Homewood celebrates National Signing Day

Homewood High School honored six student-athletes on the 2016 edition of National Signing Day, as five football players and one soccer player put pen to paper to officially declare their intentions as to which school they would choose to pursue future academic and athletic ventures.

The five football players were honored in the practice gymnasium in front of a crowd of about 100 family members, friends, and fellow students.

"I've dreamed about this ever since I played in the park," University of South Carolina signee Griffin Gentry said.

South Carolina began recruiting Gentry while he was just a sophomore, and he rewarded them for being there first.

Steve Spurrier resigned as South Carolina head coach midway through the 2015 season, forcing Gentry to reconsider his options. But he fell in love with Will Muschamp and the new coaching staff in Columbia.

"(Muschamp) really wants me. He's shown that he really wants me," Gentry said.

The recruiting process can be burdensome for recruits that are being looked at by the likes of Southeastern Conference schools. Gentry's dad made sure that his son understood the blessing of the process.

"My dad told me that this is a once in a lifetime deal and that I need to enjoy it," he said. "I'm not going to lie, it was stressful, but at the same time, it was really enjoyable. Now that it's over, I'll move on to bigger things."

Carson Griffis had options, but chose to accept a preferred walk-on status at Auburn University, where he will begin as a slot receiver after playing quarterback for Homewood in his high school career.

"It feels great," he said. "I feel like this will be the best fit for me and I'm ready to get down there and get to work."

Griffis credited the coaching staff and the atmosphere on campus for his reasoning of choosing the Tigers.

Also signing scholarships were running back Derrick Underwood and Wesley Butler. Underwood, the "best zone back I've ever coached" according to Homewood coach Ben Berguson, will play running back at the University of West Alabama. 

Butler signed a scholarship with Birmingham-Southern College.

Jake Burdeshaw joined Griffis in the walk-on category, agreeing to preferred walk-on status at Samford University.

Anna Frierson, a standout soccer player for the Patriots, will also attend Auburn. She is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Katy, who played for the Tigers from 2008-2011, and is now a member of the Sky Blue Football Club in the National Women's Soccer League.