KHS sends trio to Kilgore College, TJC
KC's Scranton signs with Baylor; Rangers were to have a busy day
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

A DAY TO REMEMBER - Kilgore High School seniors (seated, from left) Rick Thomas, Eric King and Danny Smith, all seated, share a laugh as they sign letters of intent. Thomas and King both signed with Tyler Junior College; Smith signed with Kilgore College, whose coaching staff, led by coach J.J. Eckert, was to hoping to have a big day today. The Rangers' signees will be announced in Thursday's News Herald sports section.

Three former Kilgore High School football players helped to sew up their future this morning, as a part of National Signing Day.

The Bulldogs - seniors Rick Thomas, Danny Smith and Eric King - each signed letters of intent. Thomas, a linebacker, signed with Tyler Junior College, as did Eric King, a quarterback. Smith, also a linebacker, signed right here with Kilgore College.

Speaking of KC, head coach J.J. Eckert and his staff were busy getting faxes and organizing their own signings, as well as making sure sophomores leaving the Rangers' program have their paperwork in order.

One such sophomore is T.J. Scranton, a wide receiver from Hitchcock who was to sign a letter of intent with Baylor University later today. See photos from Scranton's signing in Thursday's News Herald, as well as a complete list of the Rangers' signees, and those Rangers moving on to continue their careers elsewhere.

Over at KHS, head football coach and athletic director Mike Vallery welcomed family of Smith, Thomas and King, as well as members of the media. The Bulldogs have sent literally dozens of players on to the college ranks, just in the last four to five years, and Vallery wished them well.

"We're tickled to death," he said, with a laugh. "We're proud of these young men."

Thomas was impressive in all three of his seasons at the varsity level. The 5-foot-9, 225-pound linebacker, who was the Kilgore News Herald's player of the year and the District 12-4A defensive player of the year, was the Bulldogs' leading tackler. Thomas had 156 tackles, 76 solo, 20 for loss, five sacks, two pass break-ups, a blocked kick (that was recovered for a touchdown by a teammate), three caused fumbles, one fumble recovery and 10 hurries. He helped lead Kilgore to the Class 4A playoffs in two of his three years on the varsity level.

Smith was very productive as well. He had 108 tackles, 48 unassisted, three for loss, two interceptions (including one very big one for a touchdown in a playoff win over Mount Pleasant at Rose Stadium), a pass break-up, three blocked kicks, a caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and three hurries. Smith was named first-team All-District linebacker.

King took almost every snap at quarterback in the 2008 season for the Bulldogs. He was secondteam All-District for coach Vallery. King completed 60 of 122 passes for 824 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions. His shining moment of the season, much like Smith, came in that KHS-Mount Pleasant bi-district game. He completed five straight passes, all to teammate and classmate Cody Murphy, to get the Bulldogs downfield and set up the winning touchdown (scored by Hakeem Colbert).

Again, see the complete list of Kilgore College signees and those KC Rangers going elsewhere in Thursday's News Herald sports section, and thoughts on the day from coach Eckert.