But in the end, Killeen offensive lineman Rhontae Scales never wavered from a verbal commitment he made his junior year. He never even thought about it.
Scales was steadfast in his commitment to Texas A&M and Wednesday afternoon he made that commitment official by signing his NCAA letter of intent with the Aggies.
“Texas Tech is the only school that really came after me (after I committed to A&M),” Scales said. “I told my coach, ‘If any schools call, just tell them it’s a pretty done deal. I am going to A&M.’”
Thoughts of playing for Big 12 champion Oklahoma or previously No. 2-ranked Texas Tech might have been tempting to Scales after watching the Aggies go 4-8 last year.
But the record indicates one stark reality - the Aggies needed help and need players to come in and make an immediate impact. They feel the 6-6, 300-pound Scales can do that.
“Rhontae is a big, good-looking athlete,” A&M coach Mike Sherman said. “I really believe this - you build your team in many ways around the offensive line because they have to be the enforcers in the locker room. They’re the ones that carry out the mission of the coach. I’ve never been on a good team that didn’t have a really good offensive line.”
Scales and his teammates made a major impact this season for Killeen as the Kangaroos went four rounds deep into the Class 4A Division I playoffs, despite starting a sophomore at quarterback.
“I think he was nervous at first,” Scales said of quarterback Michael Cummings, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards. “Then we showed him this is how we do things. We pretty much have things under control. And the running game was the strong point of our offense.”
Scales enjoyed signing day with two of his line mates. Center Sylvester Rawlings verbally committed to play at Division III Howard Payne and tackle Craig Watts signed with Division II West Texas A&M.
“It’s a shame to lose them,” Killeen coach Sam Jones said. “We’ve had them three years and hopefully they’ve set a foundation for Killeen football. We’ve been blessed with size, but the skill makes the difference. These guys were able to move and that’s why the colleges came in. They pick the 6-5, 300-pounders who can move. That’s the whole key.
“I am real proud of the offensive line we’ve had the least three years and now we have to go back to work and see what kind of coaches we really are.”
Defensive linemen Terry Mathison also signed, opting to go to Trinity Valley Community College.
That foursome led a strong contingent of Killeen-area signees.
From Ellison, Daniel Cobb -a two-way starter for the Eagles - signed with Texas Tech, where he will focus on playing safety. Defensive back Jay Jackson committed to Division III Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton and defensive lineman La’Darrius Jackson committed to Howard Payne.
At Shoemaker, wide receiver Derrick Mays signed with Texas Tech. Fellow receiver M.J. Porter is headed to Cisco Junior College and center Jonathon Player is headed for Trinity Valley.
Harker Heights had receiver C.J. Akins sign with Division II Angelo State. Tackle Jeff Burden and defensive end Nick Hall committed to Mary Hardin-Baylor and offensive linemen Zion Fraysier committed to Division III Hardin-Simmons.
Copperas Cove defensive back Chris Miller signed with Air Force. Rashad Hardy and Ken Smith both opted to go to Blinn College and A.J. Mackey signed with Angelo State.
Elsewhere, Rockdale linebacker Nic Hammett signed with Rice. Hammett had received interest from several schools, including Stanford, Oklahoma State and Baylor. But once Rice put an offer on the table last May, Hammett - a Class 3A Texas Sportswriters first team all-state selection - made the decision to go there because of the school’s high academic standards.
Bartlett’s Garcia commits to UMHB
BARTLETT - The opportunity to play college football was something Kevin Garcia had always hoped for.
“It’s been a dream,” he said.
But it wasn’t until Wednesday, when Garcia committed to attend and play at Mary Hardin-Baylor, that those dreams became reality.
For Garcia, who considered NCAA Division II schools Abilene Christian and Tarleton State, among others, the decision simply came down to being able to stay close to home.
“I’ll be closer to family,” said Garcia, who plans to major in accounting. “The size is not too big and it has a Christian environment, too.”
Garcia will also have a chance to play for a program that’s been among Division III’s best in recent years. The Crusaders have advanced to the playoffs in five straight seasons and won or shared the American Southwest Conference title in four consecutive years.
UMHB was 12-2 last season and fell to eventual runner-up Wisconsin-Whitewater in a national semifinal.
The 6-0, 225 Garcia is expected to play either linebacker or defensive end for UMHB.
Garcia totaled 200 tackles, including 43 solo, for Bartlett at linebacker. He averaged 20 tackles per game in District 26-A for a defense that allowed just 14 points.
Those numbers helped Garcia compile an impressive list of awards after leading the Bulldogs to a 7-4 record and their first playoff berth in four seasons.
Garcia was a first-team all-state selection by the Texas Sports Writers Association and was a second-team pick by the . He also earned the Telegram’s Class 3A-and-under Defensive Player of the Year award and 26-A’s Defensive MVP.
Bartlett coach Joe Mullins has no doubt Garcia can duplicate the kind of success he had as a Bulldog in a Crusader uniform.
“He’ll work hard, he sets goals, works towards those goals,” he said. “I think he’s going to do great over there. It’s a good fit.”
mhood@temple-telegram.com
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
