Three players from Wharton will soon sign with college football programs, according to Wildcats coach David Mitchell.
Chief among the trio is Rocky Enos, a Times' all-Suncoast linebacker who plans to attend Webber International in Babson Park.
Other Wildcats set to sign are offensive lineman Arieon Caldwell (Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C.) and receiver Keith “KJ” Hopkins (Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio) .
The 6-foot, 205-pound Enos joined teammate and University of Florida signee Vernon Hargreaves III on both the all-Suncoast and all-Hillsborough County teams. He finished the season as one of the area’s leading tacklers with 145.
Enos picked Webber International over an offer to be a preferred walk-on at USF. Webber International’s football program, which has heavily recruited the bay area, competes as an independent in the NAIA Division I level.
Caldwell and Hopkins, who were both second-team Times all-county selections, were important pieces for one of the area’s most dynamic passing attacks, led by highly touted junior quarterback Chase Litton.
Hopkins caught 47 passes for 902 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 108 yards and two more scores, averaged 18 yards per punt return and 24 yards per kickoff return, and also had an interception.
He will go to Wittenburg, which competes in NCAA Division III. The 6-3, 290-pound Caldwell will head to Methodist, which plays in NCAA Division II.