The audience during a signing day event at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Six high school students signed for collegiate teams. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

1. National Signing Day: What to expect
2. John Tyler Lions ink athletic, academic scholarships as part of National Signing Day
3. Tyler Junior College athletes commit to 4-year teams on National Signing Day
4. West Rusk’s Tyree Wilson signs with Texas A&M
5. Robert E. Lee High School trio to continue football careers

Kurt Traylor’s first National Signing Day as the Tyler Lee head football coach saw three of his players sign to play at four-year institutions.

Nathan Niedrauer will play for Tarleton State University, Marquis Gray to Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Lanthony Simmons to Southern Nazarene University.

“Anytime a kid gets their education paid for, it’s huge,” Traylor said. “The price of an education is priceless, and if you can find a way to get it paid for, then do it. These guys did that, No. 1, through their academics, because it’s tough to be eligible to be able to sign at a four-year school. All three of them put in the work on the field and in the classroom. These are three of the hardest-working young men that I have coached.”

Lee quarterback Chance Amie will also be continuing his football career. He signed with Syracuse during the early signing period on Dec. 20, 2017.

There were also three girls to sign on Wednesday at Tyler Lee High School — volleyball player Neely Williams and soccer players Karla Bustos and Madelyn Filla.

Here is a look at the six athletes.

NATHAN NIEDRAUER

The team’s defensive MVP, who also had offers from Texas State and Arkansas Tech, said Tarleton State stood out to him.

“I loved the campus and the coaching staff,” Niedrauer said. “It felt like home when I visited, and I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”

A three-time All-District performer, Niedrauer will play defensive end for the Texans.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about this for the last four years.”

MARQUIS GRAY

At Lee’s recent football banquet, Gray was chosen as the team’s Most Valuable Player.

Now, Gray will look to earn more honors as he heads to Durant, Oklahoma, to play for Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

“It was the best fit for me,” Gray said.

Gray — a receiver — caught 23 passes for 453 yards and four touchdowns this season.

“They can move me to the inside or outside, so it will be a good opportunity for me to learn more and develop.”

Gray said he wants to major in kinesiology.

LANTHONY SIMMONS

The linebacker said his visit to Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma, helped make his college decision simple.

“There were some other schools, but it was really SNU the whole time,” Simmons said. “That was my first offer. When I went there, they made me feel like family.”

Simmons said he wants to major in business management and practical marketing.

NEELY WILLIAMS

Williams hoped to one day participate in a National Signing Day, but it was originally planned to be in 2019.

Williams is still technically a junior in high school, but she has completed the necessary work that will allow her to graduate a year early.

So what would have been her senior year at Tyler Lee will now be her freshman year as a member of the Tyler Junior College volleyball team.

Williams said the fact that she and TJC head coach Brandi Hood both played for Ronda Shirley was a big reason she wanted to play for the Lady Apaches.

“Coach Shirley helped me grow as a player, and she introduced me to coach Hood,” Williams said. “I started working with her, and I loved her coaching style. I’m excited to play for her program.”

Williams said she wants to study to be a criminal attorney.

MADELYN FILLA

After she’s done protecting the net for the Lady Raiders, Filla will head to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to be a goalkeeper for Ouachita Baptist University.

“I really liked to campus,” Filla said. “I went to a couple of games there, and I like how they played. It was what I was used to with high school and club soccer.”

Filla said she wasnts to double major in psychology and sociology.

KARLA BUSTOS

Bustos will join a soccer program that knows a thing or two about winning. Bustos will play for Tyler Junior College, which just won the NJCAA national title.

“I had a visit in December, and it was a really good visit,” she said. “I’m really excited to join the team, because I hope I can win a national championship just like they did last year.

Bustos said she plans to major in nursing.

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