National Signing Day came and went almost as fast as football season did. South Iredell showed once again it is the top of the class with athlete Quataye Smyre signing his National Letter of Intent to East Carolina. Smyre committed to the Pirates in March 2011.
As big of a deal as the 2012 signing day was for that young man, next year’s signing day will be even bigger for football in Iredell County, particularly at South Iredell and Statesville.
The big three recruits coming out of the county next year are Statesville quarterback Carlis Parker, Statesville running back Tristan Mumford and South Iredell linebacker LaChaston Smith.
“I believe the talent in this area is second to none anywhere in the state,” South Iredell head coach Scott Miller said. “It’s an exciting time in Iredell County for our players. …It’s going to be an exciting time for Iredell County schools, South Iredell and all the schools in the area.”
Rivals, the Internet recruiting service, has Parker listed as a five-star quarterback prospect. The same website has Mumford as a four-star running back and Smith as a three-star linebacker.
“Iredell (County) football, if you look at it a few years ago, didn’t have anyone big, and now several kids could sign (next year), and that shows the level of commitment to getting the kids exposed,” Statesville head coach Randall Gusler said. “We have more college visits, more college coaches walk through the door every day, especially compared to what it was six years ago.”
South Iredell and Statesville are not the only programs with players at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. West Iredell graduate Quan Rucker just finished his sophomore season at Wake Forest, and P.J. Clyburn, also out of West, just completed his redshirt freshman year at North Carolina.
Next year, however, will be different. Three big-time recruits will come from two high schools within seven miles of each other.
Smith received four offers in an eight-day span last week. He got his fifth offer in 15 days on Wednesday when Larry Fedora, the North Carolina head coach, talked with him over the phone.
Mumford -- who played running back, quarterback and spent time at defensive tackle in 2011 -- has scholarship offers from North Carolina, Duke, East Carolina and Wake Forest. According to Rivals, seven other colleges across the South are also interested in him.
Then there is Parker. Parker already has six scholarship offers. His first was from South Carolina a few months after the end of his sophomore season. East Carolina, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest also made offers.
Parker was on the sidelines in 2011 after a low hit on his right leg tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in the season-opener at Hickory. He had surgery in fall, went through physical therapy, but has not been cleared by his doctor to participate in football workouts.
He logged time in the gym and got a part-time job to save money to attend football camps this summer. Gusler said Parker might go to four or five camps, but he has not narrowed his choices.
None of the athletes have narrowed their college choices right now.
This is only the beginning, for all prospects from Iredell County, of what could turn into a roller coaster ride through the circus that is college football recruiting.
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