Seven Flanagan players sign with FBS schools on National Signing Day

Dredrick Snelson sat almost in the corner waiting patiently as 20 other Flanagan athletes — including 14 of his football teammates — announced their college destinations.

And then it was his turn.

After waiting roughly half an hour, the Under Armour All-American announced he was not leaving the state of Florida.

Snelson picked up a UCF cap among a trio of hats that included Penn State and Maryland and signed the papers making him a member of the Knights’ 2016 signing class.

“I feel like I can go in and do some big things with the UCF program,” Snelson said. “I’m just a believer in Coach [Scott] Frost and what I think he can do to turn things around.”

Snelson, who caught five touchdown passes this season, will be part of the rebuilding effort at UCF — a program that went 0-12 this past season — under new coach Frost.

Snelson was an integral part of Flanagan’s first-ever state football championship this past season.

“Penn State is a great school with a great academic tradition but I just felt more comfortable at UCF,” Snelson said.

Flanagan coach Devin Bush, whose son Devin Jr. has already enrolled at the University of Michigan, watched as two more of his top defensive standouts the past few years — Devin Gil and Josh Metellus — signed with the Wolverines.

Wide receiver Jahcour Pearson signed with Western Kentucky, all-purpose standout Jahvari Bourdeau signed with Army and quarterback Kato Nelson signed with Akron to round out the group of seven Falcons to sign with FBS schools.

Also signing for Flanagan were: Kassy Desir (Albany), Dennis Jackson (Lindenwood), Rocco Marucci (Albany), Natrone Ray (Florida Tech), Tyler Peppers (Florida Tech), Keith Coffee (East Tennessee State), Isaiah Murray (Livingstone), Tyler Goetz (Livingstone), Angel Trujillo (Livingstone) and Nikolai Jahghai (Northern Iowa).

Flanagan also had star girls’ basketball player Mikiah Harrington sign with South Carolina.

Four baseball players signed — Dylan O’Connell (FAU), Eric Rivera (FAU), Peter Moforis (Palm Beach Atlantic) and Nick McDonald (Alabama State).

Soccer standout Tyler Babb signed with Arkansas Pine Bluff.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Seven Flanagan players sign with FBS schools on National Signing Day."