By Erik Harris
CLAY – For Clay-Chalkville head football coach Jerry Hood, it’s a little bittersweet watching his Class of 2016 sign on the dotted line.
Departing seniors like quarterback Ty Pigrome and wide receiver T.J. Simmons have helped the Cougars build a 29-1 overall record over the last two seasons. Their departure leaves Hood with some massive shoes to fill moving forward.
Pigrome, after receiving an abundance of college interest throughout January, honored the verbal commitment he made earlier in the day by signing with Maryland.
Pigrome’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Stuart Floyd, gave those in attendance a lesson on how good his former quarterback is by comparing him to Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton. Floyd pointed out that Newton scored 32 touchdowns as a senior at Westlake High School in Atlanta, Ga. Pigrome, on his way to winning the 2015 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year award, reached the end zone 62 times.
Simmons’ recruitment was decided long before National Signing Day. The standout receiver pledged with Alabama in February of 2015 and stayed true to his word for nearly 12 months. He has already joined the Crimson Tide as an early enrollees in Tuscaloosa.
“T.J. (Simmons) has handled his business in the classroom,” said Clay-Chalkville wide receivers coach Chris Mills. “He was able to finish his high school academic work back in December so he could enroll in the University of Alabama. He’s part of, yet again, the No. 1 signing class in the country at Alabama.”
Also signing football scholarships for Clay-Chalkville were offensive tackle Cole Garrison (Appalachian State), running backs A.J. Walker (Tulane) and Brandon Berry (Reinhardt), defensive lineman Cole Baker (Delta State) and twins Armoni and Amari Holloway (Alabama A&M). center Greg Fecanin will serve as a walk-on at UAB.
“Every good offensive line has what we call an anchor and Greg (Fecanin) was definitely that guy,” said Clay-Chalkville offensive line coach Odeb Ellis. “He’s not a guy you replace.”
“(Baker) did an outstanding job for us. It started in the spring, it continued in the summer and in the fall he just took it to a totally different level,” said defensive line coach Curtis Coleman. “I’m very proud of his accomplishment this year and think Delta State University is getting a real gem.”
Kardasia Hitchcock signed a volleyball scholarship with Stony Brook University. She is the only Cougar in program history to deliver over 1,000 career kills and scoop up over 1,000 digs.
“Kardasia (Hitchcock) is one of the most passionate, hard-working players that I have ever had the pleasure of coaching,” said Clay-Chalkville volleyball coach Natasha Brown.
Thomas Johns inked his name down with UAB on a baseball scholarship, and first-year Cougar baseball coach Chris Tinsley had this to say about his senior: “I couldn’t ask for a better young man to coach. He is the definition of a team player. He’s the first one to practice and the last one out the door.”
From the softball diamond, Madison Cole chose to continue her career at West Point Military Academy. According to softball coach Scott Robertson, Cole led his team in homeruns and doubles while finishing second on the team with eight triples last season.
Golfer Jaycy Nail signed with Faulkner State Community College. With her decision, she is now the first Clay-Chalkville girls golfer to sign a college scholarship. Nail worked her way to a county championship as a seventh, eighth, tenth and 11th grader for the Cougars.
Erik Harris is the Sports Editor for the Trussville Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @jeharris2 or email him at jmseharris2@gmail.com.