Dressed for success-Recruits from panhandle

[Brad]

Dressed for success

PHS adds four signees to Division I pantheon

Scott Hotard

@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

Courtney Jones strutted across the room, performed a playful pirouette and then strutted back the other way. He was wearing a red suit with matching red dress shoes and a sliver collared shirt.

The crowd of students and teammates couldn't believe what they saw. The Pensacola High running back, full of dreadlocks and tattoos, is known for sporting baggy jeans and baggy T-shirts.

Not red suits.

"It's a big day for me," Jones said later, just before signing a national letter of intent with Mississippi State. "I wanted to look good for everybody."

He had company.

Three PHS teammates were right there with him -- wearing their Sunday best -- as the school celebrated National Signing Day with a ceremony inside the library, inducting three more Tigers into a growing fraternity of football players who have earned college scholarships.

Mike Bennett has compiled a 70-42 record since becoming the PHS coach in the fall of 1996. He has led the Tigers to the playoffs in five of 10 seasons, with two trips to the state semifinals.

Just as impressive, though, has been Bennett's success in February. The PHS coach has helped 44 players find their way to a college stadium.

The latest class was special to Bennett because it included his son. Senior punter Brett Bennett, who grew up on the PHS sidelines, signed with Jackson State on Wednesday.

But there was plenty of love to go around. Coach Bennett gave each player a chance to speak in front of the crowd. Then the cameras rolled and the Tigers signed their names.

Brett Bennett will remain teammates with offensive tackle James Richardson, who also signed to play for JSU. Jones and LeBrandon Glover, however, will be separated. They each committed to Mississippi State last spring. Glover changed his mind two weeks ago, deciding he would sign with South Florida.

"My first USF player," Coach Bennett said of Glover, an all-area linebacker. "That's a first."

Don't be surprised, though, if it isn't a last. Bennett has sent recruits to schools everywhere in the Southeast and beyond. And the Tigers show no signs of losing their edge.

Two of the area's top juniors, defensive lineman Terrell McClain and defensive back Chris Lett, were in attendance for Wednesday's ceremony. The PHS stars surely saw themselves one year down the road, rising from the back of the room and into the Signing Day spotlight.

"I went through my recruiting letters last night," Lett said. "The next year will be a crucial time in my career."

The PHS coaches, to be sure, will help the youngster along. They will send out highlight tapes to various colleges. They will contact recruiters on the phone. They have done this for years.

And with much success.

PHS had a school-record eight players earn scholarships from the Class of 2004. That number includes former defensive lineman Paul Griffin, who signed with Florida State in December by way of Butler (Kan.) Community College.

This year's class, however, could soon create a new standard for PHS seniors. Bennett hopes to have several more prospects sign before the April 1 recruiting deadline.

"We work as hard as we possibly can," the PHS coach said. "We don't care if it's Division I or Division II or NAIA. We just want kids to have the opportunity."

That can happen late in the game. Brett Bennett didn't get a firm scholarship offer until the weekend before Signing Day. That was weeks after some PHS teammates helped him make a personal highlight video.

Brett stood on the PHS field this winter and boomed practice punts into the air. He kicked some from near the home end zone and others from closer to midfield.

Eventually, JSU got the tape.

"These are my best friends around here," the coach's son said. "I'm always going to stay in touch. I'll be coming back next year to cheer them on."

Perhaps on Signing Day.

--Other signees --

Milton linebacker/defensive end Josh Smiley will attend South Florida, making the decision official Wednesday morning during a signing ceremony. He was joined on Signing Day by Milton athlete Emery Allen, who, as expected, signed with Central Florida.

Pace and Washington also had big days. The Patriots had three players sign -- linebacker John Mark Patrick (Troy), offensive lineman Skylar Jones (West Florida) and offensive lineman Grant Duren (Wofford) -- while the Wildcats had two.

Washington center Alex Murray signed with Huntingdon College in Alabama, and defensive end Brett Bennett signed with Samford. Also, former Wildcats star Cameron Hamilton, who spent the last two seasons playing linebacker for Southwest Mississippi Community College, signed with Delta State.

The area finished the day with 16 senior signees.

Woodham defensive tackle Victory Nettles signed with Florida A&M, Gulf Breeze tight end Carroll Papajohn signed with Dartmouth, Northview defensive end Cedric McKinley signed with Troy, Catholic quarterback Eugene Smith signed with Florida A&M, and West Florida Tech quarterback Trace Whitman signed with the University of Charleston (W.Va.).

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we filled our needs

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