More Athens-area class of 2026 athletes signed to play college sports

NOTE: If you are an athlete yourself, or coach or parent in the Athens-area who had an athlete sign to play college sports, please email stidwell@usatodayco.com with name, sport and school.

High school seniors were able to sign to play sports at the NCAA Division I and II levels as early as November.

The football period was added into the mix in December and February brought around the regular period to round out the mix.

Early period: Here’s where the Athens-area class of 2026 signed to play college sports

Of course, students don’t have to sign actual National Letters of Intent anymore. The NCAA eliminated this part of the process binding students and schools for the last 60 years in October of 2024 for the class of 2025.

Here is a rundown of all of the athletes who pledged their careers to colleges around the country Feb. 4:

Athens Academy

Josie Collins, track and field, Wake Forest

Kathryn DeLoach, golf, Georgia Southern

Rylie Harding, swimming, Ithaca College

Tucker Rhodes, football, Columbia University

Commerce

Camden Thomason, track and field, Anderson

Allie David, cheerleading, Brenau

Jefferson

Mack Gaddis, football, Stetson

Michael Pauley, football, Southeast Missouri State

Clifton Williamson, football, Erskine College

North Oconee

Luke Burnett, football, Lenoir-Ryhne

Bryant Kingston McCants, football, Georgia Military College

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: More Athens-area class of 2026 athletes signed to play college sports