Lake Wales' Anglin, James sign with D-I schools
LAKELAND — What a year it has been for Jaremiah Anglin and Terrell James.
The Lake Wales duo hit the national stage with outstanding performances at a combine in Texas in January, kept moving up the recruiting lists throughout the year, were two of the top players on Lake Wales' undefeated football team that won its first state title, and end 2022 by signing with Division I schools.
Anglin, who committed in August, signed with Kentucky, while James, who committed early in the football season, became the third Polk County football player to sign with Arkansas State.
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For Anglin, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back, it's been a roller coaster of a season. It began with a high after being named MVP at the Texas combine, hit a low in May when he thought he tore his ACL, and ended back on a high with the state title.
"2022 has been a blessed year for me," Anglin said. "I feel 2021 was a down year for me. I had a good football season, but the year in general threw me for a loop. God just put me in position where I could shine. I'm just blessed that he allowed me to do that."
Anglin has been looking forward to signing day to make it official.
"That's everything to me," he said. "It got nerve-racking just talking to all those colleges. But to find one that actually cares about me and is going to develop me, not just as a player but as a person, that means more than anything. I've got NFL hopes. But even if I don't make it, I'll get a degree from the University of Kentucky so I know I'll be set."
Anglin suffered a knee injury at workouts at Georgia. He remained upfront about the injury, although some schools cooled on him in recruiting. Anglin, however, played through the injury and had a strong senior season at wide receiver and defensive back for the state champion Highlanders.
Terrell James to Arkansas State
In addition to Arkansas State, James was considering Rutgers, Coastal Carolina, Temple and Purdue. His visit earlier this month solidified his decision.
"The reason I chose Arkansas State is the bond I felt when I first got to the campus and the love they showed," James said. "It's more than just football. If I don't get drafted, it's more than football, it's also academics that can help me in the future."
James, a 6-4, 225-pound defensive end, was a force on the Lake Wales defense with 29 sacks, but it was his academic progress of which he is equally proud. Prior to high school, he never made an A, but for the past two years, he's made only A's and B's.
"I had to mature more," James said. "I knew wanted to be somebody, and me not having the grades, I knew I had to step up."
His signing closes out 2022, which has been a memorable year.
As a freshman, I wanted to be a standout person," James said. "It's a blessing that God allowed me to go to the national combine and perform the way I performed. Then to sign to a D-I school is a blessing. I never really imagined all this. It's just crazy"
James will be joining Lakeland linebacker RJ Kelly and defensive back Dontay Joyner at Arkansas State. The two Dreadnaughts signed on Wednesday.
"I'm looking forward to working with them boy and bringing a ring back to Arkansas State," James said.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Wales' Anglin, James sign with D-I schools
