Left to Right: Billy Walton Jr., Abdul Muhammad and Malik Muhammad stand with a friend on early signing day. Photo by Emma Ruby.

For Joseph Thomas, national early signing day was more exciting than “going to Disney World.”

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Thomas is a security guard at South Oak Cliff high school, and his son, Jayvon Thomas, was one of nine football players who participated in Wednesday’s ceremony where players announced where they will be playing college ball and signed their scholarship offers.

Here are the schools each player signed with:

Jayvon Thomas: Texas A&M

Malik Muhammad: University of Texas

David Spruiells: Northern Arizona University

Randy Reece: Southern Methodist University

Abdul Muhammad: Southern Methodist University

Billy Walton Jr.: University of Texas

Jamarion Clark: Rice University

Brione Ramsey-Brooks: Texas Christian University

Narado Stoker Jr.: Texas Christian University

Jayvon signed with Texas A&M, where he plans to study business and economics in the fall. The cornerback has received acclaim for his consistently high numbers of rushing yards in games throughout his senior season.

Now, he says moving on to play ball on the collegiate level is both a dream come true, and a legacy he is leaving for the next wave of South Oak Cliff athletes.

“We’re opening up new doorways for the younger children who come to South Oak Cliff. Especially choosing A&M, it’s such an academic school,” Jayvon says.

The signing day ceremony was full of celebratory spirit. Parents wore the colors of their sons’ chosen school, and brought balloons, stickers, cupcakes and more to show off their pride and enthusiasm.

The celebration comes less than a week after the players won their second state title, the first team in DISD to do so.

“This class will forever be known as the back-to-back state champions,” defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Michael Traylor told the crowd. “These young men leave here with not one ring, but two rings.”

A table with University of Texas gear, as well as photos of Malik Muhammad, was set up to honor the cornerback. Photo by Emma Ruby.

Randy Reece started receiving college offers his freshman year from schools in Kansas and Illinois, but the wide receiver decided to dedicate the next three years to working towards a scholarship that would keep him closer to home.

On early signing day, that dream came true when he signed with Southern Methodist University.

“Playing in Dallas has always been my dream. Especially making the hood proud and bringing everyone together, that’s all I like to do. I like to put smiles on peoples faces,” Reece says.

Reece’s mother, Angie, says this has been her first time navigating the college recruitment process, but that it has all paid off.

“It’s brand new to us, but I am so excited and so proud for him,” She says. “It’s an awesome opportunity and something for [future SOC athletes] to look up to and look forward to.”

Traylor says that early signing day was only the first wave of South Oak Cliff football players who will sign on with college teams, and he expects another 10 or so to sign with schools on Feb. 1, national signing day.

But for the parents of the nine early signers, this was the day that means everything to them.

“I’m a fighting Irish, I went to Notre Dame. But because of him, I’ll be putting on maroon,” Joseph Thomas says.