Gibson (2) will sign with LSU on Wednesday. (Photo by Chris Dunn)

Staff Report
(Feb. 3, 2010)

For college football fans, National Signing Day is like Christmas. The presents happen to be 18-year-old high school seniors gift-wrapped with salutations and stars from national scouts and pundits.

For the players, coaches and family members, it’s a day of excitement, relief, even some regret.

The day is already in full bloom by the time you read this. Student-athletes could begin sending their letters of intent (LOI) after midnight. Most will have signing parties at their respective schools.

“It’s always a big event,” said G.W. Carver coach Al Pogue, whose school got national coverage last year with the signing of Brandon Moore. “It is about the kids and what they have accomplished. You want to make it important for our student body because they are involved in a small way. They can take pride knowing some of their friends are getting the opportunity to play at the next level.”

Others, such as Prattville quarterback Sam Gibson, are ready to move ahead to the college campus. Gibson will sign with LSU and expects to be in Baton Rouge as soon as he graduates.

“Freshmen have to report early so I expect to get down there as soon as possible,” Gibson said. “It’s exciting but I know there is a lot of work to do.”

College coaches also have to deal with the possibility of players changing their minds at the last minute. Troy coach Larry Blakeney has been a part of the recruiting process for more than two decades but he says he still gets butterflies every Signing Day.

“You can never be too sure,” he said. “Until those faxes come in, I have a little bit of anxiety. One thing I’ve learned over the years is nothing is certain for these players. Most of them stick to their commitments but we are seeing more and more commit much earlier.”

One player of interest for Auburn fans decided on Tuesday to stay close to home. Marcus Lattimore, a nationally-ranked prospect chose South Carolina over Auburn after consulting, of all people, a former Auburn standout.

“Stephen Davis told me to go with my heart,” Lattimore said during a press conference. “He said that’s what he did and Auburn was on his heart. That’s what I did.”

Despite Lattimore’s announcement, Auburn is expected to sign one of its most talented classes in quite some time. The Tigers class has been ranked among the top 10 in the nation prior to Signing Day.

Alabama was considered to have the top recruiting class nationally the last two years and Nick Saban is expected to have another top 5 class this year. But the Tide coaching staff may have lost who many consider its top recruit in Keenan Allen. As of late Tuesday he had reportedly changed his commitment from Alabama to either California or Penn State.

Saban did pick up a late commitment from Arie Kouandjio, a standout offensive lineman out of Maryland.

Several local players will assemble at WSFA later on Wednesday for a special signing party. River Region Sports will provide coverage and interviews from the event.