Athletes sign with colleges

Michael Heredia never had reason to talk to the news media before Wednesday.

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When given the chance, though, the Evans High center, who signed with Gardner-Webb University, had plenty to say.

"It probably ranks as one of the best moments of my life right here, knowing that I'm playing football at least four more years," Heredia said. "I love football. If I could, I'd spend the rest of my life playing football. So I'm pretty ecstatic about this. I'm speechless."

Heredia was one of four Knights who signed letters of intent on National Signing Day. One more, receiver Jonathan Nicely, is considering an offer from North Carolina Central University and will visit today.

A few hours before the Evans festivities, Greenbrier quarterback Nick Richards signed his intent to play for Valdosta State University, the defending Division II national champions.

Richards' arm led the Wolfpack to more than one come-from-behind win during his two seasons at quarterback.

"He was a clutch player," former Greenbrier coach Scott Chadwick said. "We really felt like we were never out of a ball game."

Richards' offer came at dinner during a recent visit to the school. Before then, he considered enrolling at University of Georgia and trying to walk on as a tight end.

Valdosta State's recent success helped make Richards' decision easier.

"I really like the program. I really like the energy," he said.

At Evans High School, Trey Henderson and Tim Tillman joined Heredia in signing their commitment to play college football.

Henderson is headed to Coastal Carolina University, in Conway, S.C., to play cover corner for the Chanticleers. Evans coach Marty Jackson said Coastal Carolina coaches were already arguing over whether Henderson should play offense or defense.

"He's like a coach on the field in the secondary," Jackson said. "His junior year, he was our offensive MVP, and he didn't even start."

Tillman, a defensive lineman, didn't hear from Alabama A&M until last month. He was worried that two ankle sprains his senior season cooled his stock with college coaches.

Alabama A&M coaches liked the highlight tape Tillman sent them, though, and he will play nose guard there in the fall.

"I didn't have the season I wanted to have," Tillman said. "But I still made enough plays to get recognized."

Heredia, though "speechless," gushed about top matchups on Gardner-Webb's 2008 schedule.

"We open up the season against Appalachian State," Heredia said. "Then we play Tusculum, which was another school that was recruiting me heavily, which is exciting, because we get to whup up on them. And then in the middle of October, we're playing Georgia Tech. It's at Georgia Tech's field, too. So I'm ready to whup up on Georgia Tech."

During a separate event at Firehouse Subs, Evans defensive lineman Mykel Green signed to play for Morehouse College.

Green said he liked the small, gated campus and the team's defensive philosophy.

"They believe in being fast, hard, quick and getting to the ball," Green said. "It's just my type of defense -- making tackles, causing fumbles."