Four Charles Henderson football players sign scholarships on National Signing Day 

While mom was smiling, and dad was shaking hands with coaches, the four football players quietly stood to the side and talked amongst themselves.

Relief could be seen in the eyes of all four Trojan seniors, John Johnson, Sherrod Postell, Taderion Myhand and Hunter Kennedy.

With one quick swipe of a pen, and later on a fax, each one secured a spot on a college football team by inking a National Letter of Intent.

Johnson, the 2013 Messenger All-Area Player of the Year, is staying home and playing for Troy. Kennedy will blue shirt at UAB this fall, Postell is going to Miles College in Birmingham and Myhand will look for immediate playing time at West Alabama.

Johnson dominated defenses in 2013 rolling up nearly 1,800 yards of offense and scoring 37 touchdowns.

The soft-spoken receiver said one of the biggest factors in him choosing Troy is the offensive system of Kenny Edenfield.

“I’m a receiver, so it was kind of important to me to go to an air-out team,” Johnson said. “I really didn’t want to go a program that uses a Pro/I-back system. It was pretty important to me.”

Johnson played his entire high school career at Charles Henderson, which calls Veterans Memorial Stadium home.

And home is important to him.

“This is home,” Johnson said. “I feel like I fit in good with the program. I am looking forward to four great years in front of the people I grew up with.”

Kennedy, one of Johnson’s favorite offensive linemen, signed with Troy’s biggest rival, UAB.

Kennedy, all 6 feet 4 inches and 305 pounds of him, will “blue shirt” for the Blazers this fall, and will attempt to earn a football scholarship in 2015.

Kennedy possess a score of 31 on the ACT, and could have received a full ride to almost any school in the nation, but chose the Blazers because they offered him something more.

“By offering the football scholarship option, it let me know that they really wanted me,” said Kennedy. “I can get the academic money at a later time, so it will help me and my family out financially.”

Kennedy played tackle at Charles Henderson, but will most likely move to guard at the collegiate level. He feels the move won’t be too difficult, since he will be in a spread offensive system under new UAB offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent.

“I will just have to learn the new terminology,” Kennedy said. “The biggest thing will be learning the checks and calls, and what means what.”

Myhand was one of the leaders of the CHHS defense, and will take his talents to Livingston this fall.

Myhand picked off nine passes during his senior campaign, returning two for touchdowns.

Myhand’s athletic ability and knack for seemingly always being in the right spot at the right time will have him in the mix for playing time right off the bat.

“I feel like I fit well in their secondary,” said Myhand. “They lost a couple of safeties and corners, so I feel I can help them fill that gap from the start.”

Myhand racked up 88 tackles, four forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries to go along with his nine takeaways.

Postell, the unsung hero of the Trojans’ 2013 defense is excited to continue his football career at Miles College in Birmingham.

He was a force in the middle of the CHHS defense for the last two seasons and recorded 74 tackles, 17 for loss during his senior season.

He feels he fits well in Miles’ 3-4 scheme.

“They run a 3-4, and that is what I am used to,” Postell said. “I know what to expect in that spot, and I am ready to contribute. They lost some lineman, and I want to play.”