Friday, Feb. 08, 2008

Area Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

By Kevin Lonnquist

Staff Writer

Blake Cantu may hold the record as the Carroll football player who traveled the furthest to play Division I college football.

There are 2,132 miles that divide Southlake, Texas from Eugene, Ore., home of the University of Oregon. Cantu, a productive wide receiver for the Dragons, decided last summer that Oregon was the place for him.

For Cantu and other area football players, they saw dreams realized when they signd national letters of intent on Wednesday, affectionately referred to as National Signing Day.

The 2008 class for Northeast Tarrant and Southern Denton County was decent but not spectacular. Carroll had the most with five, including running back Tre Newton, who already has enrolled at Texas. Flower Mound had five, but arguably had the area’s most sought-after player in wide receiver James Hanna, who signed with the University of Oklahoma.

But it was soft in other areas. Unless something happens in the last few days, do not expect Marcus, Colleyville Heritage, Grapevine and Northwest to produce a Division I signee. At least, do not expect one on that day.