6 Patriots ink on National Signing Day

Kanyetta Griffin is still preparing herself for the eventual goodbye.

Kanyetta watched her son, Ellender Memorial High School Safety Daquirs Griffin, sign his letter of intent to play football at East Mississippi Community College at today’s ceremony at Ellender. She recalled the long recruiting process, noting Daquirs had 21 offers to consider, telling her son the decision was ultimately up to him. While Daquirs prepares to head to Scooba, MS, about four-and-a-half hours from Houma, his mother is grappling with her oldest child leaving the nest.

“It was kind of tough because he’s my first one, and letting him loose was hard for me,” Kenyatta said.

Daquirs was one of six Ellender students signing letters of intent to play college football at today’s ceremony on National Signing Day. He described signing day as a relief, noting he was constantly receiving calls and texts from coaches once Ellender’s season ended. Daquirs said he chose East Mississippi from his multitude of offers because of the welcoming nature of the program.

“When I went there, it felt like a home to me. All the coaches felt like they were going to be close, like I was going to get better, be a better person out there,” Daquirs said.

Most of the other players signing today also attributed their choices to how comfortable the schools made them, either by showing dedicated interest or offering a good situation to come into. Desmond Myles, headed to Texas A&T to play either defensive end or middle linebacker, said his attraction to the school went beyond the football field.

“I went up there, talked to the coaches and what not, you know, I liked the atmosphere. The coaching staff, academic wise – everything was good. I feel like it’s a good fit for me,” Myles said.

Myles said signing that letter felt great, noting the doubts he felt as injuries threatened his future in football.

“It feels like everything that I worked for finally paid off. After going through shoulder surgeries and what not, you feel like there wouldn’t be a chance, and I finally got a shot,” Myles said.

Arvie Rice is headed to Butler Community College to play receiver. He said Butler’s dedication to his academics was what sold him on heading all the way to El Dorado, KS, for college.

“They showed me they was more a community than just a team,” Rice said. “It was a lot of supporters and they was helping me like other than football, they helping to get like my college stuff to not interfere [with football]. Other colleges were like just helping me with football stuff,” Rice said.

Rice said the beginning of his recruiting process was hard, as he wasn’t receiving any offers. However, later in the process coaches and other players who had received offers started helping him in finding offers, which ultimately led to his commitment to Butler.

“At first, it was going kind of slow, I ain’t see nothing coming. I thought I was going to have to be a walk-on, but then it started coming in later in the recruiting,” Rice said.

Rice won’t be the only Patriot in Kansas next year saying “We’re not in Terrebonne anymore,” though. Montae Smitherman is going to play safety at Hutchinson Community College, which is in the same conference as Rice’s Butler, but another conference foe helped Montae make his decision. According to Montae, he chose Hutchinson because they’ve been losing to their rivals Garden City Community College the past few years, and he wants to prove something with the underdog team. He hopes to prove something not only on a team level but also on a personal level.

“I’m just going there and try to do my best, prove myself for everybody that doubted me,” Montae said.

Montae’s mother, Lee Smitherman, has a bit more experience than Kanyetta in saying goodbye, as two of her children have already left the house. However, she acknowledged her son is going to be a way’s away, and she’s tussling with his friends to get as much time with him before he moves.

“We’re going to go drive out there and visit the campus. Give him plenty hugs and kisses before we leave,” Lee said.

Both Lee and Kanyetta hope their sons can take the next step and transfer to a Division I college football team after two years or so at their current stops. They said the key to achieving that will be them keeping their minds on the reason they made such a big move.

“I hope he just keeps his mind focus on business. That’s what he’s going out there for. Keep his mind on his education and his future,” Lee said.

One state over will be Jake Lagarde, who signed to play as an edge defender at Missouri Baptist Community College. Lagarde also chalked up his commitment to MBCC showing him a lot of love through the recruiting process. While he’s already got plans to put his name on the map next year, today’s event was a culmination of years of hard work.

“[Signing Day] felt good, man. I been dreaming of this since I was a freshman, and to actually do it, it just feels amazing,” Lagarde said.

The player going the furthest distance and the highest level of football is Davontavean Martin, Ellender’s star wide receiver who is going to play Pac-12 football at Washington State University. Martin, who fielded offers from a number of other schools such as Missouri, Louisiana Tech and Virginia, said he is headed to Pullman, WA, because of their hard recruiting and the pass-happy, high-powered offense the Cougars employ.

“Coach [Mike] Leach, with the Air Raid offense, man, it’s just appealing. It’s a good offense to be in,” Martin said.

Martin said the lush, hilly scenery in Pullman is beautiful, even when covered in snow. While the winters and terrain won’t be so similar to South Louisiana, Martin is confident he’ll be able to adjust.

“I mean, it’s cold out there, but it’s not our type of cold, you know, wind blowing and you’re shivering. It’s like a dry cold. But it’s all right. I’ll get used to it,” Martin said.

Ellender Head Coach and Athletic Director David McCormick, who just finished his first year season with the team, said the players heading far and wide won’t be an issue for them. He credited the signees, and the team’s entire senior class, with being able to embrace the change in the program he instilled upon taking over. According to McCormick, as long as his former players remember to pack their work ethics when they make the trip, the rewards should come down the line.

“It’s good for them to get out of the little bubble they’ve been living in and go see how things are done in other parts of the country. They’re going to be spread out,” McCormick said. “As long as they keep that dedication and hard work that they had over here, they’re going to see success at whatever level they’re playing at.”

The Ellender head coach would love to see his players make all-conference teams and get conference championships at the next level, with some even making it to the NFL in an ideal world. However, McCormick said the main victory at college won’t happen between the end zones.

“Get their degree and excel. Like I said, I know the hard work ethic that these kids got. If they carry that over to whatever level they’re at, they’re going to see success,” McCormick said.

(left to right, sitting down) Jake Lagarde, Arvie Rice, Montae Smitherman, Daquirs Griffin, Davontavean Martin and Desmond Myles signed their letters of intent to play college football today. The six Ellender Patriots are going to places as close as Mississippi and far as Washington state.

KARL GOMMEL | THE TIMES