Manatee has five signees; Saint Stephens' Knopfke plans to sign with Boston College

Manatee High expects to have five players sign college football scholarships on Wednesday, the first day high school athletes are allowed to sign letters of intent for the 2015 collegiate season.
Manatee’s standout receiver Kelvin McKnight has committed to Samford, an FCS school in Alabama that recently hired Chris Hatcher to be its new head coach.

Hatcher, who was head coach at Murray State, replaces Pat Sullivan, former Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn.

Hatcher brings an up-tempo offense that ranked second in the nation last year (FCS) in passing averaging 327 yards per game. Murray State was 3-9 last season but averaged 36.6 points per game. Unfortunately its defense gave up 42 points per game.

Safety Antonio Henderson, who had 67 solo tackles last season, has committed to Carson-Newman, a Division II school in Tennessee. Other commitments are Zach Staton (Warner-Southern), Jamarion McDonald (Nebraska-Kearney) and Joe Robinson (New Mexico Military.

The signings will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the high school auditorium.

****

Saint Stephens offensive lineman Wyatt Knopfke has verbally committed to Boston College and plans to sign with the Eagles. The 6-2, 265 pounder Rivals. Com three star recruit reportedly had offers from Miami and Kentucky. He has been recruited by Todd Fitch, former USF offensive coordinator.

 Braden River receiver Justin Ross plans to sign with Northeast Oklahoma Community College. Southeast and Lakewood Ranch do not have any signings planned for Wednesday though there might be some in the future.