Congratulations And Let The Signings Begin

HOUSTON COUNTY – One of the biggest days on the sports calendar finally came around on Wednesday, allowing athletes across the country to sign their National Letter of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Three Houston County athletes were among the thousands that signed on Wednesday, each looking to continue their careers.
Crockett’s Dominique Wheeler, along with Lovelady’s Will Yeager and Taylor Therwhanger each inked their signatures on Wednesday morning, looking to continue their careers at the next level.
Wheeler, the Bulldogs standout wide receiver, who also earned US Army All-American honors this year, signed his letter of intent to play at Texas Tech University. Wheeler joins a Red Raider recruiting class that was ranked by ESPN as the #21 class in the nation, with Wheeler being called their best prospect signed.
For Wheeler, it is the end of a long recruiting process, but the wide receiver said, “It feels pretty good to going on to the next level, playing four-years of hard-nosed football and then moving on to a good football college, Texas Tech, that’s where I belong”
The jump from 2A to Division I football isn’t an easy jump but for now Wheeler said, “It feels pretty good coming out of a small town going to big places, it makes my town proud, and the community knows that I’m doing good, and I just want to make the city of Crockett proud.”
As for the competition that he will face, Wheeler said, “It will be a challenge, everyone will have good athletes and it will be the best of the best going at it,” Wheeler feels he can step in and play early to help contribute adding, “If I just get in there and work to get bigger and stronger, I think I can play early.”
Wheeler had offers from numerous other colleges including Baylor, Auburn, TCU, and Texas, but Wheeler was drawn to Texas Tech because, “They just made me feel like home, the coaches, the players, make me feel like family. They also throw the ball a lot which fits my position well.”
Bulldogs Head Coach Paul Parsons was very happy for his receiver saying, “He is a rare talent, you know what you get, and what you get is what a very few people have. He can make good adjustments, he has good hands, and he has breakaway speed. Even with all of that it is his ability to make people miss once he has the ball in his hands that make him a special talent. He has an opportunity to play Division I, to play in the Big 12 and we will see how it goes. We’re excited for him.”
Yeager, an all district performer the past three years for the Lions, inked his commitment to play at Henderson State University (AR). Once there, the intimidating Yeager will play on the Reddies defensive unit as a defensive end. Yeager plans to major in Pre-Optometry and then move on to med school.
As for finally signing and ending the recruiting process, Yeager said that, “It feels pretty good, feels like getting a monkey off my back.”
Yeager, who was recruited by many other schools, picked Henderson State because, “They have a really good program with a winning tradition, and I just wanted to go up there and be part of something great.”
Once at the school, Yeager is looking forward to the Reddies rivalry game against Ouachita Baptist, in what is billed the Battle for the Ravine, as well as the excellent duck hunting nearby their Arkadelphia, Arkansas campus.
Therwhanger, a four-year starter for the Lions, and one of the top playmakers in east Texas will continue his playing days at Trinity Valley Community College. From there Therwhanger hopes that he can move forward and continue playing at a four-year university.
According to Therwhanger the process has, “Been fun, but it has been different than I thought, visiting the schools and all of that stuff,” but actually signing his National Letter of Intent, “Feels good and refreshing.”
Therwhanger was drawn to TVCC because, “They have a great program, I like all of the coaches, all of the players, and like the overall program in general.”
Therwhanger will join the Cardinals as a quarterback, but will have to adjust to the college game saying, “It will be faster, everything will be faster and harder,” but Therwhanger feels confident, however that he can make the adjustments and succeed at the next level.
As for signing with a teammate, Therwhanger said, “It’s awesome, since junior high we have been playing together and it’s just good to sign with a friend and a teammate.”
Lions Head Coach Kerry Therwhanger was happy for the duo saying, “It’s great for them, and these kids have worked hard and are probably the two guys that spent the most time over the summer. They have been together starting for us, Taylor for four years, and Will for three years, and it just means the world to me as their coach for these guys to continue to play at the next level. They get the chance that every little kid dreams of and now the opportunity is up to them to go make the most of it.”