Florida A&M, Valdosta State football focused on local talent on National Signing Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Quinn Gray just wrapped up his first National Signing Day as head coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers, and their mindset?

“Our approach towards recruiting is a strategic one with making sure that we own and try to try to make sure that we take take back what’s rightfully ours, and that’s the state of Florida.”

They made good on that goal, signing big names from across the Big Bend and South Georgia.

Quarterback Jaylen Johnson is one of those guys. He led Thomas County Central to an undefeated season and a state championship. Florida High’s Jaylan Lurry will also play on the Highest of Seven Hills, who was the Seminoles first one thousand yard receiver in thirty years.

The Rattlers announced 22 new players between high school signees and college transfers, with more expected in the coming days.

Gray said his recruiting team was focused on adding athletic guys with a championship pedigree.

“Our coaching staff has done a really good job of being able to round up talent that will help us hopefully take this thing to championship level,” he said. “The ability to get some homegrown talent as well as some talent from in and around the state of Florida has been tremendous for us. They got family in the Big Bend area that’s going to want to come see them play and hopefully that’ll add to us securing some more season tickets and things like that because all of that stuff matters, right?”

Valdosta State also made it their mission to sign quality athletes, especially at the high school level, something head coach Graham Craig, who’s entering his second season noted the Blazers had strayed away from.

Valdosta State signed 37 high school athletes on Wednesday, a number that includes Valdosta quarterback Tyrieke Wade, Thomas County Central tight end Camden Godwin, and Lincoln defensive lineman Jaylin Parrish. Craig said keeping kids at home was another big priority, and they did that.

“We started with a plan last year to start here and work out. There’s so much good football in this area and we wanted to make sure that we evaluated every kid in this area and I think we did a really good job of that,” he said. “A lot of those guys knew a lot about Valdosta State going into it. They wanted to be able to stay home and have their family see them play and also have the chance to compete for championships. It was a really good fit for a lot of those kids.”

To see a full list of signees from National Signing Day, click here.

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