PREP PLAYERS TO PEN COLLEGE COMMITMENTS

The first day high school football stars around the country can officially sign letters of intent to attend college is today and several area student-athletes are expected to be signing on the dotted line this morning.

Both Jackson and Cape Central will have three student-athletes prepared to officially declare their intent to continue their athletic and academic careers, including one that will be signing with a major Division I program.

Jackson offensive lineman J.P. Hall, a 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, had previously given the University of Missouri an oral commitment and he is expected to sign with the Tigers today following their resurgence to a bowl game this past season.

Southeast Missouri State University will be keeping two of Hall's teammates close to home as 6-1, 200-pound running back Devree Flint and 6-2, 215-pound lineman Kent Langston will be signing with the Division I-AA Indians.

Central signees are expected to be linebacker-fullback Tatum Kitchen, running back Justin Blackmon and punter-tight end Gabe Wunderlich. All have already given oral commitments to different colleges, with Kitchen waiting until late Tuesday night to give Southeast the nod.

The 6-2, 215-pound Kitchen had received some late interest from a couple of major programs and was wavering a bit on his decision. But he ultimately opted for the hometown Indians.

The 5-8, 175-pound Blackmon had previously given Evangel Christian College, an NAIA school in Springfield, an oral commitment and will make that decision official today.

Kemper Military Junior College in Boonville is expected to sign several prep stars from around the area, including the 6-5, 200-pound Wunderlich.

Other prospective area student-athletes signing with Kemper are: Gerald Pickering (6-0, 180 DB) and Marcus Evans (6-0, 285 OL) of Portageville; Jessie Wilson (6-2, 280 OL), Sylvester Tate (5-11, 215 FB-LB), Demarcus Johnson (6-0, 175 DB-QB), Michael Walker (6-0, 195 RB-DB), Terrell Williams (6-0, 190 LB) and Anthony Nelson (5-9, 220 LB) of New Madrid; Larico Coleman (5-8, 160 RB) and Mortez Hall (6-0, 270 OL) of Charleston.

This past season, Kemper, coached by David Ross, completed an 8-3 season with the top-ranked defense in the nation. The year before, 18 of Ross' graduated players signed with Division I or Division I-AA schools. Ross is expecting up to 15 players to move on this year.

Poplar Bluff has at least three players expected to sign today, including two -- lineman Eric Carlson and quarterback Andy Cisne -- who have given Southeast oral commitments.

Another player from Bluff, lineman Mike Nelson, is expected to sign with Southern Illinois, like Southeast a Division I-AA program.