Signing Day at South Paulding High School featured five senior football stars signing letters-of-intent to play on the next level.

The five players made up the core of the Spartans first two winning seasons in school history – going 6-4 in each of the last two season and winning a sub-region title in 2010.

“This senior class carried on what we have started and the biggest thing was that they were a tight group and they kept the team together,” said South Paulding football coach Tim Glanton. “We had some adversity early in the year just kept the whole team focused.”

South Paulding offensive lineman Justin Forrister earned a scholarship to Georgia State in a unique way.

After battling knee injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons at left tackle, he moved to center the spring before his senior season.

Snapping the ball on every play he began long snapping on special teams too, he took to the trade well and his parents took him long snapping camps across the country according to Glanton.

As he improved he began to garner attention from programs across the southeast and eventually agreed to play for the Panthers and head coach Bill Curry.

“What a great opportunity for Justin and anyone to play for coach Curry, one of the finest Christian coaches around and he will be Justin’s position coach at Georgia State,” said Glanton of Forrister.

Damarcus Hamilton inked his scholarship with upstart NAIA program Reinhardt University, an NAIA team in Waleska, Ga.

Hamilton was a standout for Glanton during his senior season at defensive tackle, was named first team all-county, Region 5AAAA-South’s defensive Player of the Year, and a second team all-state selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association.

“Damarcus is going to be missed,” said Glanton of his 280 pound tackle. “He’s one of if not the best defensive player we’ve had here and if he keeps working and plays with the passion he played with here he’ll be an All-American on that level.”

When Hamilton gets to Reinhardt he will have a familiar face with him in offensive lineman Tyler Holcomb.

Holcomb, a three-year starter for South Paulding, was a second-team all-county selection his senior season and a first-team all 5AAAA-South pick.

“Holcomb is a big offensive lineman that will be missed, he anchored the offensive line for three years and those big guys are hard to replace. I think that he is going to have a great four years at Reinhardt,” said Glanton.

Middle linebacker Austin Roberts inked his scholarship with Chattahoochee Tech, a local junior college that will compete for the first time on the JuCo ranks next fall.

Roberts was a second team all-county selection, a first team all 5AAAA-South pick, and is the leading tackler in South Paulding football history.

“The head coach wants him at fullback and the defensive coordinator wants him at linebacker so there is a chance that he could play both ways, but he is going to have a great career no matter what he does,” said the South Paulding coach.

Roberts will be joined at Chattahoochee Tech by speedster Steve Johnson who spent time as the Spartans running back and cornerback last fall.

A second team all-county and first team all-sub region pick, Johnson ran for 480 and four touchdowns and added 20 tackles on defense.

“Steve ended up being one of our best leaders this year and Chattahoochee is going to use him as a corner and return guy. After two year you can best believe he’ll be on to a four year school,” said Glanton.