National Signing Day arrives for area players

LEESBURG — Lee County head football coach Dean Fabrizio admits he hasn’t gotten a lot of sleep lately.

And he and his staff have spent countless hours on the phone with college coaches, entertaining recruiters and taking time out for reporters.

But for the Lee County football coach, he wouldn’t have things any other way.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Fabrizio said. “To have a lot of college coaches come by, coaches calling every other minute, it means you have good players. And the guys in this class have made us proud.”

Wednesday is a big day for high school football players across the country. It’s National Signing Day, the first official day football athletes can sign a letter-of-intent.

Eight Lee County football standouts will sign scholarships. Defensive lineman/fullback Tory Carter (LSU), linebacker Akileis Leroy (Florida Atlantic), fullback/tight end/defensive end Jermon Christy will sign with FCS Savannah State, while running back Mark Robinson will sign with FCS Presbyterian.

The highlight of the signing ceremony will be five-star recruit Aubrey Solomon, who will announce his decision live in front of ESPN cameras. The Albany Herald Player of the Year is one of the nation’s last uncommitted prospects. He was named the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association’s Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.

Solomon is the Albany-area’s top football prospect since former Westover standout Trent Thompson, also a five-star recruit, signed with the Bulldogs in 2015.

Other Lee County signees will be punter Garet Glover (Albany State), offensive lineman James Monteiro (West Georgia) and linebacker Shaun Rountree (Valdosta State).

Several other Albany-area schools will hold signing ceremonies on Wednesday.

Westover High School standout Montravious Richardson will sign with Mississippi State Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile at Terrell County, athlete Tray Bishop will sign with Georgia, while offensive lineman Rodriquez Hudson plans to sign with Troy.

Bishop, like Solomon, played in the U.S. Army Bowl and is one of the nation’s top prospects.