Myrtle Beach's Golson, Rexroad "sign" with respective colleges

There was no drama, no last-second cap-switching and no restless college fan bases involved with this morning's college football signings at Myrtle Beach High School.

Former Seahawk quarterback Everett Golson and offensive lineman Jason Rexroad participated in a mostly for-show ceremony in the school's auditorium to signify their commitments to their respective colleges of choice. Golson, the record-setting signal-caller, is headed to Notre Dame; Rexroad is off to Middle Tennessee State. Each signed pieces of paper printed out by coach Mickey Wilson with their upcoming school's logos.

Both have fulfilled their requirements for high school graduation early and are enrolling for this semester's college courses, so neither will be around for the official signing day on February 2.

"It’s just a ceremony, but to me, it means more than that," Rexroad said. "It shows what me and Everett have done… what we’ve been able to do with each other. We won a couple state championships."

The two players' processes were very different. Rexroad committed early to MTSU and stuck with it, refusing even to take further recruiting visits during his senior season. Golson, meanwhile, switched from his original commitment to North Carolina -- a commitment he made last February -- and ultimately opted for the Fighting Irish.

Days after he made his final decision, Golson helped the Seahawks to their second South Carolina Class AAA state title in three seasons.

Much of the team's success the last three seasons came despite all the attention Golson garnered from college coaches and national recruiting sites. And even though he missed eight games as a senior with hand and foot injuries, he was named a finalist for Mr. Football.

"I don’t really think about all the awards I’ve achieved or the team’s achieved. You think about that bond," Golson said before adding how his teammates' support the last several months made his personal process easier. "They weren’t really like that [concerned with the attention]. They were down to earth."

Golson, had he stayed healthy his senior season, could have challenged several career national passing records. That time on the sideline, though, hasn't stopped coach Mickey Wilson from raving about his now former quarterback.

"It’s great for our school. It’s great for our community. It’s great for our football program," Wilson said. He’s a kid that’s going to represent us in a positive manner, no matter what, no matter what he chooses to do. … He’s going to be successful.

“One day, we’ll all tell stories about Everett Golson."

 

Both have fulfilled their requirements for high school graduation early and are enrolling for this semester's college courses, so neither will be around for the official signing day on February 2.

"It’s just a ceremony, but to me, it means more than that," Rexroad said. "It shows what me and Everett have done… what we’ve been able to do with each other. We won a couple state championships."

The two players' processes were very different. Rexroad committed early to MTSU and stuck with it, refusing even to take further recruiting visits during his senior season. Golson, meanwhile, switched from his original commitment to North Carolina -- a commitment he made last February -- and ultimately opted for the Fighting Irish.

Days after he made his final decision, Golson helped the Seahawks to their second South Carolina Class AAA state title in three seasons.

Much of the team's success the last three seasons came despite all the attention Golson garnered from college coaches and national recruiting sites. And even though he missed eight games as a senior with hand and foot injuries, he was named a finalist for Mr. Football.

"I don’t really think about all the awards I’ve achieved or the team’s achieved. You think about that bond," Golson said before adding how his teammates' support the last several months made his personal process easier. "They weren’t really like that [concerned with the attention]. They were down to earth."

Golson, had he stayed healthy his senior season, could have challenged several career national passing records. That time on the sideline, though, hasn't stopped coach Mickey Wilson from raving about his now former quarterback.

"It’s great for our school. It’s great for our community. It’s great for our football program," Wilson said. He’s a kid that’s going to represent us in a positive manner, no matter what, no matter what he chooses to do. … He’s going to be successful.

“One day, we’ll all tell stories about Everett Golson."