National signing day for football players is going on all across the nation and the Greater Houston area has its fair share of top athletes moving on to the next level.

At Cypress Falls High School, coach David Raffield was on hand Wednesday morning with six athletes who signed their letters of intent.

“It’s an incredible feeling for myself and my staff and this school,” Raffield said. “You know we take a lot of pride in our kids in developing quality athletes, but more human beings. This gives them a chance to go out and a degree paid for at the next level.”

With five moving on to the next level, the Golden Eagles program had three who will participate in football, one for track and field, and one academically.

Two-year starter Shane Turner, a running back who had over 2,000 all-purpose yards, has decided to take his talents to Rice University.

“It (recruiting process) went great it was good to see that coaches starting noticing my talents and want me to play for them,” Turner said. “I’m just excited I chose Rice because it is right here in Houston.”

Turner will be joined with teammate and wide receiver Denzel Wells who also chose to become a part of the Owl program. Lined up on the other side, wide receiver Darius Bolden made his choice to Texas State while linebacker Chris Schoennagel signed with West Texas A&M.

Two-sport (football and track) athlete Blake Shaw decided to hang up his football cleats and made the move to University of Southern California. Though he had quite a few options on the gridiron, in the end his future was on the track.

“He had the chance to go somewhere and play football, but decided to pursue track,” Raffield said.

Linebacker Martin Rangel II was one stage with all of his teammates and decided that Nebraska was the best place for him, as a student.

He has chosen the engineering field, whether it is aerospace or nuclear engineering.

“Academics is very important in this day in age with some many advances in technology and what not,” Rangel II said. “It is very important to keep your education up so that you can succeed in life.”

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