The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Signing Day is a major milestone in the collegiate careers of student athletes across the United States, and this year, also for a pair of Bahamian aspiring gridiron stars.

Rondre Knowles-Tener signed a letter of intent to join the football programme at James Madison University while Michael Strachan will join the University of Charleston Golden Eagles for the 2016 Fall semester.

Knowles-Tener, a 6ft 1in, 295lb defensive lineman, is a former standout performer at Tabernacle Baptist Academy now anchoring the defensive line at Liberty Christian Academy (LCA) in Lynchburg, Virginia.

In his stint at LCA, his play has garnered him numerous accolades, including VISAA Division I Second Team All-State as a junior, VHSL Honourable Mention All-Region 4A West and First Team All-Conference 23 as a senior and was a member of LCA’s VISAA Division I state championship team as a sophomore.

James Madison Dukes head coach Mike Houston outlined the impact he expects the Grand Bahamian to have on the programme.

“Rondre is a big, powerful, athletic defensive lineman,” he said. “He has a ton of personality and will test the offensive line with his quickness.”

Heading into his inaugural season at the helm in 2016, Houston signed10 offensive and 10 defensive players. 

“I’m really excited about the talent and depth of the recruiting class this year, given it being a transition year,” Houston said. “Even though the programme was in a state of flux having one head coach leave and another hired in January, we were able to hold on to our commitments and supplement them with additional outstanding players before signing day.”

Over the past two seasons for the Bulldogs, Tener-Knowles has drawn interest from a number of elite division I programmes, including Wake Forest and East Carolina.

Knowles-Tener originally committed to East Carolina but said James Madison is a better fit. “They told me they want me to be an early contributor,” he said in an interview with The News and Advance. “So this year is going to be about working myself into shape.”

Strachan, the 6ft 5in 205lb pound wide receiver is three-sport athlete who will also run track for the Golden Eagles.

He joins Charleston after a standout career for coach Chris Rocco at LCA. Strachan was a member of the 2013 VISAA 1 State Championship team, and received All Conference and Honourable Mention All-Region this year as a senior. 

Strachan is also ranked fourth nationally in the 500m, set a new LCA record in the event at the Hokie Invitational and will run track for UC as well.

The Golden Eagles football programme is coming off a season where it made its first ever trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs under head coach Pat Kirkland. Kirkland enters his sixth season overall and over the past two seasons has led UC to an overall 18-4 win-loss record and a top-15 national ranking.

National Signing Day occurs every February, usually on the first Wednesday of the 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.