Recruiting: Midland ISD schools have a big day

MIDLAND With the end of high school in sight, three Midland High football players made plans for their futures Wednesday by signing letters of intent to continue their careers at the collegiate level on National Signing Day.

Safety Bedford Booth, offensive lineman Sydney Nwangwu and defensive lineman Cody Parker all put their names on the dotted line under the watchful eyes of parents, friends and Bulldogs head coach Craig Yenzer.

Booth signed with Yale University, Nwangwu signed at SMU with incoming coach June Jones and Parker will go north in Canyon to play for West Texas A&M, which finished as one of the top 10 teams in NCAA Division II last season.

“I’m really proud of these guys,” said Yenzer, who estimated the number of players moving on to play college football at 36 since he joined the program in 2002.

“They are continuing a strong tradition and it’s going to be fun following their careers in college and to have them representing Midland.”

Booth chose Yale after trips to the University of Virginia, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Princeton and Harvard.

He was on the field for the annual Harvard-Yale game — being recruited by both schools — when Harvard defeated the Bulldogs.

But Booth visited the New Haven, Conn., campus three times and came away knowing that the “student” in the student-athlete equation would be given high priority.

“I think that some of the other Division I schools say that academics has the same priority, but you know football is No. 1,” said Booth. “I was really happy after talking to the coaching staff and knowing that they understand what it takes to do well in school.

“Also, I like the fact that they have me slated to work at strong safety and I’m looking forward to helping out next season, at least on special teams. I realize that I’m not going to play in the NFL, but the academics will help me for the rest of my life.”

Nwangwu already knows his first year of college will be spent as a redshirt on the football field. He made that decision himself for the chance to get used to the college life, as well as continuing to get stronger to battle for a starting position on the offensive line.

A guard for the Bulldogs, Nwangwu knows he could be groomed for guard or tackle at the next level and either is fine.

“As long as I’m on the field, that’s what matters,” Nwangwu said.

SMU was a last-second option for Nwangwu, who thought that Texas Tech was in his future after attending a summer camp at the school and impressing the coaching staff. However, during the recruiting process, the Red Raiders signed another player at Nwangwu’s position and took the scholarship offer off the table.

“I went to SMU over the weekend and really liked the coaching staff and what they hope to do there,” Nwangwu said. “Coach Jones has a great reputation after what he did in Hawaii and I’m looking forward to helping get things turned around at SMU.”

>> REBELS SIGN: Midland Lee High had two players sign to play football next year.

Defensive lineman Josey Childs signed with Eastern New Mexico, while defensive back/punter Casey Forga will go to Abilene Christian University. Both schools are members of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference.

>> TWO ON THE PITCH: The Midland High girls soccer team had two players sign Division I deals Wednesday.

Forward Dawn Ward signed to play at Texas Tech, while midfielder Megan Reilly signed with Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.