Sports

Eight Central Gwinnett Student Athletes Commit on National Signing Day

Francis Kallon will stay in state and play for Georgia Tech while George Morris will go to Syracuse.

For eight seniors from ’s football team, their future began with the stroke of a pen.

In front of a packed room of family and friends at , they to play football at colleges across the country.

will stay close to home and play for Georgia Tech. “It’s a really good day. It shows how much we’ve accomplished,” said the 6’6”, 260 pound defensive lineman speaking of his fellow Black Knights. “I put in hard work for this opportunity and tried to do the best I can do, so I am grateful. I thank God for this opportunity.” 

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

London born Kallon had not even played a single game of American football when he received an offer from Georgia Tech and about a dozen other schools.

Proud mother Rosaline Kallon wore a dress in Georgia Tech’s yellow and blue for the occasion. “I know that God ordained this to happen,” said Kallon’s mother. “I really appreciate God and his coaches and all those around him who have supported him during all this time.”

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

arrived to the event wearing a brand new Syracuse fleece and with an orange and blue Syracuse lanyard hanging purposely from his back pocket. The 6’0”, 195 pound running back signed a letter of intent to take to the field for Syracuse University in the fall. “I feel pretty good. This is a great day. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Morris after putting on his bright orange baseball cap with a blue “S.”

“I am very proud of him. It’s a blessing that he’s going to college,” said Barbara Morris, George’s mother. Although her son will be going nearly 1,000 miles away, Barbara says she’s a little sad, but she and her husband George Morris, Sr. are okay with it because it was their son’s decision.

Morris’ parents will get to see their son play closer to home in the future once Syracuse officially becomes a member of the ACC in the fall of 2013. And that means Kallon and Morris may meet up again on the football field, but playing against each other instead of as teammates.

“I can’t wait,” said Morris enthusiastically. 

“It will be a good reunion,” said Kallon. “George has the capability to go in there and make a difference in the game, so I can’t wait.”

Two Black Knights will continue to play as teammates at Chattahoochee Tech. Daniel Louis, a 6’0”, 175 pound wide receiver and Josh Marshall, a 5’11”, 160 pound running back sat side by side as they signed their letters. 

, a 6’1”, 180 wide receiver put on a cap for Appalachian State after signing his letter of intent. His mother held a painting of Jones’ deceased father from his football days in her lap.

Aaron Taylor signed a letter of intent to Ball State University. The 6’1”, 195 defensive back had , but changed to Ball State Thursday evening.

Another athlete changing his commitment was Louis McGee. The 6’0”, 185 wide receiver was planning on staying close to home and playing for Morehouse until he switched his commitment to Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday.

There was also a late addition. Maurice Teele committed to play football at Dean College in Massachusetts. Coach Todd Wofford said he faxed the last of the paperwork for the 5’11”, 235 pound defensive lineman off just Wednesday morning.

Coach Wofford said he is honored to see eight players of his players going on to compete at the collegiate level. “These guys deserved it. They worked hard. Coming in two years ago as a first year coach, they bought into my system and what we were trying to do and their hard work paid off.”

Their coach is not only proud of their athletic achievements, but also their academic achievements. “I think it says a lot about the kids and it says a lot about Central Gwinnett High school,” said Wofford speaking specifically about Kallon and Morris’ decisions to go to Georgia Tech and Syracuse respectively. “Not only are they ACC schools, but they’re very big academic schools. I think it stops a lot of the stereotypes, because when you talk about Syracuse and Georgia Tech, those are two of the most well-known academic schools in the country.” Kallon said he plans to major in science while Morris is opting for communications, however neither has decided on a specific focus.

Wofford refused to take sides in the future ACC battles between two of his former football players. Instead he simply said when Morris and the Orange come to Atlanta to play Kallon and the Yellowjackets, “I just better have a ticket.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here