American Heritage’s Torrance Gibson sticks with Ohio St. commitment

While many football players around the country changed their minds on their college choices at the last minute, several of the top prospects in Broward County had their minds made up before National Signing Day began.

Plantation American Heritage, the two-time Class 5A state champions, had a stellar senior class highlighted by quarterback Torrance Gibson and defensive back Tarvarus McFadden.

Each had been rumored to be considering other last-minute offers. But on Wednesday morning each stuck to the schools they had committed to, as Gibson signed with Ohio State and McFadden inked a letter of intent to Florida State.

Gibson had been so secretive about his signing prior to Wednesday that even his coach, Mike Rumph, said he didn’t know what his final decision would be.

“I made the final decision a few days ago,” said Gibson, who threw for 1,953 yards, 21 touchdowns and three interceptions and ran for 1,002 yards and 13 scores as a senior. “I talked it over with my family. I think Ohio State is the right place for me.”

Wearing a red bowtie and suspenders, Gibson made the announcement in front of teammates, family and friends in his school auditorium shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday.

McFadden, a 6-2, 198-pound five-star cornerback and fellow U.S. Army All-American, never wavered on his commitment to FSU. He and Gibson highlighted a group of 12 football signees for the Patriots.

“Florida State was just the place I wanted to be,” McFadden said. “Florida State only recruits the best. They’re recruiting great players out of South Florida. Personally, I feel South Florida has the best talent around. I’m excited about the opportunity to go play for national championships.”

HUGE CLASS

Once running back Jordan Scarlett and cornerback Damon Arnette made up their minds Monday night, it ended any suspense as far as the St. Thomas Aquinas senior class’ decisions were concerned.

Scarlett (5-11, 220 pounds), who announced his commitment to the University of Florida on Monday, signed with the Gators on Wednesday, as did offensive lineman Richerd Desir-Jones. The two were among an impressive 17 football signees and 52 athletes overall spanning 11 sports.

“I feel great. I feel like I made a really great decision [signing with Florida],” said Scarlett, who had been committed to the University of Miami since July before his choice to go to Gainesville.

“It was a little hard just dealing with the whole process of, ‘Which school is going to be better? Are you making the right decision?’ I feel like I just made the best choice.”

Arnette, a 6-2, 185-pound cornerback and once a South Carolina commit, also switched to Ohio State on Monday and signed with the reigning national champion Buckeyes on Wednesday.

▪ Flanagan linebacker Adrienne Talan legitimately struggled with his choice until the waning moments of his school’s ceremony Wednesday — as in “10 to 15 minutes” before it was time to hit the stage.

When it was finally time, Talan chose Nebraska over Pittsburgh, TCU and Temple.

“The thing I love about Nebraska is the tradition they have and the facilities — everything I need will be right there for me,” said Talan, who had 83 tackles and 13 sacks in his senior season. “My coach that I’ve built a relationship with [linebackers coach Trent Bray, who went from Oregon State to Nebraska this offseason] … He told me just to stay with him through the process, and he got the job at Nebraska, and I went.”

▪ Miramar had 10 players sign, including Tyrek Cole and Jovon Durante, whom each continued the Patriots’ pipeline to West Virginia.

But wide receiver Khalil Lewis surprised some by choosing to go to Cincinnati over West Virginia.

Miramar had three more players sign with Football Bowl Subdivision schools — wide receivers Jeffery Hill (Northern Illinois) and Herbert Miller (FAU), and offensive lineman Leeward Brown (Tulane).

Miami Herald sportswriter Manny Navarro and David Furones contributed to this report.

This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 9:43 PM with the headline "American Heritage’s Torrance Gibson sticks with Ohio St. commitment."