LAKELAND, Ga. (WTXL) — The Lanier County football program made history Thursday when three football players signed on the same day for the first time ever. Those seniors hope what they've accomplished helps to change the future of the Bulldog program.
Since restarting its football program in 1997, the Lanier County Bulldogs had signed just 11 athletes until Thursday.
"People from Lakeland don't really make it out," said Kelvin Gaines. "We did, and it's a start of something."
"We've been talking about it ever since we were kids," added Rashod Brockington, a quarterback who also signed. "In rec football, we said we'd make it out. A lot of people said we wouldn't make it out, but we proved them wrong."
For Brockington, Gaines, and Andreas Anderson, the dream of playing college football started long ago. On Thursday, it was realized.
"I'm just still in shock that I even have the opportunity to even play!" laughed Anderson.
All three will take the next step together at the University of the Cumberlands.
"They've been my childhood friends so we're going to rock out in college!" said Brockington.
"We've been the big three since rec ball, so to play on the collegiate level also, it's a dream come true," said Gaines.
Three college-bound athletes, who hope their success changes the course of Bulldog football.
"I'm just happy to be able to let people see us achieving great things," said Anderson, who plans to study to become a veterinarian. "Hopefully it'll give other people incentive to say hey, I can probably make it to another college or be great."
The incentive to be great that all started with a dream.
"If we can do it, all these young boys can do it," said Gaines.
All three guys have above a 3.4 GPA, something that head coach Kurt Williams said made the difference in their recruitment.
