John Tyler football players hold up school signs to celebrate signing to play on Wednesday Feb. 4, 2015, at their school's National Signing Day event. Pictured are (back row, from left) Luis Duran (K, Tyler Junior College), Jordan Owens (FS, Henderson State), DeAndre Benson (DE, Sterling), Tony Johnson (LB/DB, East Texas Baptist), Nick Cain (WR, Pierce College), Tedric Attaway (OL, Mary Hardin-Baylor); (front row, from left) Jeremy Wilson (RB, Henderson State), Rodney Bendy (WR, North Texas), Deandre Williams (CB, UT San Antonio, preferred walk-on), Isaac Warren (CB, Northwestern State), Geovari McCollister (QB, Texas A&M Commerce), Kendall Holmes (OL, Texas A&M Commerce), Jassavia Reese (DE, New Mexico State), Jaylon Reese (LB, Tarleton State).

Iron sharpens iron; Lions sharpen Lions.

John Tyler, on the heels of another run to the state semifinals, churned out an immense class on National Signing Day as 14 Lions inked national letters of intent to play football at the next level, highlighted by NCAA Division-I players Rodney Bendy (receiver, North Texas), Jassavia Reese (defensive end, New Mexico State) and Isaac Warren (corner back, Northwestern State).

“Being able to play along with these other dudes, just the talent level, I know I can do it because I played against the best,” said JT linebacker Jaylon Reese, who signed with Tarleton State.

The Lions went 12-3 in 2014, reaching the Class 5A Division I semifinals. The Class of 2015 was on campus for three trips to the state semifinals and those efforts were noticed by college coaches across the country.

In all, John Tyler is sending four players to Division I universities, five to Division II schools, two Division III, two to the junior college ranks and one NAIA.

Others signing on Wednesday at the Lions Den were cornerback DeAndre Williams (UT San Antonio, preferred walk on), quarterback Geovari McCollister (Texas A&M-Commerce), offensive lineman Kendall Holmes (Texas A&M-Commerce), running back Jeremy Wilson (Henderson State), free safety Jordan Owens (Henderson State), kicker Luis Duran (Tyler Junior College), receiver Nick Cain (Pierce College), offensive lineman Tedric Attaway (Mary Hardin-Baylor), linebacker/defensive back Tony Johnson (East Texas Baptist) and defensive end DeAndre Benson (Sterling College).

“I see a lot of them being able to go in as freshmen and playing as true freshmen,” JT coach Ricklan Holmes said. “All the guys have the ability right now because of their talent and how they’ve been coached to go into a program and contribute early.”

Warren, for one, knows it’s not just about contributing early, but setting himself up for the long run. Warren will be following in the footsteps of former JT defensive back Jeremy Lane.

Lane, who caught an interception in the Super Bowl on Sunday, was a late bloomer who signed with Northwestern State in February 2008 before making it big with Seattle’s Legion of Boom.

“It’s something that really factored in,” Warren said in reference to Lane. “My DB coach, he talked to me about that. It’s not where you go, it’s where you finish. That’s why I chose Northwestern State.”

Warren chose the Demons over the likes of Purdue, SMU and UTEP. A 6-1, 190-pound corner, Warren said he fits in well with Northwestern State’s secondary because he likes to play physical and jam receivers.

A player Warren went up against often in practice, both in football and on the basketball court, Bendy will look to use his 6-5 frame to provide the Mean Green with a difference maker at receiver.

Bendy caught 27 passes for 457 yards and six touchdowns his senior year and chose North Texas over Louisiana-Monroe.

“They reached out to me first and it really meant a lot to me,” Bendy said. “The fact that they did that I had no choice but to go. It’s a great school.”

Also going Division I is Jassavia Reese, a defensive end who racked up 50 tackles, four tackles for loss and six sacks. Along with fellow end Benson and possible D-I recruits next year in Braylon Jones and Pierre Leonard, Reese formed a fearsome front foursome for the Lions this past season.

Jassavia is one of nine Texans who will join the Aggies, who play in the Western Athletic Conference. He sat next to his brother, Jaylon, as the two both earned football scholarships.

“It’s crazy to sign with my brother,” Jassavia said. “Even though we’re going to different colleges, it’s so great that we both made it and get to continue to build on our education and keep furthering our football career.”

Many colleges chose to pass on Wilson and Owens because of their size, but not John Tyler graduate Scott Maxfield, head coach at Henderson State. Wilson (5-6 170) racked up 2,124 total yards of offense this past season while Owens (6-0, 160) led the Lions with eight interceptions.

“I know when I get on the field everybody’s whole mind will change,” Wilson said. “They know I can do it in high school, they don’t know if I can do it in college. Once I do it I know they’ll regret it.”

Similarly, Cain is looking to make schools regret missing out on him. He’ll be going to Pierce Junior College in Los Angeles; a long way from home though he has an aunt that lives 30 minutes away.

Cain led the Lions with 703 yards on 51 catches with six touchdowns and chose Pierce over Louisiana-Monroe, hoping to use the school as a stepping stone to something bigger.

“It’s fun,” Cain said of the large signing class. “All of them are my brothers, we grew up together, we’ve been playing together all our life. It’s a good thing.”

McCollister, the quarterback who drove the Lions offense to more than 420 yards and 43 points per game, will likely be redshirting his first year in Commerce but hopes to vie for the starting job the following year.

A self-proclaimed momma’s boy, McCollister said he liked being close to home and is happy to have Kendall Holmes as a friendly face he already knows going to school with him.

“It’s very emotional because I know me signing to play to go play for another school it’s really over,” McCollister said. “I mean, it’s been over ever since we lost, but I really feel like it’s over and I have to close this chapter of the book and open a new chapter.

“I’m proud of this senior class. I hope we all go to the next level and do big things.”

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John Tyler 2015 National Signing Day Class Bios

Tedric Attaway, OL, Mary Hardin-Baylor

The 6-2, 255-pound lineman paved the way for a ground game that averaged 195.6 yards per game on the ground. Second team all-District 16-5A.

 

Rodney Bendy, WR, North Texas

The 6-5 receiver caught 27 passes for 457 yards and six touchdowns. Second team all-District 16-5A.

 

DeAndre Benson, DE, Sterling College NAIA

The quick 6-0, 215-pound defensive end made 32 stops, three for losses, and three sacks. Second team all-District 16-5A.

 

Nick Cain, WR, Los Angeles Pierce College

Agile receiver led Lions with 703 yards and 51 catches. First team utility in District 16-5A, second team utility All-East Texas.

 

Luis Duran, K, Tyler Junior College

Drilled 9 of 13 FGs with a long of 50; 73 for 82 on PATs with 31 touchbacks; averaged 36.4 yards per punt. First team all-District 16-5A, first team All-East Texas.

 

Kendall Holmes, OL, Texas A&M Commerce

The 6-4, 260-pound tackle helped the JT offense average 420 yards per game. First team all-District 16-5A.

 

Tony Johnson, LB/DB, East Texas Baptist

Fourth on team with 78 tackles to go with two sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions (one returned for TD). First team all-District 16-5A.

 

Geovari McCollister, QB, Texas A&M Commerce

Racked up 3,978 yards of offense, including 3,232 yards through the air with 30 touchdowns to seven interceptions. First team all-District 16-5A, first team All-East Texas.

 

Jordan Owens, FS, Henderson State

Made four of his eight interceptions in the playoffs, adding 60 tackles and a defensive touchdown. First team all-District 16-5A, first team All-East Texas.

 

Jassavia Reese, DE, New Mexico State

The big 6-5, 230-pound end had 50 tackles, four tackles for loss and six sacks. First team all-District 16-5A.

 

Jaylon Reese, LB, Tarleton State

The powerful 6-1, 225-pound linebacker led the Lions with 103 tackles and had a pick six. First team all-District 16-5A, second team All-East Texas.

 

Isaac Warren, CB, Northwestern State

The strong 6-1 corner had 59 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. First team all-District 16-5A.

 

DeAndre Williams, CB, UT San Antonio (preferred walk-on)

Despite joining the team a couple games into the season, the speedy corner made 46 tackles and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Second team all-District 16-5A.

 

Jeremy Wilson, RB, Henderson State

The lightning-quick back amassed 1,776 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground, finishing with 2,124 total yards. First team all-District 16-5A, first team All-East Texas.