One of the things often forgotten when it comes to recruiting classes, are the individual players. This is one of the high points in their life. When so much is actually centered on them. Right after they sign, it is quickly over. They are part of the class. They now have to get back to their regular lives and finish high school. Then they become another body in their college, and have to prove themselves to the new coaches.

This is their big decision that plays a major influence on the rest of their life. Choosing the school and place where you intend to get your education and finish the transition to becoming an adult.

As for us, many are turning attention to the Spring practice or to recruits in the next cycle. For the most part, there will be little thought of them until they start in the training camp in August.

So before they are mostly forgotten for a while, here are some of the stories from their local papers.

Artie Rowell was one of Pitt’s first commits and the first guy to send in his NLI yesterday. He is also the only true center recruited to Pitt in a few years. The whole thing actually managed to re-energize him.

New Panthers’ line coach Spencer Leftwich visited Rowell at his house a few weeks ago, and said the school was still very interested in Rowell.

“After spending two hours with coach Leftwich I felt a lot better,” Rowell said. “I know they run a spread offense and everything, but the bottom line is a lineman’s job is still to block someone. And as center has to be able to move, and that’s one of the things I think I do well — move and get leverage.”

So last weekend Rowell made a second official visit to Pitt and met with the entire coaching staff including Graham. The Panthers still wanted Rowell, and he’s still in love with the city.

“I went through all the interviews again and it was awesome,” Rowell said. “In fact, it felt like I got to commit again without ever de-committing.”

Stephen Williams was a late, and relatively unknown, commit to Pitt out of Savannah, Georgia. Getting a scholarship to Pitt meant a lot to him since he gets to leave and prove himself in 1-A football (the link also has video of Williams’ signing ceremony).

In mid-January, Calvary Day’s Stephen Williams had football scholarship offers from Middle Tennessee State University and Georgia Southern. The standout running back was leaning toward staying in state to play ball, when his mother, Kim Daughtry, advised him to hold off and see if a better offer came in.

Williams waited and was rewarded for following his mother’s advice when he was offered a last-minute scholarship last weekend to play at the University of Pittsburgh.

Surrounded by family and friends in the Calvary gym on Wednesday, Williams signed his letter of intent to play for the Panthers.

“I felt like my heart was with Pittsburgh as soon as I visited there,” said Williams, the Savannah Morning News offensive player of the year last season. “I liked the people and the atmosphere and immediately fell in love with the place. It’s not too big and not too small.”

Williams starred as a running back for the Cavaliers last season, racking up 1,691 yards and scoring 25 touchdowns, but he also was a force as a defensive back. He said he will play safety for the Panthers.

“I don’t think I’ll miss running the ball that much,” said the 6-foot-1, 197-pound Williams, who also received late interest from Georgia Tech. “I get more satisfaction out of making a good tackle than I do making a long run.”

Unlike Williams and his mom, Jeremiah Bryson’s mom wanted him to stay a little closer to home and go to Middle Tennessee State. In the end, though, she supported his call.

“My mom wanted me to stay close to home. But I had to do what’s best for me and she understands that and is behind me all the way. My phone has been ringing off the hook with everybody giving me their opinion.”

He had plenty of people trying to convince the 2010 TWSA all-state player and district 7-AAA Offensive MVP to stay local. Enough so, that he messed with them a bit.

Jeremiah Bryson briefly put on an MTSU cap Wednesday morning.

It was the Smyrna High senior’s attempt at keeping his classmates and high school coaches in the Smyrna auditorium guessing.

The cap was quickly flipped off behind him and a Pittsburgh cap replaced it.

That answered the most asked question among Rutherford County high school football fans in recent weeks and let the Midstate know: Jeremiah Bryson is a Pittsburgh Panther.

“This has been very stressful,” Bryson said. “I’ve been going back and forth every single night. I’d wake up having certain feelings then certain other feelings.

“But now it’s over. I’m very excited about where I’m at.”

If there are more player stories out there, I’ll post them when I find them. If you find them, let me know.