Johns Creek Celebrates Largest Early Signing Day Class
On Wednesday, high school football players all around the country put their name on the dotted line as they signed their national letter of intent to play football at the college of their choice. For the Johns Creek Gladiators football program, the 2021-2022 early signing day marked the largest early signing day they have had in program history as four student athletes signed their NLI’s.
“It says where we’re at as a program,” Johns Creek head coach Matt Helmerich said as he watched four of his class of 2022 players take part in early signing day. Helmerich would note that to date, the Gladiators have 31 former players currently playing college football today and “that’s a tribute to this community and the football program and where it’s at right now.”
Helmerich also spoke on what the signing day meant for him as a coach, having the opportunity to watch his players take this step in their academic and athletic careers. “I say it, I truly mean it, this is my playoff, this is my state championship,” Helmerich said of seeing Joshua Thompson (Georgia Southern), Tyler Gibson (Georgia Tech), Micah Gay (Tennessee State), and Terian Williams II (Stanford) all sign their NLI’s on Wednesday.
As for the players themselves and putting this part of the “process” behind them, Williams said he was “excited” and it’s good seeing “all the hard work” in previous years of playing football, “come to this conclusion”. Georgia Tech signee, Tyler Gibson added that for him, staying in state is “a blessing” as the opportunity gives his family the opportunity to see him play on Saturdays. For Gay, putting early signing day behind him has him, “ready to move on to the next level,” and Thompson echoed those same sentiments.
