Chapel Hill players sign letters

Published 12:56 am Tuesday, February 13, 2024

NEW CHAPEL HILL — Five Chapel Hill Bulldogs signed letters of intent to play football in college on Feb. 7 in Bulldog Gymnasium at Chapel Hill High School.

Signing were Da’veon Ross, Missouri State University; Jay Knight, McPherson College; Pablo Martinez, Harding University; Jaxon Cummings, Navarro College; and Kendall Allen, Navarro College.

All were members of the Chapel Hill Bulldogs who played in the Class 4A Division I state championship game.

The signing ceremony was held in Bulldog Gymnasium with head football coach Jeff Riordan and college recruiting coordinator Akimba “AJ” Johnson conducting the event.

The group signed in front of family, friends, classmates, teammates, teachers and coaches.

Ross, who plays linebacker, picked Missouri State over other offers including Arkansas State, UNLV and Central Arkansas. The Bears play in NCAA Division I’s Missouri Valley Conference. The school is located in Springfield, Missouri. It is a public university that was founded in 1905.

Knight plays offensive line. McPherson, located in McPherson, Kansas, is a member of the NAIA’s Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. McPherson is a private college associated with the Church of the Brethren. It was chartered in 1887.

Martinez plays offensive line. Harding, located in Searcy, Arkansas, competes in the NCAA Division II Great American Conference. Harding is private univeristy that was founded in 1924. It is associated with Churches of Christ.

The Bison are the defending national champions, defeating Colorado School of Mines, 38-7, in the finals held in McKinney. Harding finished with a 15-0 record.

Allen, who plays defense, and Cummings, a deep snapper, will play at Navarro in Corsicana. They will remain Bulldogs as the Navarro Bulldogs compete in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.

Navarro is a public community college that was founded in 1946.