Video: Twelve Central players sign, including six to Division I schools

It was a banner day at Central High School on Wednesday and defensive back John Broussard came home to celebrate with his teammates.

One by one, 12 Central Red Devils signed with colleges on national signing day. Most of them were foregone conclusions -- like Broussard.

He has passed up his last semester at Central to enroll at Auburn. Wednesday as he high school teammates were dressed in coats and ties, Broussard was back in his old stomping grounds wearing his new Auburn sweatsuit.

“It feels really good to see all of my friends,” said Broussard, who led Central to Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 7A state semifinals. “They have all supported me and I wanted to come back and support them.”

Broussard was a first-team All-Bi-City selection as a senior and was listed as a four-star recruit and the No. 27 cornerback in the country, according to 247sports’ composite rankings.

It was a nearly hour-long parade of players signing as their family, friends, pastors and in one case personal trainer stood behind them in support.

Broussard was one of four Central players to sign with major colleges. Jamal Couch, a 6-foot-5, 217-pound wide receiver, signed with Mississippi State. Couch had originally committed to Florida State, but turned the Bulldogs a couple of weeks ago and held firm.

“I am just ready to get it over with,” Couch said.

Two of the top high school players in the Columbus region also made it official that they were going to play Division I. All-Bi-City offensive player of the year Quan Weaver with Southern Miss and All-Bi-City defensive player of the year Walter Pritchett with Troy.

Pritchett, perhaps, had the best perspective of the day. He has battled through injuries and said he was blessed to be signing.

“This is really not about where you go,” he said. “It is about going somewhere and getting your education paid for.”

Weaver said he felt comfortable with Southern Miss from the outset.

“They were the first school to recruit me,” he said. “And from the first time I visited, it felt like home.”

Defensive back Darius King, an honorable mention selection on the All-Bi-City team, signed with Alabama State, first-team All-Bi-City defensive lineman Toron Morten with Tennessee Tech, and Other signees at the ceremony included: J’Lan Carson, Faulkner, Jacorey Jones, Point University, Nic Lewis, Point University, Preston Loving, Point University, and Daveon Ward, Point University, Dru Daniel, Point.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Video: Twelve Central players sign, including six to Division I schools."