CHARLESTON ? Two Charleston High School standouts signed with local colleges to play football Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Justin Clark, 18, signed to play with Murray State University while Jamarcus Williams, 17, signed with the University of Tennessee-Martin.
Both players gave verbal commitments last week, but Wednesday it became official.
“I think they're both going to good schools in a good league where I think they can step in immediately and play,” said Charleston basketball and track and field coach Danny Farmer.
Clark, an all-state defensive back as a junior, played quarterback and cornerback this year for the Bluejays.
At quarterback, Clark threw for more than 600 yards with five touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards with a pair of scores. He was also an outstanding cover corner for the Bluejays.
He said he will most likely play defensive back for the Racers.
“I'm going as a cornerback, but we'll see if that's where I'll stay,” said Clark. “I think Murray is best for me out of the options I had of Tennessee-Martin and Southeast Missouri State. I liked Murray because they were showing me more about their education and not just football. They showed me the classrooms and talked about the education I could get at Murray.”
Charleston football coach Al Marshall, who is quite familiar with Murray State where his son Josh is currently a freshman with the football team, thinks Clark made the right decision.
“They've got a coaching staff over there that is totally committed to turning the program around,” said Marshall. “I think it's a great place and they have great facilities. I know those coaches personally and I think they're all class acts. Justin has made a good decision about going there.”
Clark, a 6-foot-4, 195-pounder, is also a standout on the basketball team, averaging 18 points and six rebounds per game for the third-ranked team in the state. But he's sticking with football ? at least in the foreseeable future. “Basketball is another option,” said Clark. “Probably not my freshman year, but maybe my sophomore year I might try out for the team. Football has been my strongest point throughout my career. A lot of people tell me different, but I'm more confident playing football than basketball."
