Neumann's Jayden Petit, Frederic Sainteus sign with Oklahoma, Miami
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For Jayden Petit and Frederic Sainteus, their paths of getting to fulfill their dreams of playing college football couldn’t have been more different.
Petit’s impact was evident from his freshman season, making a splash right away with First Baptist and their state title team in Class 1S. A pair of 1,000-yard seasons followed, and after his prep career was finished, he became Southwest Florida’s all-time leading receiver.
Sainteus didn’t get on the varsity scene until his junior year, where he logged 79 tackles and 7 tackles for loss as a defensive lineman, adding 5.5 sacks for Golden Gate. He followed up his first varsity season with 52 tackles, 10 for loss, 4 sacks, 15 hurries, and a fumble recovery for St. John Neumann.
But, despite their different paths, the two shared the spotlight on Wednesday inside the St. John Neumann gymnasium, with Petit choosing Oklahoma and Sainteus picking Miami.
“They’re two tremendous talents on the field,” St. John Neumann coach Chris Maragos said. “But I think the biggest thing of why these guys are having so much success and going on to do so many great things, is because of the men they are and the character that they have. I think as a father, I have two young sons and I think about for them, what it would be like when they grow up and hopefully what they would become.
“These two men right here, I hope my sons become just like you guys. The grace that you guys have, the goodness that you give to other people, the way you treat others.
Petit’s senior season was a historic one, catching 69 passes for 1,544 yards and 23 touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown on the ground as well. Along with becoming the area’s all-time leading receiver, he became the single season record holder as well, surpassing former FBA teammate Olsen Patt Henry.
The 6-foot-4 receiver flipped very late in the cycle, decommitting from Wisconsin last month and committing to the Sooners less than 24 hours prior.
“The culture over there, the system, the scheme over there, the coaching staff, those are the things that led me over there,” Petit said. “They have a great fanbase over there… Competing there every day is what excites me the most about going to Norman.”
Sainteus was originally committed to FAU this past summer, but a hot streak of offers during the first week of fall camp from Michigan State, Florida, Syracuse, Houston, and Miami prompted a relatively quick decommitment from the Owls before committing to Miami on Sept. 24.
“It was amazing,” Sainteus said. “I have all the people who love me here. Mostly my Mom, she came a long way from Pennsylvania to come see me, and I’m very blessed for that. Waking up, knowing I’m going to be a Cane, is a blessing and amazing.
“Talking to the coaches early in the morning, telling me you made it, you’re a Cane now, that’s the thing that really made me feel good. Coming to school, people were fired up for me. My teachers, my friends, and everything telling me you did it, that’s what’s you want to hear from people you really love.”
Petit and Sainteus were not the only ones to sign for Neumann. Ryan Toole inked with Denison for golf, Sofia Vargas signed with Belmont Abbey for volleyball, Kathryn Hanypsiak signed with Colgate for softball, and Jennifer Drake signed with Florence-Darlington Technical College for softball.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Jayden Petit signs with Oklahoma, Frederic Sainteus signs with Miami
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