Sam Kouvaris: Signing Day excitement underway

2:30 p.m. update: The biggest Signing Day question on the First Coast today has been answered. Baker County's CeCe Jefferson is headed to Gainesville. Jefferson waited until today to make the announcement but didn't surprise anyone when he chose the Gators.

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List of local signings

Jefferson, a defensive end, told News4Jax he's been to every Gators home game since he was in the ninth grade. He said he made up his mind last night and the Gators were the right fit.

"I feel I can come right in and compete to be the starter," Jefferson said.

He was a dominant player at Baker County and is ranked among the top-10 prospects across the country.

Between Apopka's Martez Ivey and Jefferson, Florida secured two of the most coveted players in the Southeast today. Like Ivey, Jefferson is expected to have an immediate impact as a freshman.

The addition of Jefferson will catapult Florida into the Top 25 in most signing class rankings. A month ago, most people thought the Gators would be around 100, so Jefferson and Ivey were pretty big gets for Florida. 

12:30 p.m. update

Atlantic Coast is sending 13 athletes to play in college this year in six different sports. Lindsey Devitt will play softball at USF, while Chris Cunningham is headed to Virginia Tech to play football. Leishawn Ealey and Traevaris Ferrell will play football at Alcorn State. Brittany Bowald will join the track team at JU. Natasha Enrique signed with Maryville college to play soccer.

At Keystone Heights, they're sending Roy Williams to Lenoir-Rhyne and Brighton Gibbs to Benediction College in Kansas. Both to play football.

Apopka's Martez Ivey, a 5-star rated offensive tackle and perhaps the second most coveted player in the nation, signed with Florida, a big win for Jim McElwain and his staff. Ivey is 6'6", 290 pounds and will probably step in and start at one of the tackle spots for the Gators as a freshman. Having recruited the state when he was an assistant at Louisville, McElwain knows a lot of the programs and coaches in the state. His connections in South Florida are invaluable and being able to keep the best players home is a big priority. He said at his introductory press conference, "You can win a National Championship here," when asked about what sets the Gators job apart from others. Part of that is the quality of athlete he can recruit. McElwain has set a press conference for 3:30 this afternoon to review the Gators' 2015 signing class.

Jimbo Fisher has set his presser in Tallahassee for the same time. The ‘Noles only lost one of their targeted recruits so their projected class could be as good as any Fisher has signed in his tenure at FSU. If you remember the Oregon coach said, "Coach Fisher could draw a circle around Tallahassee and probably put together a national title contender with the athletes right there." To which Fisher responded, "Miami is a nine-hour drive." While the ‘Noles have a national reputation and pull players from all over, getting the top guys in the state, particularly in South Florida, is a big priority for Jimbo.

Bishop Kenny's Charles Wade made it official and signed with Wake Forest early this afternoon. Wade was a regular on Football Friday on Four providing many highlights at wide receiver.
 

11:30 a.m. update

Bolles School will be sending seven student-athletes on to the next level,including six from the Bulldogs' football team.

Bolles had seven athletes sign this morning, including six football players (pictured). Kevin Ackerman and Jeremiah Theus both signed with Georgia Southern and Trenton McGhee will head to the University of Idaho. 

Trinity Christian has 23 athletes signing scholarships today in a 2 p.m. ceremony, including 15 football players. Jeff Holland is headed to Auburn and Kevin Toliver to LSU. Deontal Williams is going to Georgia and Chris Barr to South Florida. Victor Alexander is deciding between UCLA and Virginia Tech, and Kendrick Norton will either go to Miami, North Carolina or Auburn. Congrats to T. J. Jackson, who is headed to West Point. The Conquerors also have four baseball players, three softball players and Hope Cooksey, a basketball player, signing today.

At Episcopal, Will Singletary will play football at Washington and Lee. The Eagles also have two basketball players signing as well as athletes in cross country, rowing, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, tennis and golf headed to the next level. 

10 a.m. update

Sandalwood had 15 Saints sign scholarships this morning (pictured).

A record number of students (15)signing athletic scholarships on stagefor Sandalwood High School.

There's so much football talent in North Florida that it's no surprise so many colleges recruit here. Jante Boson and Richard Montomery from Atlantic Coast are headed to Idaho. Far away, but not the first locals to become Vandals.

Georgia was a bit concerned but didn't need to be about Trent Thompson. The 6'2", 313-pound defensive tackle from Albany was considered by many as the best high school football player in the country. He officially signed with the Bulldogs this morning. The 'Dogs had 21 players signed or enrolled in school by 10 o'clock, including players from Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Arizona, Maryland, Louisiana, New Jersey and Florida. They're looking at four more commitments, including Deandre Baker from Miami Northwestern.

Among the top names in the country, SoSo Jamabo, perhaps the best athlete coming out of high school, committed to UCLA. That's a big loss for Charlie Strong at Texas.

Florida State is considered to have one of the top recruiting classes in the country, perhaps behind only Alabama. The Seminoles already have eight of their players enrolled for this spring semesters, including First Coast QB De'Andre Johnson. The Noles' also have a commitment from Deondre Francois, also a QB. Hard to figure how a Deandre and Deondre ended up at the same school!

Starting the day early 

While National Signing Day isn't a national holiday, it should be in the football-crazy parts of the country. But since it's not, the announcements come around classes, before school, during the morning break, lunchtime or after classes end for the day.

In a disappointing announcement for Gators fans, Byron Cowart said he's going to Auburn. At 6'4" and 250 pounds, the defensive end from Seffner Armwood was a prized catch for just about everybody in the country. He had settled on Auburn or Florida but today picked the Tigers, perhaps to follow former Gators head coach Will Muschamp to Auburn where he's now the defensive coordinator.

All-star QB DeAndre Johnson has already enrolled at FSU, but seven of his teammates joined him as college signees Wednesday.

There have been bands, entire schools and lots of cheering in gyms and auditoriums all over North Florida and South Georgia this morning. All 502 members of the First Coast senior class were out in force this morning to see their classmates sign their letters of intent (pictured). Among them, Tristan Peyton decided to go to UCF. The Bucs had nine signees this morning and today's not just for football. They had three baseball and volleyball players sign letters of intent. Three of their football players, including Mr. Football Deandre Johnson (FSU) are already enrolled in school.

Bishop Kenny's Tyler Jordan will take his offensive line skills to the University of Florida. By the way, Gators coach Jim McElwain is tweeting "official" welcomes to Florida recruits on his account @CoachMcElwain.

Meanwhile, former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel officially signed with Louisiana Tech today.

Dawn Gipson, a two time state basketball champion at Ribault signed with Louisana Tech today as well. A powerhouse in division one women's basketball.

Taylor Lee of Fletcher signed with Lindenwood U this morning as one of the nation's top bowlers. Her classmate, Brad Borque signed with Princeton to play offensive line.  

This article will be updated throughout the day as announcements are made around the area.