EHS hosts athletic signing ceremony

A quartet of Enterprise High School student-athletes took part in a celebration May 17 during the school's final athletic signing ceremony of the academic year.

Harrison Hendricks, Jalen Jones, Myles Thomas and Jayden Webb will all continue their athletic and educational careers in the college ranks.

"They'll always be Wildcats," EHS principal Matt Rodgers said. "(I am) just looking forward to the great things they're going to do with their lives."

Webb recently made the Troy University cheerleading squad, and will cheer for the Trojans.

"It's such an honor," she said. "I've always dreamed of being a collegiate athlete. When I was able to try out for Troy, I was so excited. When I saw my number on the list, it meant the world to me."

The senior comes from a long line of Troy-educated family members.

"My mom, grandma and my uncle all went to Troy," Webb said. "My mom teaches at Troy. I've definitely got some Troy blood in me."

EHS cheer coach Amber Ensley said Webb learned a lot and made strides since her high school cheer career began.

“Over the past three years, I have loved watching her grow as a cheerleader into this amazing athlete to being the jump-off winner for (the) Peanut (Festival competition), for camp, watching her become this elite stunter, leading our team to 11th in the nation this year, last year making it to semifinals and then this year making it to finals,” she said. “I’m so excited. We're all really excited to see what the future holds for you. I know it's going to be great things.”

The senior has done great things in her Enterprise career as well.

Webb was captain of the varsity squad during her final season, the last of two as a member of the EHS competition team. She won the the Wildcat Award after a vote by her teammates, as well as the A.J. Jackson-Ryan Mohler Spirit Award.

“Hard work really does pay off, and that's exactly what has happened here,” Webb said. “My team and (everyone), they taught me how to be a real cheerleader. I have to thank them and my coaches for everything.”  

Hendricks will continue his football career at Faulkner University.

“It's just a great facility,” he said of Faulkner. “It's a very Christian (university). It's perfect.”

Hendricks, who played along the Wildcats’ offensive line for three years, had an 80 average film grade and 21 CAT blocks as a senior.

“(He is) a hard-nosed, tough, physical football player,” EHS football coach David Faulkner said. “We've been proud to have him in our program the last three years, really all the way through junior high. (We are proud of) the way he's developed, the type of player he is and also the leadership he brought each and every day not just to our offensive line group, but to our team. He's what an offensive lineman should be. He has all of those intangible qualities, and Faulkner University is getting a heck of a football player in Harrison Hendricks.”

The offensive lineman has embraced the chance to play in college.

“It's so relieving,” Hendricks said. “I finally get to go to college. I'm going to miss high school, but it's just a new step in my career. I'm ready for it.”

Jones will play football at Bethany College, a Division III school in West Virginia.

“It's an unbelievable feeling,” Jones said of signing with the Bison. “It'm just very humbled. I'll never take any of this for granted. I know I worked hard for it, and I'm not surprised I'm here. Hard work pays off, and I truly believe that.”

Jones played for the Wildcats for three years at running back, receiver and cornerback.

“Jalen is a very skilled player,” Faulkner said. “(He is a) talented athlete, not just at the running back position. He played a lot in special teams, and had an impact for us in special teams. (He) was just an all-around good teammate, (a) great guy in the locker room (a) guy who came out each and every day, gave his best effort and did his best each and every day to make sure we got better as a team. We're very excited about him getting the opportunity to play at Bethany and continue his career there.”

Jones has relished his time in a Wildcat uniform.

“It means everything. I love the school,” he said. “I love everything that has to do with it. I bleed navy blue and white to my heart.”

Thomas will continue his football career at Troy, a goal he has worked to accomplish for years.

“It's been a dream since I was little,” he said. “I told Coach Faulkner and all of my other coaches when I first came up. They asked me what I wanted to be. I said, 'I want to be a ball player. There's no plan B.' They tell you to have a plan B for college and you keep that, but you're always working toward plan A. That's what I want to do with my life, and I've decided to work my hardest to get it.”

The senior’s work showed on the field at safety and linebacker. He had 31 solo tackles, 22 assists, two caused fumbles, one tackle for loss, one interception and a fumble recovery last season.

“(Thomas is) another dynamic, very talented player,” Faulkner said. “(He is) a guy (who) played safety for us, may play linebacker at the next level. (He is a) great guy in coverage, can play man-to-man coverage. (He) can come down at the line of scrimmage and play run defense as well. (He is a) very intelligent player, a very hard-nosed player and a guy (who) we're really going to miss here.”

Thomas has played for the Wildcats for three years, including a 10-2 season as a senior.

“It's been a great experience,” he said. “It's been a fantastic experience. I've met some of the best people. Being an Enterprise Wildcat with Coach Faulkner, the best coach in the state, you feel bulletproof sometimes. You feel like you can do anything. We had a shot. I feel like we were that team everyone was waiting on.”

The Wildcat defensive back saw some similarities in the Troy and EHS programs.

“They just (had) a 10-3 season so you feel like you're going into another good program after leaving a good program,” Thomas said. “A lot of people don't get to do this. If you have that opportunity you take it, and you work hard to maintain it.”

Thomas said he is a preferred walk-on for the Trojans, and has a motivated mentality to contribute.

“I feel like a lot of people over-think (about) getting a scholarship,” he said. “Just go work hard and do what you did to get to this point.”

The three football student-athlete’s all contributed to the recent success of the Enterprise program, and Faulkner said each one took advantage of the opportunity to lead.

“All three of these guys have been outstanding leaders for us, outstanding program guys for us,” he said. “We're just really thrilled, excited and happy for them as they get to continue their playing careers and move forward. (We are glad) for their time, and that we get to call them Enterprise Wildcats.”