Joshua Washington and JJ Sutton were teammates on the Benedictine football team who shared a lot of unforgettable moments this season as the Cadets reached the Class 4A state championship, where they lost to Creekside 42-39 in a hard fought battle.
On Wednesday, the seniors were center stage once again as they set their futures in motion as Washington signed to play at New Hampshire and Sutton signed with Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. Both have signed as defensive backs.
Washington had 35 catches for 504 yards and a score and rushed for 368 yards and six touchdowns, while also seeing time on defense where he intercepted a pass this season. Sutton had 16 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions.
“I played a lot of offense here at Benedictine, but I can play defense too and I’m ready to do whatever the team needs me to do at New Hampshire,” said Washington, who was a second-team All-Region 1-4A selection as a senior. “I know (New Hampshire quarterback) Barry Kleinpeter from when I played at Savannah Country Day and he told me it is a great place to play. Benedictine helped me get here because our coaching staff helped me become more of a man, and understand how to deal with real life situations.”
Sutton will be playing at Johnson C. Smith with his cousin, Aujshawn Izzard, a linebacker from Jenkins.
“I’m ready for college because Coach Britt and the coaches at BC pushed us to be the best we could be every day,” Sutton said.
Britt watched with pride as another pair of players advanced to the next level. Six Benedictine stars signed with Power 4 programs in December.
“It’s been a blast coaching both Josh and Jojo,” Britt said. “They really poured everything they had into the season and were a big part of our success. Josh did a lot on offense, but (defensive coordinator Galen) Coach Houston always said safety might be his best position. He’s so versatile. And Jojo matured a lot this season. He’s physical and is a real playmaker.”
Savannah Christian
JT Howell, football
The standout offensive lineman signed with Jacksonville State, the Division I program based in Alabama on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder made the move from guard to center and then to tackle for his senior year and earned All-Greater Savannah first-team honors.
He was also a standout on the defensive line for the Raiders with 55 tackles, including 8.5 for losses and a pair of sacks.
Howell practiced against some top-notch teammates in Elijah Griffin, now at UGA and La’Damion Guyton, who is headed to Texas Tech, and said it helped him hone his game.
“We had some battles and they both helped me elevate my game, and the coaching staff here at Savannah Christian also played a big part in helping me get here,” Howell said.
Cardin Patrick, baseball
The standout catcher signed to play at Voorhees University, an NAIA program in Denmark, SC.
Patrick had an impressive junior season for the Raiders, helping lead the team to the Class A-3A Private School state championship series, where they lost to Calvary Day. He hit 386 with an OBP of .500 and an OPS of 1.088. He had 11 doubles, four homers, 38 RBIs and had 28 assists with just two errors. Patrick was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection.
“This means everything to me,” Patrick said of signing to play at the next level. “I’ve started playing at four years old, so this is a lifelong dream finally fulfilled.”
Chase Boyer, baseball
Boyer, a standout shortstop, is headed to South Georgia State College, a junior college program in Douglas.
As a junior, he earned All-Greater Savannah first-team honors as he hit .333 with a .441 on-base percentage and an OPS of .908. He had seven doubles, three homers and 37 RBIs, with 33 runs and 22 stolen bases. He said playing for Matt Oglesby at Savannah Christian prepared him for the next level.
“Coach Matt is someone I look up to as a mentor and a coach,” Boyer said. “He’s always been there for me, on and off the field.”
Britton Yount Jr., baseball
Young Jr. signed to play at Caldwell Tech, a junior college program in Hudson, NC.
He is a catcher and pitcher, and is set to play both positions at the next level.
Yount Jr. was also a standout wrestler for the Raiders and said he is looking forward to playing in college, but is focused on his senior year. He said the Raiders are looking to get back to the state finals, and coming away with a championship after finishing second last year.
Jenkins
Dominique Johnson, Jr.
Johnson Jr. signed South Carolina State. He was named the Region 3-3A Athlete of the Year after a senior season where he had 28 catches for 695 yards (24.8 ppc) with eight touchdowns and ran for 345 yards and seven more scores, averaging 9.1 yards per carry. He added 600 yards in kickoff and punt returns and racked up 1,642 all-purpose yards with 18 total touchdowns. He also had 19 tackles, with three interceptions as a defensive back.
Also a standout basketball player, who recently scored his 1,000th career point, Johnson Jr. He said he comes from a religious family, and he made a connection with the South Carolina State coaching staff that “puts God first, like I do.”
He said he almost quit playing football in his freshman season, but credited Jenkin assistant James Roberts for bringing him back.
“Coach Roberts and Coach (Tony) Welch got me to love the game again and allowed me to flourish,” Johnson Jr. said.
Aujshawn Izzard
Izzard, a star linebacker for the Warriors, signed with Johnson C. Smith University, a Division II program in Charlotte, N.C.
He was named the Region 3-3A Defensive Player of the Year after a senior campaign where he recorded 89 tackles with 12 for losses, four sacks, an interception and three fumble recoveries.
“Johnson Smith was the best opportunity for me, and they let me know how I would fit in and that I have a chance to start right way,” Izzard said. “Jenkins has helped me reach the next level because of the tradition that Coach Welch has going here. He set the standard and I tried to reach even higher than that.”
Josh Woodley
The senior punter and kicker was a key player for the Warriors. He averaged 38.9 yards per punt and converted 55 of 58 PAT attempts. He was 4 of 5 on field goal tries with a long of 37. He had touchbacks on 63 of his 83 kickoffs. Woodley is also a standout on the Warrior soccer team. He was a first-team All-Region 3-3A selection.
“Savannah State was a good fit because it’s close to home,” said Woodley, who plans to major in sports management. “Playing for Jenkins has helped me get ready for college by making me stronger mentally and physically.”
Ja’Saiyah Boatright
Boatright earned All-Region 3-3A first-honors as the 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman was recognized for an excellent senior season. He is headed to Dodge City Community College.
“It’s like a brotherhood there and I fit in,” Boatright said. “I want to go there, and then transfer to a Power 4 team.”
Ahmonte Crawford
Crawford is a 6-foot-5, 350-pound lineman who will join Boatright at Dodge City Community College in Kansas.
The close friends will be roommates as they start their college journey. Crawford had 41 tackles with three for losses on the year.
He said the toughness of Warrior practices prepared him for college ball, and he plans to transfer to a Power 4 team out of Dodge City.
Calvin Wallace
The senior defensive back signed to play at Wingate University, a Division II program in North Carolina. Wallace led the Warriors with four interceptions and 21 passes defended on the year, with 29 tackles.
“Wingate was one of the first schools to reach out to me, and I have a cousin who goes there,” said Wallace, who plans to major in criminal justice. “I love the school and can’t wait to start. Playing at Jenkins got me where I am today because if you don’t practice hard every day, there’s always someone who can take your spot.”
Savannah Country Day
Senior captain Hayes Beaver, who earned All-State honors at linebacker, signed to play at Brown University Wednesday.
He had 91 tackles with 12 for losses and four sacks and intercepted a pair of passes and returned a fumble for a score for the Hornets. He added 112 yards rushing and 102 yards receiving to earn All-Greater Savannah first-team honors.
He initially committed to James Madison, but after a coaching change switched to Brown.
“It was a no brainer for me after meeting with the (head) coach James Perry, he’s all business and I want to be coached hard,” said Beaver, who will pursue a business degree. “And I met the players, and they are the kind of guys I want to go to war with.”
Windsor Forest
Jayden Thomas, a standout senior receiver and defensive back for the Knights, signed to play at South Carolina State on Wednesday.
Thomas was a second-team All-Region 3-3A selection this year when he had 28 catches for 344 yards and four touchdowns. He picked off a pair of passes and had 12 tackles on defense.
Thomas will join Jenkins standout Johnson Jr. on the Bulldog roster.
Islands
Islands senior JJ Stein, a standout on the boys soccer team, signed to play at Cedarville University, a Division II program in Ohio, in a ceremony on campus on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Stein earned All-Region honors last season when the high-scoring forward netted 14 goals with 11 assists for a Sharks squad that win the Region 3-3A title and advanced to the Class 3A State quarterfinals.
Habersham School
Senior cross-country runner John Ball signed to compete at Truett McConnell University, an NAIA program in Cleveland, GA.
Ball was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection in his senior season, which was his first season in competition. He finished sixth at the GAPPS state meet and ran a 5K PR of 17:12.09 at the Alexander / ASICS Invitational. He had five top 5 finishes and broke 18 minutes seven times.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: See where Savannah area athletes signed to continue their athletic careers
