The hits just keep on rolling in South Tampa. On Wednesday at Plant High’s Auditorium, ten players from the Panthers Squad announced their intentions to play ball at the next level. In a modest, yet intimate setting amongst family and friends the boys gathered on stage and began one by one rattling off their decisions. There were smiles, tears, a few laughs, and hugs all around for each one of the players after their moment of recognition and brief highlight package. Some didn’t even have highlights, but that was not what mattered since there wasn’t a whole lot of proof needed on behalf of these young men to show the kind of character and skills necessary to continue their journey’s at the next level. It was quite obvious all of them were ready.
Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana was the biggest winner on the day with three Panthers signing on to play at the school. Tight End Tyrell Mills, WR Thornton Watson, and the “heart and soul” of the Panthers Defense Linebacker Matt Suarez, who fought back the emotions in front of friends and family.
“This is a pretty emotional day. I got a little choked up when it was my turn to speak. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point. I just want to thank the Lord and my family and all the coaches at Plant for helping me to get to this point and get ready to be the best I can be.” said Suarez.
Other signees included CB Eric Patterson who is off to Muncie, Indiana to play for the for Division 1 Ball State Cardinals out of the Mid-American Conference. Running Back Calvin Mann will be taking his talents to Franklin, Massachusetts (between Providence & Boston) to play for Dean College while DL Tupou Aleamotua will head west to Santa Clarita, CA in the northern Los Angeles County Area to play for the College of the Canyons.
CB Ronnie Singleton will be a resident of Tiffin, Ohio this Fall when he straps it up to play for Heidelberg University, while DL Wadensky Estimphile will pack his stuff and head up to Quincy, Illinois to become a member of the Quincy University Football Program. “I like being cold, so the weather change won’t bother me one bit. I’m excited, man. Yes, sir, I’m ready to roll!” said Estimphile with a ear-to-ear smile and sporting undoubtedly one of the greatest names in Hillsborough County football lore.
Florida State and Florida Atlantic will also receive some “Panther Pride” in the form of walk-ons DL Devin Zinkosky and Long Snapper Trevor Fowlow respectively. Zinkosky will keep heralded signee James Wilder company, who was in attendance with teammate Philip Ely who was back from Tuscaloosa on Summer Break. Both of them were front-and-center cheering on their teammates that helped them along the way as well.