Liberty County High School’s Eli Polite was a dual threat for the Panthers in 2016 as the team reached the quarterfinals of the state Class AAA playoffs for the first time in the program’s history.

Polite led the team in receiving with 51 catches for 807 yards and 11 touchdowns, and was Liberty’s third-leading rusher with 338 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries. He even had a perfect passing rating for the Panthers, completing 1 of 1 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Now, the 5-foot-6-inch, 165 pound senior will take his talents to Cumberland University, an NAIA school in Tennessee. Polite made it official on Monday, with family, friends and teammates on hand at the LCHS gym to celebrate the occasion.

“They’re getting an outstanding football player,” said Liberty coach Kirk Warner, who has sent five players to college programs so far this offseason.

Polite started his playing career at Richmond Hill, but transferred to Liberty County last season.

“We had scouted him at Richmond Hill and knew he was going to be a player, and we were ecstatic about it when he came to us,” Warner said. “He came in and didn’t miss a beat. He helped us offensively, and he played some corner for us against Greater Atlantic Christian in the playoffs. He’s a great player, and a great person.”

Polite, who plans on studying information technology, said he had help along the way.

“It’s a great accomplishment, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without my family, my friends, my parents and my teammates supporting me along the way,” he said.