Seven Eagles celebrated for signing college scholarships on Thursday
Published 5:01 pm Thursday, February 8, 2018
Goshen High School held a ceremony Thursday afternoon to honor the seven student athletes that signed national letters of intent.
Six football players in Damion Passmore, Zack Alford, Dawson Hamlin, Iyan Hinkle, Quentin Daniels and Devin Bell were honored while volleyball player Jada Hall was also recognized.
“They have earned the opportunity to further their education at the next level,” said Goshen Athletic Director and head football coach Bart Snyder. “They get to participate in a sport that they dedicated themselves to over the last several years. We thank them for the hard work they have done on the athletic surfaces.”
After having a career senior season, Eagles wide receiver Zack Alford signed a scholarship to attend Alabama State University.
“I have been wanting to play for a college for a long time,” Alford said. “I have my chance now.”
The short trip to Montgomery was an instant selling point for Alford.
“It’s not far from here and they are a good school,” Alford said. “I just wanted to go there.”
Damion Passmore will be able to keep in contact with his Eagle teammate, as he will be heading to Huntsville to play for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs.
“I have been waiting for this my whole life,” Passmore said. “This has been my dream. Today is important for me because it’s another stage of life.”
Passmore will line up as a running back and be a kick returner. He looks forward to playing Alford and the Hornets.
“We will beat Alabama State this year,” Passmore said. “It’s fun. To see him every time of the year that we play them, it’s going to be a great game.”
Eagle kicker Dawson Hamlin expected a rollercoaster of a senior season. The senior came to Goshen after playing his first years with Zion Chapel. Thursday’s ceremony put a bow on a fun year.
“It really does mean a lot to have the support of such a great, close-knit community and fantastic teammates,” Hamlin said. “I thought it was going to be a rollercoaster, but it turned out to be really smooth because of the support of the team. Right when I walked in, it was open arms.”
The recruiting process was hectic for Hamlin, but the end result was more than worth it.
“That is exactly where God wants me,” Hamlin said. “I haven’t thought twice about it since. The coaching staff was phenomenal. They have fantastic facilities and they recruit character before talent. They have quality people down there.”
Hinkle will be heading south to attend Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
“I am happy,” Hinkle said.” All the hard work paid off on the field. It’s a Christian college, which is a plus. I fit in their program.”
Hinkle has high dreams and aspirations while being a member of the Fire.
“I want to set records,” Hinkle said. “I want to be one the greatest players that have gone through there. Their program is fairly new. I think this is their fifth season. I want to set some records.”
Quentin Daniels will be heading to Mobile to attend Gulf Coast Prep School.
“It’s a blessing,” Daniels said. “I have been dreaming about this my whole life and it finally came true.”
Daniels has been in constant contact with his new coaches and they have gotten him up to speed about the team and the school.
“I have talked to the defensive coordinator and he has given me a lot of good information,” Daniels said. “He told me a lot of good things are going to happen and that I have a good future.”
The five Eagle football players that signed this week join fellow Eagle Devin Bell to sign a college scholarship this year. Bell signed with Western Kentucky in December.
“It was really good,” Hall said. “I liked the team, it was a great experience.”
It wasn’t just football players signing on Thursday; volleyball player Hall was honored for signing with Talladega College. Hall got the call after a successful tryout.
“I have had Jada Hall since the seventh grade,” said head coach Amy Warrick. “Jada has been a blessing. She is a true team player and she will play anywhere that I put her. She was a wonderful kid to coach.”