Six Valdosta football players signed their letters of intent on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

The players made their commitments in front of a large group of fans, teachers and students during a ceremony in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

“There’s well over a million kids that participate in high school football, and there’s probably a million that dream of being able to do what six did today,” Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie said. “(I’m) proud of those kids, proud for their families. (There is) a lot of hard work that went into today.”

For the fourth year in a row, Valdosta had a player sign with a Division I school. This year, it was defensive end Michael Wakefield, who signed with Florida International.

Wakefield made 69 tackles, 45 solo tackles and 19 tackles for loss in 2011. He also had 6 1/2 sacks in one game, a 10-7 win over Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln. He had 13 scholarship offers, several of them from Division I schools. He verbally committed to Florida International on Jan. 13, but in the past week, he strongly considered Marshall as well (former Valdosta teammates Jarquez Samuel and Jermaine Holmes play for the Thundering Herd). But in the end, he decided he wanted to be an FIU Panther.

“I really like the coaching staff. I fit in well with the players. And I like the education they’ve got at the business school,” Wakefield said.

Florida International uses both a 4-3 and a 3-4 defense. Wakefield will play defensive end in the 4-3, but has the versatility to move to outside linebacker when the Panthers switch to a 3-4. Either way, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Wakefield (who runs a 4.75 second 40-yard dash) will be asked to put pressure on the quarterback, something he did for three years at Valdosta.

“The defense they’ve got really fits me,” he said.

Two Wildcats will stay in town to play college football. Middle linebacker Jonathan Hester and cornerback Terrance Foster both signed with Valdosta State.

Hester made 89 tackles for Valdosta in 2011, 52 of them solo tackles. He was a three-year starter at VHS, and was a four-year letterman. He looks forward to calling Bazemore-Hyder Stadium his home field for four more years.

“I’m home. I don’t have to worry too much (about going to another city for college). I can go to (VSU’s) practices, and watch them work out and get the playbook and (get ready to play),” Hester said. “(Staying in Valdosta) and the opportunity for early playing time, all that fell into place with making my decision (to sign with Valdosta State). Plus my grandma kind of wanted me to stay close to her. She’s 90 years old, and that’s my heart right there.”

Foster only played one year of high school football, choosing to focus on basketball his first three years at Valdosta. But he decided to play football in 2011, and was one of the Wildcats’ top defensive backs.

“I didn’t think this opportunity would come, after just one year, but God has blessed me to play a couple more years of football,” Foster said.

“(Defensive coordinator Seth Wallace and I) just had a connection straight off. I really like (head coach David Dean, too),” Foster added. “I just want a (national championship) ring on my finger one time. (Valdosta State) has two of them. I’m ready to put one on my finger.”

Foster may get to face his brother one day. Devontae Foster, who played the same position (cornerback) and wore the same number (21) as Terrance, now plays for Albany State. Foster’s cousin, Stevie Harden, was an All-American cornerback at Valdosta State.

Valdosta’s Randy Cook played high school football at a school with a long history of success, and now he’s heading to a college program that has had its share of success. Cook signed with the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky., a team which has won four NAIA national championships.

“The minute I heard about (their history), I was sold,” Cook admitted.

Cook also likes the team’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme, and believes he will fit in well with the Patriots. He played both linebacker and strong safety at Valdosta, and that versatility will help him in a defense where he will have to be a linebacker and a defensive back at different times.

“It’s going to be a great experience,” Cook said. “I like the coaching staff, and the way the defense is going, it will be like being back home. … The way their defense is run, you’ve got to be an athlete to go and do that. (That defense is) going to be perfect (for me).”

Point University, located in the Atlanta suburb of East Point, is preparing for its first full season of intercollegiate football, after playing a seven-game schedule in 2011. The Skyhawks showed interest in several Valdosta players, and they signed two on Wednesday.

Willie Barrett was a two-year starter at left tackle for Valdosta, and the Skyhawks envision him becoming their starting right tackle early in his college career. Barrett was an all-region tackle in 2011, after recording 33 knockdown blocks, and was rated a two-star prospect by scout.com.

“I’m real excited. I get to play another four years with a high school teammate of mine, Maurice Fason,” Barrett said. “Point’s a great school. I liked it a lot when I visited. I’m looking forward (to helping their football program get started), me and my teammates.”

Maurice Fason moved from defensive back to outside linebacker for Valdosta in 2011 and had a big year, registering 82 tackles, 59 of them solo tackles, and 12 tackles for loss. Fason looks forward to playing for the Skyhawks.

“It was a great school when I visited, and I’m looking forward to playing college football,” Fason said. “I get a chance to come in and make a big impact, and I’m ready to do it with one of my teammates, Willie Barrett. So it’s going to be fun.”