Boise State lures three from area

Before Lake Travis football teammates Matthew Baldwin and Cameron Dicker take the field Saturday for the Class 6A, Division I championship game, they will have a bit of ceremonial business to conclude Thursday at their high school.

Baldwin, a quarterback, will sign a ceremonial letter of intent with Ohio State, and Dicker, a kicker, will join him to “sign” with Texas. The pair faxed in their official letters of intent Wednesday, which marked the first day of the NCAA’s new three-day early signing period.

While the number of signees from the Austin area appeared to fall short of the totals seen in previous Februaries, plenty of local standouts settled on their colleges.

Defensive lineman Braden Cassity (Oklahoma State) and running back Nakia Watson (Wisconsin), who helped Westlake to a perfect regular season and a spot in the Class 6A, Division II state semifinals, concluded their recruitments, and a trio of Del Valle players — linebacker Cam Wilkins (Missouri), defensive back La’Thaniel Washington (Texas-San Antonio) and defensive tackle Scale Igiehon (Boise State) — combined to form the largest group of Division I signees in school history.

Perhaps reflecting the presence of former Cedar Park coach Chris Ross on its football staff, Boise State recruited Central Texas with vigor, also signing Georgetown linebacker Brandon Hawkins.

Wimberley, which reached a Class 4A, Division II state semifinal, had two FBS signees in quarterback JoJo Weeks (UT-San Antonio) and offensive lineman Ian Burnette (TCU).

Three players opted for Ivy League, with San Marcos quarterback Prudencio Calderon and Vandegrift defensive end Oso Ifesinachukwu picking Yale, and Bowie defensive back Joshua Smythe-McCalaulay choosing Columbia.