VALDOSTA — It took three tables to fit all of the Valdosta High football players signing scholarships Wednesday morning.

The Wildcats had one of their most productive Signing Days ever, as 11 players signed letters of intent Wednesday at the school.

“I’m just thrilled,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin said. “First, I’m glad that all of these guys are going to have an opportunity to continue their education. Football’s important, but the idea that they’re going to have an opportunity to get an education, then have an opportunity to play football, is a big deal.”

“It’s great to see everybody sign,” said defensive end Chucky Alford, who committed to Alabama State. “It’s great to see my teammates going on to play in college.”

A large crowd gathered in the lobby of Valdosta High’s Fine Arts Building Wednesday. One-by-one, players came to the podium and announced which school they were signing with.

The players then sat down at tables, all 11, side-by-side, and signed their letters, while the crowd applauded.

“This is a big deal for these kids,” Tomberlin said. “What is the dollar figure of all 11 of these scholarships? Probably over $100,000. I’m real proud of these kids.”

Valdosta’s biggest signing was running back David Arnold. Arnold, who rushed for 1,004 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also was the Wildcats’ leading receiver, signed with Georgia Southern, and looks forward to playing for a head coach he’s already familiar with.

“It’s going to be real fun to play for Georgia Southern and Coach (Chris) Hatcher,” Arnold said. “They’ve got a great coaching staff, and a beautiful campus. They have a rich tradition. I had offers from several schools, but when I visited that campus, I knew that’s where I wanted to go.

“I feel like I will do well in their offense. I can run the ball, catch the ball, block. A running back has to do all of those things.”

Arnold said he remembers watching Georgia Southern’s championship teams earlier this decade, led by running back Adrian Peterson (now with the Chicago Bears).

Alford signed with Alabama State, a place that is familiar to his family. His older brother, Jarod, played tight end for the Hornets from 2003-06. Alford had eight sacks last year for the Wildcats, and will be either a pass rushing end or a linebacker. Jarod wears a SWAC conference championship ring, and Chucky says he wants to get one, too.

“It’s great to be going there,” Alford said. “I’ve got big shoes to fill there. I want to win a ring there, like Jarod did…. I’m thankful to Alabama State for giving me a scholarship, and a chance for an education. I’m looking forward to being a Hornet.”

Three Wildcats will only have to travel a few miles to play college ball. Linebacker Curtis Weatherspoon, running back Marcus McNair and cornerback Kevin Stokes signed with Valdosta State.

Being able to play Saturdays at Bazemore-Hyder, and being able to watch their high school on Friday nights, is a big deal to the future Blazers.

“It’s like a dream come true, coming back to play at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. I’m going to love that,” McNair said. “I’ll be close to home, and I’ll get to watch Valdosta play on Friday nights. I’ll always be a Wildcat.”

“It’s going to bring back memories. I get to watch the Wildcats on Friday, and then turn around and play on Saturday,” Weatherspoon said. “I love Valdosta, and I love the Wildcats. My family and friends wanted me to go to Valdosta State, so they could continue to watch me.”

Weatherspoon earned All-State honors and was named the Region 1-AAAAA defensive Player of the Year after a big season, in which he led the Wildcats with 110 tackles and five sacks. He also picked off two passes, one of which he returned for a game-sealing touchdown against Warner Robins, and recovered four fumbles. He also blocked an extra point with two minutes remaining against Tift County, which proved to be the difference in a 27-26 win. He played in the North-South All-Star Game in December.

“I like Valdosta State. I like what their program is about,” Weatherspoon said. “I’d love to win a ring there.”

Stokes made 40 tackles, picked off four passes, had five pass breakups and recovered four fumbles last year for the Wildcats. He was a two-year starter for Valdosta.

McNair rushed for 525 yards and eight touchdowns for Valdosta. He moved to fullback this season to accommodate Arnold, and developed into a solid blacker and pass catcher, as well as a productive runner. He looks forward to playing in Valdosta State’s spread offense.

“I love the shotgun. I love the spread offense,” McNair said. “I’m real familiar with the formations they run, because we started running a lot of them this season.

“They won a national championship there. That will make it even more exciting to go there, and be a Blazer.”

Hutchinson Community College is perennially one of the top junior college programs in the country, sending a lot of players to Division I schools every year. The Kansas-based junior college signed three Valdosta players Wednesday.

Michael Turner, only the second quarterback to start four years for Valdosta, will head to Hutchinson. Last season, Turner passed for 1,172 yards and six touchdowns, and was a second-team All-Region selection. He will be joined by second-team All-Region safety Darris Roberts, a three-year starter. Wide receiver Perry King, an honorable mention All-Region selection who was second on the Wildcats in receiving after transferring in from Lowndes, is also heading for Hutchinson.

“Hutchinson’s a real good (junior college). A lot of their kids go D-1,” Tomberlin said.

Dean Junior College, which finished 11th in the country last year, also added three Valdosta players, all on defense. Three-year starter Young Roberson, a linebacker, two-year starter Sidney Bivins, a cornerback, and Kevin Johnson, another linebacker, will be headed to the Bulldogs.

Tomberlin also expects as many as three more players to sign in the near future.