Madison County’s number of verbal commitments to play college football next year has grown to three.
Connor Boyett, a 6’5,” 245-lb. defensive end, verbally committed last week to play for the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Boyett had 46 tackles and three sacks this year.
Boyett’s commitment makes him the second Madison County player headed to a Division I-A school.
Jacob Owens, a 6’4,” 215-lb. quarterback, has verbally committed to Army.
The only other Red Raider football player to commit to a college program at this point is Jamal Cooper, a 6’0”, 170-lb. running back with 4.45 speed who plans to sign with Georgia Military.
While Boyett verbally committed last week, Owens reaffirmed his verbal commitment to West Point this week after an in-home visit from Army Monday. Owens is projected as an outside linebacker or defensive end for the Cadets.
“It’s 100 percent,” his father, MCHS head coach Randell Owens said. “He’s committed.”
Coach Owens said the in-home sit-down went “very well.”
“Oh, yeah,” coach Owens said. “He (Jacob) looked like he was ready to get in the car and go with him (the Army coach).”
Furman had been making a late push for Jacob, with three recent visits to Madison County High School.
Jacob, whose brother Jarrod plays quarterback at the Coast Guard Academy, will make his official visit to West Point Feb. 5.
Meanwhile, opportunities for others could arise.
“I’m still sending out film fast and furious,” coach Owens said.
Patrick McCrary, a 6’5” receiver, is drawing the attention of smaller schools, most notably Savannah State and West Georgia.
“He’s on their board,” coach Owens said.
Owens also said that Methodist College has contacted defensive lineman Jeremiah NeSmith.
Though no direct contact has been made, some coaches expressed interest in running back Kendrick Butler to Owens at a recent recruiting fair.
With three verbal commitments so far and several Madison County alums on college rosters, the Red Raiders are starting to more send football players on to the next level than in the past.
“We’ve probably got more kids at the college level from our program than probably any point in our school history,” Owens said.
Owens hopes that more than three will ink scholarship this February on national signing day.
“Well my goal is six, but we’ll see how close I get,” Owens said.
