Signing Day 2022: Clemson, UCF, Arizona St., USC, Illinois, FAMU, Memphis sign SWFL talent

Here's a roundup of Southwest Florida football players who signed National Letters of Intent on the first day of the early signing period, Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Riverdale DBs make it official

In the words of assistant coach Kendoll Gibson, Jaheim Clarke and Anthony Baxter “set the standard” at Riverdale.

Roaming the Raiders secondary for four years, the duo put pen to paper on Wednesday.

Baxter will continue his football career at Temple University while Clarke will join the Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois.

“I’m feeling great,” Clarke said. “This is a dream come true. I did a lot to make it where I’m at.”Clarke’s signing came a few days after former Immokalee star Aaron Henry was announced as Illinois’ next defensive coordinator. Henry was involved in recruiting Clarke to the school.

“I was really, really excited because Coach Henry’s a great guy,” Clarke said.

For Baxter, looks from colleges didn’t come until late in his high school career. He was immediately impressed on his initial trip to Temple on an unofficial visit.

“It felt like family, and, from there, we locked in,” he said.

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Frank Hepler was in his first year as head coach the Raiders this past season and praised how his senior stars welcomed him and responded to coaching.

“I’m the new guy in the room as far as being here as head football coach,” he said. “I was the luckiest guy in the room also to have a chance to coach these guys.”

Clarke described feeling like the underdog in many of the team’s battles throughout his career, but that made their achievements even sweeter.

“I’m just proud that I stayed inside of this program because it actually grew me, on and off the field, as a young man,” he said.

Dunbar sends a pair to Division I

Signing Day at Dunbar High Wednesday marked a fresh start for one former Tiger and a chance to get away and focus for another.

Senior defensive back Shawn Russ will head to the Pac-12 to play at Arizona State and Hunter, who spent last season playing JUCO ball after three years at Texas A&M, signed with Memphis of the American Athletic Conference.

Russ, a three-star prospect went on his first official visit to Tempe just two weekends ago as the Sun Devils named Oregon offensive coordinator their head coach on Nov. 27. Dillingham recruited Russ his freshman year when the coach was the offensive coordinator at Florida State, and reached back out to him once he got the Arizona State job.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back said what really impressed him on his visit was the academic support the school has in place for athletes at home and on the road and the chance to compete for a role as a freshman.

“It’s Just a different type of environment, a different type of love, a different type of family, a different type of experience than Florida. Way different than Florida,” Russ said.

“I need to get away, be more zoned in, more by myself, I feel like being by myself is best for me.”

Russ totaled 91 tackles his senior season and had three interceptions, including a pair in the team's state semifinal loss to Mainland, one of which he returned over 90 yards for a touchdown.

Hunter followed Jimbo Fisher, who recruited him at Florida State, to Texas A&M after graduating from Dunbar in 2019. He redshirted in 2019 but played in all 10 games in 2020. He made the switch to the offensive line the summer before his sophomore season and only appeared in four games.

With things not working his way with the Aggies, Hunter transferred to Hinds Community College to get a reset on his football career and academics.

Hunter moved back to the defensive line at Hinds and in nine games and was sixth on the team with 29 tackles and fourth with eight tackles for loss, including four sacks. The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder was made a three-star recruit and ranked No. 6 in the 247Sports junior college composite rankings and No. 3 among JUCO defensive linemen.

“To have the opportunity just to come in, make All-AAC, and compete for a conference title and just get into the college football playoffs, that was all the goals when we sat down, and just getting back, refocus, getting back to that main goal of making it to the NFL and just being a better man, being a father,” said Hunter while holding his 5-month-old daughter Ava. “That's just everything coach (Ryan) Silverfield was preaching to me through the whole recruiting process. I just want to say thanks to the whole Memphis coaching staff for giving me that opportunity to compete at the highest level again.”

Hunter thanked Hinds’ academic advisors and tutors, the football coaching staff, and the track coach for getting him back to the Division I level.

“Everybody played a big factor in just getting me back on the right track in my life and just you know, reminding me that, you know, just reminding me that I’m loved in this world and that I am somebody.”

Olsen Patt Henry to Clemson

The four-star recruit who helped lead First Baptist to its first state football title earlier this month officially signed to join Dabo Swinney at Clemson. The wide receiver/tight end led all of Southwest Florida with 1,253 receiving yards on 65 receptions, with 14 touchdowns. Henry accounted for 47.9 percent of First Baptist's yardage through the air.

"Just different today, I proved it to everyone who told me I wouldn't be able to do it and this is what happens when you keep God first in your life and I just want to thank him," Henry wrote in a message.

Henderson headed to South Carolina; Buchanon to FIU

Lehigh four-star athlete Kelton Henderson didn't have Twitter when he received his first offer from Maryland in November 2020.

Henderson's recruiting exploded after getting that first offer, and he became a four-star prospect in virtually no time. He signed with South Carolina on Wednesday alongside Richard Young, who signed with Alabama.

Offensive lineman Jaheim Buchanon also signed with FIU but was not present because he was playing in the FACA all-star game. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound offensive tackle blocked for Young and a Lightning ground game that averaged more than 165 yards per contest this season.

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"It's been a good little journey," Henderson said. "This year and a half of nothing but experience and getting better over time, I'm gonna take everything and use it when I get to the next level. I give all my glory to God, as I've been through a lot. We came a long way. I just appreciate South Carolina a lot."

Lehigh offensive lineman Jaheim Buchanon couldn't be in attendance Wednesday morning. He was preparing for the FACA All-Star Game in Central Florida.

Buchanon did officially send in his letter of intent to play for the Panthers Wednesday, making his move to the college level official.

"When coach Chaney called me in his class and all I seen was him and coach Dixon I was nervous because I didn’t know what I did," Buchanon wrote in a text message. "They were chewing me out and all I could think is what did I do for them to be this mad at me so when I was first told I got an offer I was at a loss for words. All I could do is thank God for lifting this huge weight off me as a kid I’ve always dreamed of playing college football so being able to live out my dreams is amazing.

"I have the best coaches in high school football coaches who have done everything in their power to help me get to where I am today I am more that thankful to the whole Lehigh Senior High School football coaches, staff and administration for everything they’ve done for me."

Jason Duclona to UCF

The Estero High product officially signed with the Knights, as he announced with The News-Press last month, after having originally given his verbal to Rutgers.

He finished the year with 33 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss, 2 interceptions, 6 passes defended and a blocked punt. He was also named the Rotary South all-star game defensive MVP after a pair of interceptions, including a runback that went 64 yards for a pick-six.

"Feels great, feels like all the things I worked for are finally coming together and this is the first step to many more to come," Duclona texted.

Levontai "Boe" Summersett to FAMU

Summersett committed to Florida A&M in the spring and made joining the Rattlers official. Dangerous no matter the position, Summersett surpassed 100 yards passing, receiving and rushing on the season. He ran for 993 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging for more than 8 yards per carry.

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"It feels great because this was what I was dreaming to do since I was a little kid, and it’s finally here so I’m just blessed to be able to sign," Summersett wrote in a text.

"When I got the FAMU offer it was where I wanted to go so I didn’t think about other schools after that. FAMU is where I wanted to be."

Jordan Church to FAU

The big offensive lineman, who spent his first three years at Dunbar before transferring to IMG and is from Fort Myers, signed with Florida Atlantic. Church committed to Louisville in June but pulled back from that commitment this winter. Church is listed at 6-foor-4 and 325 pounds.

Naples quartet makes it official

Naples High held an early signing celebration last week since Collier County is off school this week. The four Power Five recruits sent their NLIs to their college on signing day. They are Isaiah Augustave (Arkansas), Kendrick Raphael (North Carolina State), Kerry Brown (Minnesota), and Jonas Duclona (Wisconsin).

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Wyatt Whalen to Bryant

The 6-5, 300-pound offensive lineman made his college choice official by heading to Bryant. He played a critical role blocking for the record-setting Verot offense this year. The team averaged 240 passing yards and 187 rushing yards per game this season.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Early Football Signing Day 2022: SWFL players sign National Letters of Intent