KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Several athletes from the Knoxville area put pen to paper for National Signing Day on Wednesday.
At Knoxville Catholic High School, six players signed to play football at the collegiate level. Most notably Braylon Harmon signed to play with Tennessee. Cooper Crook signed to play with Boston College.
Harmon is excited to play for the hometown college and will start his time with the Vols as a return specialist.
"It's crazy," he said. "I've gotten so much love from it and I can't thank everyone for the love they have given me. I just know I get to play in front of my hometown and my whole family. It's amazing."
Crook will compete at long snapper and is living out a childhood dream.
"It's super exciting," he said. "It's a dream come true. I started playing football when I was in third grade and it's all I've ever wanted to do since."
At Farragut, Jack Alley signed up to play football at the Air Force Academy. The middle linebacker is excited to play ball but also serve his country. He is the first generation in his family to go the military route.
Alley said playing football at the collegiate level is a goal he set a long time ago.
"I mean it's been a dream all my life," he said. "It's probably been my biggest dream. I've worked towards this since I was probably seven. To have this was just amazing. I can't really describe it. Words can't describe it."
Halls celebrated five football signees, and four of them chose to continue their careers at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. The odd man out was 2023 Tennessee Kicker of the Year Owen Taylor, who will play for Middle Tennessee State, while also pursuing a career as a pilot. He said MTSU felt like a perfect fit.
"The aviation was a big factor and that's what makes it feel even better," Taylor said. "Being able to support Halls as well while I'm at MTSU means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to these guys signing with Cumberlands as well."
West had five athletes signed, including four with Division I programs. Cross-country star Kate Robinson signed with Georgia, while three football standouts stayed in-state. Linebacker Ryan Scott signed with Tennessee as a preferred walk-on, CJ Smith signed with Chattanooga and Marshaun Bowers with Tennessee Tech.
Ryan Scott said it was the obvious choice to want to play college football for his hometown team.
"I woke up one morning and looked around my room and saw Tennessee, Tennessee, Tennessee. That's home right there, I need to be out on Rocky Top," Scott said. "You always dream about going through the 'T' and now this dream is a reality. I finally get to do it."
Bearden had a whopping 14 athletes take the stage on signing day, including three local standouts who will also play at Tennessee. Brooks Wright will play baseball for UT, while Alivia Stott and Nyla Blue will join the women's soccer team. The trio said it meant a lot to be able to play on Rocky Top.
"It's been a long time coming, about four years since I committed," Wright said. "There's nothing more that a kid wants than to play for the team you grew up rooting for."
"My mom actually played [basketball] at UT, so everyone was like, 'the legacy goes on," Blue said.
"It will be nice to have my family at games and have people I know supporting me," Stott said.
Feb. 7 is the official start of the regular signing period for football players. Division I commits will have until April 1 to sign, while DII players have until Aug. 1.