FOOTBALL
Future collegiate athletes signBY COLLIN LOY ON FEBRUARY 21, 2014
“This is what I always hoped for when I came in as a freshman.” senior Christian Pleasant said on Signing Day.
National Signing Day 2014 took place on Wednesday, Feb. 5 of this year. This is the day for high school football players all across the country to officially commit and sign with the school they will be attending in the fall. This year, Rose had two football players sign to the schools of their choice. Senior Kentavius Street signed with North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Wolfpack is coached by head coach Dave Doeren. Doeren is in his second season at NC State, coming from Northern Illinois University. “I know all the guys in our recruiting class, so I’m looking forward to just restoring that chemistry that I had here at Rose and continuing greatness,” Street said. Street played defense throughout his Rose career. He participated in a number of combines, events where talented athletes show recruiters their specific skills, as well as the U.S. Army All-American game. He was born in Douglas, Georgia and attended Coffee High School, where he played weakside defensive end. Street moved to Greenville at the end of his sophomore year, and the story goes on from there. “Football is his life,” coach Bryan Wallen said. “So if he found a football field, he was on.” Christian Pleasant, another senior from Rose, signed on Signing Day as well. Pleasant signed with Campbell University, located in Buises Creek, North Carolina. The Fighting Camels will be coached by Carolina Panthers standout and Nebraska Hall of Famer, Mike Minter. This will be Minter’s first year as head coach at Campbell University, as Pleasant looks to compete on the field with the new head coach. Pleasant went to middle school at C.M. Eppes here in Greenville. He made the switch to Rose as a rising freshman and grew from there. He played in the 2014 Blue-Grey North South All-American Bowl in Tampa Bay, FL. Along with defensive linemen, Pleasant played linebacker, fullback and running back while attending Rose. “I got to watch Christian develop since he was an eighth grader,” Wallen said. “And even as an eighth grader you knew he was going to be something special.” The NCAA Division I school fielded their first football team back in 2008. Pleasant will join former Rose graduate of 2012, Jarrett Ozimek, who plays for the Fighting Camels as a punter and place kicker. “When I go to play at Campbell, I’m going to enjoy it, I’m going to be the best I can be, and have a great impact on the school.” Pleasant said. Street and Pleasant were among 16 other seniors graduating this year. The two played football their entire high school careers. The absence of them next year brings in the question of how the team will respond. “If you have a all-american on your football team that’s something else. But having two, we’re going to feel it.” Wallen said. “We’ve got guys coming back; they’re not going to be Kentavius; they’re not going to be Christian; they’re going to be their own players. As their own players, we’ll be just as successful.” Three other high schools in Pitt County had players from their respective schools sign with a college on Wednesday. From D.H. Conley, Drew Buck signed with Chowan University and Maleek Gorham signed with Fayetteville State University. South Central had three players sign to the colleges of their choice. Seth Stancil signed with Davidson University, while Jertaves Jenkins and Quantavis Williams also signed to their preferred college. Ayden Grifton’s Drew Turnange signed with East Carolina University. While these players have made their last impacts on the fields of Pitt County, they now have the opportunity to play at the next level. HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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