The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net NATIONAL Signing Day is a major milestone in the collegiate careers of student athletes all across the United States. And this year, also for a local aspiring star on the gridiron. Jamaal Symonett signed a letter of intent to attend North Carolina Central University on a full four-year athletic scholarship for football in the Fall 2012 semester. The 6'3 285 pound offensive and defensive lineman is a former St John's College multi-sport standout, now anchoring the offensive line at Champagnat Catholic High School in Miami, Florida. In his brief stint at Champagnat, Symonett's play has garnered numerous accolades, including All Dade County-Second Team, he was named to the "Private vs. Public game" and was generally regarded as one of the top lineman in the Division 2A football conference. Symonett was one of 27 student-athletes to sign last week and join the Eagles football programme, which is now in its second-year under head coach Henry Frazier III. "We're extremely excited," Frazier said of the 2012 class on the NCCU Athletics website. "We think this is a very, very good signing class. It will definitely build on the class we had last year." "This year's class is really off the charts. Our coaching staff did an outstanding job of bringing in quality young players that we can develop, and some we can play right away." Frazier said the 2012 recruiting class addresses some needs on defense and the offensive line. Symonett is one of nine offensive linemen signed with an average size of 6-3, 283 pounds. The defense signed six linebackers, five defensive backs and two defensive linemen. National Signing Day occurs every February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding national letter of intent for football with a school that is a member of the NCAA. Over time, the growing popularity of National Signing Day has had a marked impact on media coverage of young players and on loyal fans' expectations.