Long County High School wide receiver Stevie Harrison signed with LaGrange College to play football and was told he would be given the opportunity to "walk on" the baseball team.

"It was always my goal and hope that I would play college ball. Now I will be able to play football and I have a chance to walk-on at baseball, so I’m very excited," Harrison said.

The two-sport athlete joins Ricky Rivera as the second Blue Tide student from the class of 2009 to sign a football scholarship.

"I’m very proud of him for his academics and athletic achievement," said Harrison’s mother, Teri Martin. "We checked the campus out over spring break and it is a very homey place. There is a nice church right there at the college, no crime and I think it’s going to be a good place for him to go to college."

According to Blue Tide football head coach Kyle Wilson, the coaches at LaGrange have said they’ll use Harrison at the H-back/tight end position.

"He’ll probably get playing time next year on special teams and he could start in his second year. He’ll do well and be fine," Wilson said.

Harrison’s father, Joey Harrison, said, "We’re proud of him and are going to miss him but his baby sister Bailey is going to miss him more than anyone. They wrestle all the time and it’s going to be an adjustment for her."

Harrison also has some academic plans. "I plan on majoring in education and being a teacher and coach. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to come back to Long County."

"Stevie’s just a quality kid, a dedicated kid, a hard worker. He’s the kind of kid you wish was your son," Wilson said.

The LaGrange Panthers were the 2008 SLIAC conference champions, posting a 7-2 record. The team also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division 3 championship in 2008, which was a first for the school.

The team’s first game is Sept. 9 against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers in LaGrange.