian Martin (UTC), all-state linebacker Noah Martin signed with Samford and defensive lineman Seth Johnson with Furman. Receiver Gabriel Stulce is headed to Washington & Lee.
Compiled by Stephen Hargis, Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young.
Contact Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.
Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.
Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22
LOCAL SIGNING LIST
Name, School - Position - College
Jeremiah Batiste, Tyner - WR - Miami (Ohio)
Oswaldo Beltran, Dalton - OL - Tennessee Tech
Chaisen Buckner, North Murray - LB - Naval Academy
Lucas Brown, Red Bank - WR - UTC
Robert Flowers, Cleveland - WR - Samford
DeAngelo Hardy, McCallie - QB - Kennesaw State
Seth Johnson, Baylor - DL - Furman
Christian Martin, Baylor - TE - UTC
Noah Martin, Baylor - LB - Samford
Kobe McCalister, Heritage - OL - Cincinnati
Luis Medina, Chattooga - DL - Troy
Sam Randolph, Heritage - DB - Georgia Southern
Gabriel Stulce, Baylor - WR - Washington & Lee
Aaron Swafford ,Meigs County - QB - Naval Academy
Reid Williams, Ringgold - OL - UTC