Signing Day dominates in Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Fax machines were humming all over the nation as high school players signed their national letters of intent and made those verbal commitments binding.

At Austin High School receiver Cayleb Jones signed his letter of intent with Texas. Jones said he was excited to be part of the Longhorn family  and it doesn't matter who plays quarterback for Texas. Jones is the son of former Cowboys linebacker Robert Jones who told KXAN-TV that he is proud of Cayleb and now "the next step is to get out of the field and performing."  ones said he looks forward to enjoying the college atmosphere and the tailgating as a fan  and a parent.  Jones had 229 receptions and 26 touchdowns in his three varsity seasons with the Maroons. Jones is one of two wide receivers who have signed with the Horns on Wednesday along with Marcus Johnson from Clear Springs High School in the Houston area.

• Photos: National Signing Day in Austin
   

Also signing at Austin High, Linus Boley and David Martin both are headed to play football at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Samantha Curran signed a soccer scholarship with Colorado College.

At Hendrickson High School the Hawks had nine players sign scholarships led by Daje Johnson who is part of UT's class. Johnson was committed to TCU until his visit to Texas this past weekend.  Victor Irokansi (DL) becomes Johnson's rival as he is headed to Oklahoma State. Kingsley Ike (DE) is headed signed with Purdue while Kerrick Rhodes (DB) is also Midwest bound, signing with Kent State in Ohio. Reid Mitchell (TE) signed with Rice.  Campbellsville College in Kentucky signed three Hawks in James Potts (Punter), Will Ward (WR/DB), and Gabe Whitman (OL). Jordan Townes(DB) is headed to Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas.

Five-time defending champion Lake Travis High School had five of their seniors sign letters of intent. Receiver Griffin Gilbert is headed to TCU as they get ready for their first season in the Big 12.

"Its going to be a lot of fun, "said Gilbert. "It's definitely a new challenge for TCU to step up into a the Big 12 as a BCS conference, try to get a BCS bowl game every year and try to win a national championship and that's going to be our goal."

Gilbert's Lake Travis High School teammate Collin Lagasse is headed to Dallas. Lagasse was a do-everything player for the Cavaliers playing running back on offense, but will most likely play on the defensive side of the ball. Lagasse said that SMU was the first to contact him in the recruiting process. Lagasse is also looking forward to playing along side former UT quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who is expected to transfer to SMU. "It's going to be awesome; I never got a chance to play with him here and I'll get a chance to play with him there," said Lagasse. 

Other Lake Travis High School signee's include Tyler Paulsen (DE) to Eastern Illinois, Marshall Womack (OL) to Montana State and Blake Burdette (LB) signed with Midwestern State.

At Westwood High School, 12 athletes signed their letters of intent. Four are going to play football. Offensive lineman Ross Lodge is going to Louisiana Tech, defensive back James Ingram is going to Claremont McKenna College in California, linebacker Tyler Lewis will play at Hardin Simmons University in in Abilene, and defensive back Stephen Demauchet  is going to Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

Westwood's outstanding quarterback Ben Johnson is going to Texas, but he'll play for Augie Garrido's Longhorns; Johnson is an All-District outfielder.

Keirsten Howard has signed a volleyball scholarship at Jackson State Unviersity. 

Courtney Hall will play volleyball at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Ellen Stuart signed a volleyball scholarship to Lamar.

Westwood's Jordan Poole will play softball at The University of Chicago. Brent Aarons will swim at  Indiana University. In golf, Christine Lin, ranked fourth in her senior class, is going to Harvard, and Allie Agrella will play at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

At Hutto High School, quarterback Ryan Higgins signed to play at Louisiana Tech.

At Lago Vista High School, defensive lineman Donald Hopkins signed with the University of Houston. "It's a milestone because I never thought this would happen," said Hopkins. "I hope I get a lot of playing and hopefully to the NFL if things work out right."