Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hurst signs with SC college
Western High QB vows to return from knee injury
Western High School senior Collin Hurst, one of the most decorated football players in Broward County history, concluded his long journey by signing a college scholarship on Wednesday in the school’s auditorium.
Wednesday evening, Pahokee standout edge rusher and two-time Sun Sentinel small-schools defensive player of the Year DeeJay Holmes announced he had signed with the SEC’s Ole Miss.
Also, nearby Florida Atlantic University picked off another local Broward County athlete in Cardinal Gibbons kicker Robert Hammond III to close out National Signing Day.
There are five athletes from Broward and Palm Beach counties going to the FAU, including kicker Robert Hammond III (Cardinal Gibbons), running back Joshua Harriott (St. Thomas Aquinas), wideout Arthur Jenkins (Dillard) and St. Thomas Aquinas running backs Joshua Harriott, Gemari Sands and Xavier Terrell.
Hurst, who was one of the most productive quarterbacks in Broward County history with more than 8,400 yards passing, 82 TDs and 19 interceptions during his career, was not committed until January when he took an official visit to Presbyterian College, in Clinton, South Carolina. They were willing to take a chance on him despite a torn ACL in his left knee in his senior year and his size, 5-10, 160 pounds. Hurst was emotional at the National Signing Day ceremony in the school’s auditorium. Hurst said he also had preferred walk-on opportunities available with several programs, including the FIU Panthers and Coastal Carolina.
“I ended up crying at the podium,” Hurst said by phone. He was the Sun Sentinel largeschools player of the year in 2021 after throwing for 3,267 yards and 35 touchdowns with just two interceptions. For his career, he completed 65 percent of his passes. He was also a first-team selection in his freshman and senior seasons.
“I am really appreciative of the opportunity, all things considered, and they understand that” said Hurst, who admits he will likely redshirt his first season to recover fully from the injury. “I am going to live in the weight room and put on like 15 to 20 pounds. This was a hard journey and a lot of ups and downs. There was a time when I thought I would never play football again. I am not going to be complacent. I am going to work even harder.”
“The injury kind of set me back and made me frustrated,” added Hurst, who took his official visit this past weekend. “They said they understand and the just want me to recover.
Other Western senior football players who signed on Tuesday were Santana Fleming (Western Carolina), Tyler Hunt (St. Thomas University), Monroe Ingraham (Limestone University), Joshua Joseph (West Virginia State), Matt Mejia (St. Thomas University), Roger Reyes (Villanova), and Justin Tedim (Colgate).
“I couldn’t be happier for Collin he’s an outstanding young man, and one of the best football players I’ve ever coached,” said Western coach Adam Ratkevich. “As for Presbyterian, what they’re getting is a winner and a competitor and a Champion. Collin’s been underestimated for a long time, but all he does is overachieve and deliver. I expect him to do the same at the next level.”
A total of 51 athletes covering eight sports took part in a ceremony at St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas Aquinas quarterback Hezekiah Harris was among six who signed with the armed forces. He inked a NLI with the U.S. Military Academy.
Local student-athletes in Broward and Palm Beach counties joined thousands of athletes around the country in putting pen to paper on National Signing Day.
Two previous signing day ceremonies were held, however Tuesday’s signing day featured many of the top athletes signing national letters of intent to attend college in the fall. Also participating in the school ceremonies were student-athletes who received preferred walk-on status or will continue playing sports in college through academic money.
A preferred walk-on offer means the coach would like you on the team but cannot (or won’t) offer any financial assistance at least for the first year. A student could earn a scholarship in their second season.
Chaminade-Madonna added three more college football signees in Elvin Harris (Campbell), Jeno Junius (Western Carolina) and Duane Thomas Jr. Charlotte 49ers last Tuesday.