31 Hoover athletes sign with colleges
A total of 31 Hoover High students signed to continue their athletic careers at the next level on Wednesday, National Signing Day.
The 31 is believed to be a record for one Hoover class, and coach Josh Niblett believes the 15 football players who signed is also a record for the school.
The big names that signed were football players. Defensive end Christian Bell is headed to Alabama, linebacker Darrell Williams signed with Auburn, running back Bradrick Shaw inked with Wisconsin and wide receiver Justin Johnson signed with Mississippi State.
Bell is a three-star prospect and has been asked by Alabama to grayshirt to enroll in January and not count against this year’s signing class and he decided to do so.
Williams is a four-star prospect who is rated the nation’s No. 12 linebacker.
Shaw, the MVP of the 2013 Super 6 Class 6A championship game, is a three-star prospect who picked Wisconsin over Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Minnesota. Running mate Marcus Webb, the 7A MVP, signed with Valdosta State.
Johnson, a three-star prospect, has great size and was committed to Mississippi State back in the summer before the Bulldogs shocked the country with their run to the No. 1 spot in the polls.
But Niblett was just as quick to talk about the group of players as a whole.
“Everybody can talk about the stats and three-time defending state champions, but this is probably the most-competitive group I’ve ever had,” Niblett said. “They came to work every day.
“It’s very rewarding from the fact that you know that kids are going to have an opportunity to further their education, especially if they’re a kid who can’t afford to pay for their own education. So I’m very blessed, honored and humbled and excited for this group of kids,” Niblett said.
“The thing about it, is even the kids who may not be going to the SEC are still going to have an opportunity to go play. It’s all about what you make of it and the impact you make where you go.”
Niblett believes Bell, 6-4, 220, and Williams 6-3, 220, will be outstanding assets to Alabama and Auburn.
“The game has changed a lot,” the Bucs coach said. “They’re looking for the guy with length and who can run, and those two guys have opportunity to change the game. The game has become a little bit more about the perimeter. Rushing off the edge. Getting out and disrupting what happens on the perimeter. That’s one good attribute those guys have. You’d like to be able to think you can coach a guy into being 6-4 and have length and all that but God gives some of us a little more height and a little more length, and those guys have done a very good job with what they’ve been given.”
Bell says he’ll play Jack linebacker at Alabama.
He liked everything about the Crimson Tide but “the biggest thing was the relationships I built with the coaches there. It was Alabama all the way,” Bell said, even though grayshirting, which was a decision he was asked to make late in the process, will delay his career.
Williams is excited about heading to Auburn. “It’s the greatest place. Just loved being down there. Love the coaches, love the fans, a great, great atmosphere. I think it’s the best place in the country to be at. (New defensive coordinator) Coach (Will) Muschamp said we’re going to do a lot of different things and I’m just looking forward to it. Make progress and play wherever they need me. They said they want me to come in right away and play.”
Johnson, a 6-3, 215 wide receiver, “fits the mold of what Mississippi State is looking for in its wide receivers,” Niblett said. “He’s a physical player.”
Johnson agrees with that. “They told me I’ll bring size. Besides them running the rock, they like to throw it as well, and I want to get in on some of that.
It’s every kid’s dream to play in the SEC, so I’m excited about that. Get to play against Alabama and Auburn – some of my teammates here.”
He committed at the end of last summer, before the Bulldogs had their great season, reaching the No. 1 spot for a time.
“It wasn’t a risky choice,” Johnson said of his early commitment, “but then they came out and surprised everybody and I liked that about them. I didn’t just jump on the bandwagon.”
Heading to the North is Shaw, despite seemingly headed to the SEC for a long time.
“I’m excited about it,” Niblett said. “The thing with Bradrick is he’s a very humble kid, a very hungry kid who understands what he’s got to do to be successful. At Wisconsin, the running back is showcased, look at Melvin Gordon, Ron Dayne, unbelievable running backs that went on to play on Sundays. I think that he’s a great fit for what they do. He looks a lot like their backs.”
Said Shaw, “I’m looking forward to getting in there and competing for a spot. I was attracted to them based on the great tradition. Just coming up there and get a chance to play for one of the best football teams in the country, I’m very blessed to say I’m one of those guys they’ve asked to come up there and tote the rock.”
The complete list of signees:
Caleb Gilbert, LSU, baseball
Jonah Brody, Roanoke College, baseball
Trey Davis, Southern Union Community College, baseball
Jada Smith, Union University, basketball
Kathryn Cather, Ole Miss, volleyball
Addison Hoven, LSU, volleyball
Kaila Mathews, Ausbury University, volleyball
Emily Simpson, Berry College, golf
Jackson Hoesley, Spring Hill, soccer
Taylor Holmberg, UAH, soccer
Jon Michael Stern, UAH, soccer
Mary Catherine Nichols, South Alabama, softball
Abby Solomon, Spring Hill, softball
Alandrea Barnett, Alabama, track
Madison Pegouske, UAH, track
Carson Tullo, UAH, track
Zyggy Arledge, Northern Michigan, football
Micah Bagley, Mississippi College, football
Christian Bell, Alabama, football
Jaysen Cook-Calhoun, Carson-Newman, football
Malcom Cox, Stillman, football
Alex Elam, Shorter, football
Zachery Eldridge, Cumberland, football
Alex Horn, University of the Cumberlands, football
Justin Johnson, Mississippi State, football
Kris Parker, Cumberland, football
Bradrick Shaw, Wisconsin, football
Marcus Webb, Valdosta State, football