Lake City football, baseball players sign Letters of Intent

LAKE CITY — Three Lake City High School football players and one baseball player joined players across the country on Wednesday in signing National Letters of Intent to play college sports next season.

Lineman Domanic Wilson signed to play with South Carolina State University; defensive back and kick returner Sheldon Robinson signed with Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan.; and lineman Tyler McClam signed with Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.

First baseman Zach Holt signed with the University of South Carolina Sumter.

Wednesday was National Signing Day, the first day high school football players can officially sign with the colleges of their choice.

“These young men are excellent athletes who will become great assets for their respective college teams,” Lake City head football coach Justin Gentry said of his football players. “They have dedicated themselves to reach their potential. Most importantly, they are fine young men with integrity and character. As a coach, they exemplify the type of players you want in your athletic program and your school.”

Wilson, at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 265 pounds, graded out at 89 percent last season, which is the way coaches evaluate a lineman’s performance based on technique and assignments. He was named to the All-Region Team after the 2009 season.

South Carolina State University, with whom Wilson signed, won its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship last season. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked eighth in The Sports Network’s Football Championship Subdivision final poll after losing to Appalachian State in the first round of the Football Championship Series playoffs.

Robinson was named to the Shrine Bowl after a stellar senior season that included 55 total tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four tackles for loss. He also rushed for 628 yards and 11 touchdowns along with 141 yards. He made two touchdowns receiving and five scores on special teams.

One of the fastest players in the state, Robinson is known for his versatility as a force on offense, defense, and as a kickoff/punt returner. Robinson, at 5 feet 8 inches and 170 pounds, was also named to the All-Region Team, the WPDE All Zone Team, the Morning News All Area Team and the High School Sports Report’s All State Team.

Robinson signed with the Butler Community College Grizzlies, whose football team has finished the past 12 seasons ranked in the top 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association national poll. The team has the longest such streak of any team in the nation. Butler won national championships in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2008, and the team finished first in the poll for each of those seasons.

The Campbell University Camels, with whom McClam signed, led the Pioneer Football League in rushing last season and ranked 13th nationally with 189.73 yards a contest. Individually, the Camels had three of the top 11 rushers in the conference.

McClam, at 6 feet 4 inches and 260 pounds, graded out at 92 percent for the year for the Panthers. He was named to the All-Region Team, the WPDE All Zone Team and the Morning News All Area Team.

Holt used National Signing Day to ink his name to a Letter of Intent to play baseball for USC Sumter. The senior first baseman holds a career .300 batting average.

Panthers head baseball coach Matt Apicella said Holt will be a great addition to USC Sumter’s program.

“Zach is classic cleanup hitter,” Apicella said. “He is a team player, an excellent leader and an outstanding student.”