Signing Day Central 2022: Top Fort Worth-area football players sign with D1 schools
Aledo won the Class 5A state championship 52-14 over College Station on Saturday.
It was the program’s UIL record 11th title.
On Wednesday, two Bearcats officially signed their national letters of intent during the early signing period.
Defensive tackle Ansel Din-Mbuh signed with Washington State. The 3-star DT had 10 offers, which included ACU, Air Force, Sam Houston State, SFA and Wyoming.
“When I went up there, I loved the atmosphere and the coaching staff. They made me feel like family and put me as a person before,” Din-Mbuh said. “They’re also deep into their faith and that’s important to me because as a child of God, I can’t be coached by someone who is God fearing.”
Din-Mbuh will graduate from Aledo early and enroll at Washington State in January.
“I’m most looking forward to learning the play book and earning an opportunity to make an impact early.”
Din-Mbuh finished the season with 41 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and four sacks. He had three tackles and one for loss against College Station.
Aledo receiver Jalen Pope signed with Air Force.
“Felt like home and it sets me up for the rest of my life,” Pope said. “When I was up there this summer, I felt like I really connected with the coaches. They have a family atmosphere that I want to be a part of.”
Pope finished the state title game with eight catches, 228 yards and three touchdowns. His 228 yards set a new Class 5A state championship game record, breaking the previous mark of 220 from 2017.
Pope’s three TDs were also tied for most in a 5A championship. He finished the season with over 1,252 yards and 14 TDs with 64 catches.
Pony Up
Everman defensive end Kevin Allen signed his national letter of intent with SMU. Allen is a 3-star player who also had offers from Washington State, UNT and LA Tech.
Allen, who was a finalist for the Landry award player of the year, helped the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record and bi-district championship.
He was voted District Defensive MVP. He finished the season with 112 total tackles, 74 solo tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble.
SMU had 15 players sign letters of intent for the Class of 2023. Allen is one of 13 players from Texas and one of eight from Dallas-Fort Worth, including Lovejoy’s Jaxson Lavender, Wakeland’s Tripp Riordan and Timber Creek’s Lonnie Johnson.
Go Blue
Colleyville Covenant 4-star defensive end Enow Etta signed his national letter of intent with Michigan. According to 247Sports, Etta is rated as the No. 11 D-lineman and No. 18 overall player in the state for the Class of 2023.
Etta entered the season No. 2 in the Star-Telegram Top 100.
As a sophomore, Etta took off as one of the top defensive players in the state. He helped the Cougars to a state title that season.
Over the past three years, Etta has recorded 313 total tackles, 216 solo tackles, 88.5 tackles for loss, 57.5 sacks and 43 QB hurries. This season alone, Etta had five forced fumbles, eight recovered fumbles and two blocked punts.
Off to Rice
Byron Nelson wide receiver Landon Ransom-Goelz has become one of the top receivers in Dallas-Fort Worth during the past two seasons.
He signed his national letter of intent with Rice.
Over the past two seasons, Ransom-Goelz recorded 149 catches, 2,767 yards and 30 touchdowns. This season, he made 74 catches for 1,339 yards and 16 TDs.
Byron Nelson made the regional semifinals in back-to-back years, the first time in program history. The Bobcats went 11-2 this season.
The 3-star WR had offers from Arkansas State, Army and Navy. According to 247Sports, Rice has 20 Class of 2023 commits, including Keller Central 3-star D-end Joseph Mutombo.
South Dakota bound
Midlothian Heritage quarterback Kaden Brown signed his national letter of intent with South Dakota State.
Brown also had offers from Rice, A&M Commerce and Northern Arizona.
Brown helped the Jaguars to a district championship and trip to the regional semifinals in their first season in Class 5A. The Jags finished with an 11-2 record.
Brown was District MVP with over 3,800 yards total offense. He passed for over 3,200 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Sic Em
Offensive linemen Isaiah Robinson (Arlington Lamar) and Wes Tucker (Argyle) signed their national letters of intent with the Baylor Bears.
Robinson is a 4-star offensive tackle (6-7, 290). He holds 28 offers, which included 22 from a Power Five school. According to 247Sports, Robinson is rated as the No. 18 OT and No. 31 overall player in the state for the Class of 2023.
Tucker is a 3-star lineman offensive tackle (6-5, 260). He had eight other offers. He helped the Eagles to an undefeated regular season, a 14-1 record and a trip to the state semifinals.
According to 247Sports, Baylor had 19 players from the Class of 2023 to sign national letters of intent during the early signing period, including Timber Creek’s LeVar Thornton and Lewisville’s Caden Jenkins.
Hook Em, Geaux Tigers
The North Crowley Panthers signed two football players on Wednesday, 4-star linebacker S’Maje Burrell to Texas and 4-star tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton to LSU.
Both were members of the ST Top 100.
The Panthers had their first undefeated regular season, finished 12-1 and had their deepest playoff run since 2003.
Pimpton, who had been previously committed to Vanderbilt, was the Panthers leading receiver with 57 catches for 914 yards and 17 TDs. Pimpton is rated as the No. 12 TE and No. 38 overall player in the state for the Class of 2023.
Burrell, the No. 20 LB according to the 247Sports composite, made 80 tackles, 10 for loss, 53 solo tackles, two sacks, eight hurries and one forced fumble.
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 2:47 PM.
