Eight ink scholarships on Signing Day at Bob Jones
players signing football scholarships at Bob Jones today, Wednesday, Feb. 5.
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- National Signing Day was extra special at Bob Jones this year as eight football players signed scholarships to play in college. Five signed to play Division 1 (Football Bowl Subdivision), tying the number from two years ago at Bob Jones.
Heading the list is Nick Holman who signed with University of South Florida. Julien Lewis signed with Western Kentucky, David Norris signed with University of Alabama-Birmingham, Rod Randolph and Jay Rogers signed with Alabama A&M.
Dylan Haraway signed with Georgetown (Ky.) College and Brandon Davis signed with Lindsay Wilson College, both NAIA schools located in Kentucky. Kenneth Turney will go the junior college route and signed with Fullerton College.
“I couldn’t be prouder to be associated with these players, our coaches, and administration of one of the best high schools in America,” said Bob Jones Head Football Coach Kevin Rose. “Our goal has been to build one of the best high school football programs in Alabama and these guys have helped us build that and it will carry on for a long time.”
Rose recognized all the assistant coaches.
“Our coaches have worked tirelessly to build a college-ready football program and these players are an example of that. These players have achieved excellence in the classroom as well as the football field. These guys were unbelievable last season. To this point it is the best football team we have ever had at Bob Jones.”
Bob Jones went 11-2 last season and won their fifth straight region championship. They won two playoff games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, farther than any Bob Jones team ever.
Rose said that assistant coach Keith Tinknell had a lot to do with signing day success.
“He was in charge of recruiting and film on these young men has been sent out to at least 300 universities,” Rose said.
Haraway will join his brother Dustin who is also on a football scholarship at Georgetown.
He turned down an academic scholarship and walk-on offer at Jacksonville State, his mother’s alma mater.
Haraway worked with coaches all summer to increase his speed and it paid off. He went from a 4.9 in the 40 yard dash to 4.67.
“Last summer I had three weeks before I went to a camp and I needed to run a 4.6. We worked every day at Dublin and when I went to the camp I ran a 4.67, the best in my life. I’m not sitting up here without that help.”
Haraway played defensive back/ linebacker this season. He recognized his parents who never missed a game and his coaches.
“Coach Clark transformed me into an all-state defensive back. Coach Converse demanded perfection. Coach Tinknell helps us with strength and conditioning.”
“Four years ago I thought college football was unreachable. It’s a dream come true.”
Defensive end Julien Lewis debated several offers including one from Samford University in Birmingham but ultimately chose Western Kentucky. Former Patriot players Drew Davis and Brandon Ray are currently playing football for WKU.
Nick Holman came to Bob Jones from Madison Academy as a junior and made an immediate impact as a linebacker.
“Coach Rose took me in two years ago and gave me an opportunity to succeed. It was an unbelievable honor to be named a captain of the team. Coach Styles put us in position to make plays. Andy McCloy, his strength and conditioning program along with changing my diet, gave me the tools to go from a ninth grade offensive lineman to a division 1 linebacker.”
“It’s a dream come true to say I am officially a South Florida Bull.”
He got an offer from USF located in Tampa, Florida midway through the season and effectively shut down the recruiting process. USF has a Huntsville connection as former Alabama A&M head coach Ron Cooper is on the defensive staff. Cooper played at Lee High School and at Jacksonville State.
Nick Holman (left) and Julien Lewis sign football scholarships
David Norris attracted attention from college coaches from his outside linebacker position and was known for making big plays. Against Huntsville he had a touchdown runback after catching a fumble in the air. He also led the team with 12 quarterback sacks.
UAB stayed with the offer made to Norris despite a change in coaches.
“Coach Garrick McGhee offered me,” Norris said of the former UAB coach who left to take a job at the University of Louisville. “Coach Bill Clark came in and he upheld the promise to me that I would be playing as a Blazer. I had fears at first but the new coaches have been wonderful. It’s a crowning achievement for me to this point in my life; life-changing.”
Norris will study physics and engineering at UAB.
Brandon Davis and David Norris sign football scholarships
Kenneth Turney said that going to junior college in California will be an experience to help him grow up in hurry. He will play and go to school there for two years and hopes to transfer to a division 1 university.
Brandon Davis is the most decorated of all the signees. He won the team’s Most Valuable Player and 12th Man Award for his efforts last season when he played both nose tackle and then moved to linebacker when injuries sidelined Nick Holman for two games.
“He is the definition of a complete football player,” Rose said of Davis. Rose said that Davis, at 5-foot-9 210 pounds, was an overachiever and “will make a college coach a great player.”
