Surrounded by their coaches, family, friends and other supporters, Spring ISD student-athletes celebrated National Signing Day 2024 on Wednesday during special ceremonies at their home campuses. 

Soon-to-be graduates from Westfield, Spring and Dekaney high schools put pen to paper and signed their letters of intent to participate in sports and continue their studies at their chosen colleges and universities.

In all, 28 students from the three schools signed to play football, volleyball, golf, or compete in track and field. This year’s graduates signed to an impressive range of schools both near and far, including University of Houston, University of Wyoming, Iowa State, University of Fort Lauderdale, Rice University, Columbia University, and Harvard University, among others.

Spring ISD Director of Athletics Coach Derrell Oliver attended each of the events to help congratulate students and their families on their achievements.

“We’re extremely proud of all our student athletes, and the opportunities that they have to further their education and athletic careers,” Oliver said. “This is a special day for them. It’s something they shouldn’t take for granted, because very few athletes get this opportunity.”

Westfield High School

National Signing Day activities kicked off at Westfield High School, where 12 student-athletes took their places onstage in the school’s performing arts center to announce their schools of choice, with teammates and fellow Westfield students, faculty, family and community members looking on.

“We are here to celebrate all the hard work that has paid off,” said Westfield Head Football Coach Matt Meekins, who emphasized one of the day’s recurring themes – that each signing athlete “had a great support system along the way. That support system consists of their teammates, teachers, mentors, administrators, and parents. We are a team here at Westfield High School, which means together, everyone achieves more.”

Senior Taji Atkins started playing football when he was five years old, and over time realized that, with hard work and determination, he could go far with the sport. In the fall, he’ll be headed to Rice University, and said he was relishing the moment as an important milestone.

“It feels great,” Atkins said after the signing event. “I’ve been working for this my whole life, and just to finally get to this level, it’s definitely exciting. And even though we worked so hard to get here our whole lives, the goal doesn’t stop here.”

Like many of the students, he was quick to credit those who had supported him through the many years and long seasons of practice and preparation.

“I put God first,” Atkins said, “kept my family around me, hung around the right crowd, and had the right people around me to motivate me to just stay dedicated to my dream and just continue to chase my goals.”

Bernadette Wyatt was there as a proud mom to witness her son Breylon sign to attend and play for Southwestern University, where his combined achievements on the field and in the classroom led to an academic scholarship along with an invitation to join the school’s football roster.

“He’s been able to manage it all,” Wyatt said of her son. “He was able to play football, be a part of his family, and also make the grade. And making the grade is really what has gotten him to his accomplishments today. I am very proud of him.”

Like many of his longtime teammates, Wyatt grew up in Spring ISD, attending Thompson and Heritage elementary schools, Claughton Middle School, and Westfield. As Breylon’s father, Byron Wyatt, noted, that long-term connection only adds to the day’s feelings of celebration.

“It took a village to do it – friends, family and church,” Wyatt said, “and we’re just proud of all these boys. All of these boys have been to our house at one time or another, so we’re not just proud of Breylon, we’re proud of all of them. It’s one big family.”

Westfield had 11 students sign to play football: Austin Abram, Blinn College; Taji Atkins, Rice University; Bryson Balka, Southwestern University; Ray’Quan Bell, University of Houston; Jonathan Dimas, University of Houston; Desmond Dixon, East Central University; Jordan James, Lamar University; Xavier McCray, Blinn College; Ashton Stean, St. Olaf College; Carson Williams, Montana State University; and Breylon Wyatt, Southwestern University.

Along with the football signees, senior golfer Jannel Calixterio also joined the Signing Day festivities, signing for Academy of Art University.

Spring High School

Family members, friends, coaches and school staff also gathered at Spring High School to celebrate four student-athletes who formally committed on Wednesday to continue their education and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Jaylah Lumar has spent more than a decade playing volleyball, and said she was excited to be signing to attend Cisco College.

“It means a lot to me,” said Lumar, who plans to pursue a nursing major. “It shows me that I’ve grown so much, not just in volleyball but in academics and personally as well.”

Spring Lions Linebacker Dayshawn McClure, meanwhile, committed to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and said he was celebrating a decision that would help make college more affordable.

“It’s really been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” McClure said of playing at the postsecondary level. “This is a big stepping stone in my career. It really means a lot to be able to take off some of the pressure financially from my parents.”

His father, Daynmon McClure, looked on proudly as his son signed the letter of intent, and said it’s a testament of his hard work on and off the field. 

“I’ve always taught him the importance of both education and athletics, with his education coming first,” McClure said. “With him being able to use both of those – to be able to further his education while still playing football – is one of the best things we could ask for.”

Spring High School saw four players sign during this year’s National Signing Day event. Two signed to play football – Dayshawn McClure and Clourid Johnson Jr., both heading to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. In addition, track and field athlete Riyah Burns signed to Iowa State University, while volleyball player Jaylah Lumar signed at Cisco College.

Dekaney High School

At Dekaney High School, Head Coach Anthony Williams introduced 12 football players who signed letters of intent to attend an impressive range of colleges and universities, including Rice University, Columbia University and Harvard University, along with other schools across the country.

“To have not just one kid but two kids from Dekaney High School going to major Ivy League schools, and another one going to Rice,” Williams said, “it just says that, whatever you want to do in life, you can do it. You don’t listen to people tell you what you can’t do, you don’t let people tell you what you shouldn’t do, you just stay in, ten toes down, and believe in what you believe in, and trust in God, and everything will always work out.”

Dekaney Principal Alonzo Reynolds III was also on-hand for the ceremony, and congratulated parents and family members for their sacrifices over the years.

“First of all I’d like to thank our parents,” Reynolds said. “You took these guys to practice when they were little kids, you ensured they stayed in school, you ensured their grades were on-point, and without grades, you don’t have these opportunities.”

Christian Nwosu accumulated close to 30 offers from  Division I schools alone, and has chosen to play for Harvard University, where he also received early academic acceptance to the Ivy League college.

“Harvard used to be, in my mind, sort of the ‘Alabama’ of academics, so when they came in, I was surprised,” Nwosu said. “At that time, I was set on football as a priority, but the more time I had to think about it, I felt as though I wanted to take the academic approach first, which eventually led to my decision to go into Harvard.”

The university’s elite status as a D1 football school combined with its challenging academic admissions process meant that, to make it official, Nwosu had to not just be dedicated on the field, but in the classroom as well.

“Football gets you in the door,” he said, “but you still have to be accepted just like anybody else.”

Nwosu’s uncle, Willie Bell, watched on with pride as his nephew spoke during the ceremony, and as he signed his Harvard letter of intent.

“This feels exciting, and at the same time, amazing,” Bell said afterward. “To see such achievement – and to see everyone supporting them and them supporting each other – it’s all amazing to see.”

Tabitha Horace was another proud Dekaney parent attending the event, and expressed joy, satisfaction, and some relief at seeing her twin sons – Markie and Markis Grant – both receiving scholarships and signing letters of intent.

“I have three boys here at Dekaney, and two of them coming out this year,” Horace said. “They’re my first-borns, and it’s just amazing how they’ve grown. They’re amazing kids, and I feel safe and secure that they’re going to make me even prouder as they get older and venture out into the world by themselves.”

Shortly before the program’s start, Coach Williams reflected on the journeys his young athletes had made, and said he and his staff were proud of each of them.

“All those young men that are sitting out there, that’s what makes the day special,” Williams said. “Today is all about them, it’s not about me, it’s not about my coaching staff. It’s about them and their parents and families, and it’s about opportunities that they’ve got to move forward in life. Success comes in many forms that people might put a tag on, but the ultimate success is giving these kids the opportunity to further their education, through the game of football, period.”

Dekaney’s signees this year included 12 football players: Jeremiah Bradley, East Central University; Markie Grant, University of Wyoming; Markis Grant, Henderson State University; Christian Nwosu, Harvard University; Dylan Jones, Henderson State University; Terrence Doakes, University of Fort Lauderdale; Caleb Moody, University of Fort Lauderdale; Xavier Phipps, Columbia University; Jeremiah Sargent, University of Fort Lauderdale; Demetri Taylor, Trinity Valley; Jamirus Garcia, University of Fort Lauderdale; and Keyshawn Williams, Rice University.

Earlier in the morning, Coach Oliver emphasized Spring ISD’s long-term investment in its students and in their growth and development as athletes, scholars, and people.

“We want to make sure we support all of our student-athletes, and we want to make sure that they understand that we – as an athletics department – are behind everything they do,” Oliver said. “We support every single one of them. This is a journey, and even though they are coming to the end of their high school journeys, we will support them no matter where they go from here.”