National Signing Day Preview: Top running back, other athletes in DFW will continue careers
Celebrations on national signing day will have to wait.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has been hit with an arctic blast since late Monday and runs through at least early Thursday morning. That means Wednesday’s signing day won’t have any big ceremonies around local high schools, most of which are closed because of the weather.
However, that doesn’t mean DFW athletes won’t sign their letter of intent to continue their athletic career. They’ll just have to wait another week to celebrate it with family and friends.
Among the big names signing is Southlake Carroll running back Owen Allen.
Carroll’s signing ceremony was moved back to Monday at 1 p.m. at the high school auditorium.
Allen will sign with Air Force.
Allen ended his high school career as Carroll’s all-time leading rusher and among the all-time best high school football players in state history.
He finished with 7,700 yards rushing and 120 touchdowns in four seasons for the Dragons, who played in the regional final this past season.
Allen rushed for 2,200 yards and 37 touchdowns, and set career marks in most rushing categories as he was voted District 4-6A MVP and named Star-Telegram all-area player of the year.
Despite his production, Allen was under recruited, only picking up a few offers. He committed to Air Force in early January.
District 4-5A D2
Allen wasn’t the only top running back in the area to commit late. Two came from the same district this season.
Grapevine’s Parker Polk and Fort Worth Arlington Heights’ Brian Furch committed to Abilene Christian University and Harding, respectively. Polk announced on Tuesday.
Furch announced on Monday.
The Mustangs and Yellowjackets played for the district championship in 4-5A Division 2 with the former coming out on top. But it was the play from both running backs that got the teams that far.
Polk was voted district Offensive MVP and a first-team all-area running back after rushing for over 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns. Furch was district MVP and also a first-team all-area back with over 1,700 yards and 28 touchdowns, which was among the most in the Fort Worth-area.
Go Pokes
Aledo wide receiver Jalen Pope will sign with Oklahoma State.
Pope had previously signed with Air Force during the early signing period in December, just days before playing for a state championship.
The Bearcats blew out College Station in the Class 5A Division 1 title game where Pope exploded for eight catches, three touchdowns and a 5A state champ game record 228 yards receiving.
Pope committed to the Cowboys on Jan. 15.
He finished the season with 64 catches, 1,252 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Nebraska bound
Bob Wager led Arlington Martin for 17 seasons before joining Matt Rhule’s staff at Nebraska. He is a tight ends coach and special teams assistant.
Now three players from the Martin football team is a Cornhusker.
Tight end Ismael Smith Flores, Jeremiah Charles and Wager’s son, Gage, signed their letter of intent with the Huskers. Smith Flores was an all-area selection this season.
Charles is a wide receiver while Wager plays on offense and special teams.
Wager wasn’t the only big name from Texas to go to Nebraska. UIL athletic director Susan Elza also joins Rhule’s staff as chief director of operations.
Rescheduling
Some school districts are having a district-wide celebration even though athletes may have signed in November and December, such as Mansfield and Argyle.
Others held off on a ceremony until February such as Eagle-Mountain-Saginaw, which will honor their athletes at all three high schools, Boswell, Saginaw and Chisholm Trail.
Bell and Azle High School moved their signing day to next Wednesday, Feb. 8. Most other schools are likely to follow, if they haven’t done so already.
Notable
In volleyball, Chisholm Trail’s Claire Duley and Richland’s Emily Keohen just recently committed. Duley chose Oklahoma Christian while Keohen is going to Cameron University.
Both players made the all-area team in November.
Duley was along the few players to have 500 kills and 500 digs and Keohen finished the regular season with the most assists (1,180) in the Fort Worth-area.
Other notable athletes to be honored this month: Mansfield Timberview’s Reese Robins (Louisville volleyball), Mansfield Summit’s David Terrell (UTEP basketball), Arlington Sam Houston’s Lafayette Kaiuway (TCU football), Southlake Carroll’s Tyler White (Texas A&M football), Mansfield Legacy’s Isaiah Manning (TCU basketball), Mansfield Legacy’s Blake Julius (Oklahoma State baseball), Mansfield Lake Ridge’s Kylie Marshall (Texas A&M basketball), Euless Trinity’s Emma Johns (Arkansas soccer) and Argyle’s Maya Bland (Oklahoma softball).
This story was originally published February 1, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
