‘It’s one of the best feelings ever.’ State’s recruits make their choices official.

Like a lot of high schools across the nation Wednesday, Frederick Douglass held a college signing day ceremony for two of its standout football players. But not a lot of schools can say they’re sending their stars to two top-10 teams.

Walker Parks and Devin Neal made things official in the Frederick Douglass auditorium in front of family and friends Wednesday morning. Parks signed with No. 2 Clemson, his dream school. Neal signed with No. 7 Baylor, a team that jumped in on his recruiting process late and proved to him in a short time that he should be a Bear.

For Parks, a 6-foot-5 offensive lineman, watching the Tigers on TV with a buddy at 14 years old convinced him where he really wanted to play just as he began drawing notice at football camps.

At one of those camps in South Carolina, Parks asked his dad to drive them over to Clemson and he tried to get an impromptu meeting with the offensive line coach.

“They politely asked me to leave,” Parks said, smiling.

But after his unofficial visit and walk around the stadium and campus, he was hooked. He went to a Clemson camp the next year.

“I pretty much laid it out all on the line. I said, ‘This is where I want to play football. If you need to see anything extra, let me know,’” Parks said.

Clemson had seen enough. He received a scholarship offer during the camp the summer before his junior season. He committed a few months later.

“I’m just excited it’s finally official,” he said. “It’s one of the best feelings ever.”

Neal established himself has one of the Broncos’ best offensive and defensive threats as a junior. But in his senior year, his ability to make big plays as a safety and a running back drew the attention of the Big 12’s Baylor in late November. Even though he committed to Cincinnati in February, it was an opportunity too good to not consider.

“When I got offered, I wanted to see how much (Baylor) really wanted me,” Neal said. “I still took my time with the process. I still looked at things about them to see what they were doing. And I liked all of it.”

While Cincinnati was closer to home, Neal said he was impressed with Waco, Texas, and the atmosphere around Baylor.

“They were a step away from being in that championship, contending for that college football national title. They could have made it, but things happen,” Neal said. “They’re going to become stronger next year. I know that.”

Other signings

Around Kentucky, several other high school standouts made their decisions with NCAA Division I programs. The following is a list sorted by their high school. (This list does not include University of Kentucky signees).

BALLARD

Josh Minkins Jr., S, Louisville

BOYLE COUNTY

Landen Bartleson, ATH, Notre Dame

Reese Smith, WR, West Virginia

Wilson Kelly, DT, Middle Tennessee

BUTLER

Jordan Watkins, ATH, Louisville

CARROLL COUNTY

Trevor Sandusky, OL, Eastern Kentucky

COVINGTON CATHOLIC

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

GREENUP COUNTY

Eli Sammons, QB, Marshall

HIGHLANDS

Brycen Huddleston, LB, Eastern Michigan

JOHNSON CENTRAL

Devin Johnson, LB, Youngstown State

LARUE COUNTY

Mark Goode, OT, Western Kentucky

MADISON SOUTHERN

Dane Jackson, OC, North Texas

NEWPORT

Kaleal Davis, QB/DB, Indiana State

PAINTSVILLE

Jaylyn Allen, LB, Eastern Kentucky

PULASKI COUNTY

Jake Sloan, WR, Eastern Kentucky

SOUTH WARREN

Colt Jackson, OL, Western Kentucky

TAYLOR COUNTY

Tre Goodin, DB, Eastern Kentucky

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 3:56 PM.

Jared Peck

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-488-2883

Jared Peck, the Herald-Leader’s Digital Sports Writer, covers high school athletics and has been with the company as a writer and editor for more than 20 years. Support my work with a digital subscription