Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
Prattville High School hosted a signing day on Friday inside the gymnasium. Six athletes from three
different sports signed scholarships to continue their academic and athletic careers at the college level.
Prior to their signings, the players’ coach provided a few remarks and the signees themselves gave a short
speech.
Included below is a portion of the statements from the coaches and players, listed in the order that they
spoke.
Donovan Brown (football) – Miles College
“Donovan was like a Swiss army knife for us on offense this year,” said Prattville Head Football Coach
Bobby Carr. “He played a number of different positions. A good comparison if you watched the Philadelphia Eagles was AJ Brown. They would put him in slot, outside receiver, tight end, that’s pretty much what we did with Donovan. He would also return kicks. I look forward to seeing him play on Saturdays.”
“First and foremost, I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” said Brown. “Without Him,
none of this is possible. I would like to thank my parents for making me into the man I am today. I would
like to thank my coaches for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to shine, and thank my teammates for all the memories…I would like to say that I am going to continue my athletic and academic career at Miles College.”
Brayden Graham (football) – Point University
“I think (Brayden’s) played about every position for us on the field except o-line and d-line,” said Head
Coach Carr. “Just a tremendous talent and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him. I think
he’s going to turn some heads at the next level.”
“I want to thank God, my family, and all the coaches that gave me the opportunity. I’d like to thank my teammates that were there, taking accountability. I will be furthering my academic and football career at Point University,” said Graham.
Paxton Genola (football) – Alabama State University
“Paxton was a tremendous weapon for us this year,” said Coach Carr. “Over 90 percent of his kickoffs
were in the end zone. Just a tremendous leg, a great student athlete, made a 30 on his ACT. I can’t wait to
see what the future holds for him.”
“I want to first and foremost thank my Lord and Savior. Without Him, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Genola.
“I want to thank my family for always pushing me to be the best I can be and driving me all over the place. To my coaches, I want to thank you for pushing me every day to reach my full potential and preparing me for the next level. Every coach has left a special mark on my heart. I will be continuing my athletic and academic career at Alabama State.”
Lanieya Page (flag football) – Shelton State
“Here recently, Lanieya played in the NFL flag football showcase at the Pro Bowl, which is a very big
accomplishment,” said Prattville Flag Football Head Coach Mike Battle. “Last year she was labeled as at
Top 25 flag football player in the country. We could always count on her on the offensive side if we needed a big play, and if we needed a big play on defense, Lanieya was going to make it happen. I will miss the true leadership that she had on and off the field.”
“I would like to give thanks to God for allowing me to play this sport,” said Page. “I would like to thank
my family for picking me up when things got hard. I’m forever grateful to have loving and caring people
rooting for me and always in my corner. I want to thank my coaches, who have made me into the player I
am today. Prattville will always be my first love and I’m excited to carry on at Shelton State.”
Kacey Dunn (flag football) – Hendrix College
“Kacey is a dual sport athlete,” said Coach Battle. “Anything we ever asked her to do at practice, she
never gave any backtalk. This year she had a really big breakout game against Hoover, scoring three
touchdowns, which was the reason we won that game. It was a region game that we needed to win to make the playoffs. Every time we asked her to do something, she stepped on the field and got it done.”
“I want to say thank you to my family,” said Dunn. “Thank you to everyone who supported me
throughout my career. Thank you to my coaches for believing me and pushing me. My teammates played
a big role in helping me grow. I want to thank Hendrix College for giving me the opportunity to play at the next level. And lastly, I want to say that none of this would be possible without God.”
Dorsett Jackson (baseball) – Shelton State
“I’ve known Dorsett since he was about 5,” said Prattville Head Baseball Coach J.R. Myers. “To stand here now, and speak about his intention to play ball is pretty special. He comes from a great family that has supported him every step, and that foundation shows in how he carries himself. Dorsett is a hard worker that is committed to perfecting his craft. The maturation of his game over the last three years has been impressive to watch. He’s the type of teammate that strives to make everyone around him better. He leads by example. I’m proud of you and excited to see what the future holds.”
“I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Jackson. “I’d like to to thank my parents for all
the sacrifices they made for me. I’d like to thank my coaches for all the time spent on the field and help
they’ve given. I want to thank my teammates for always being there for me. I’m excited to see this season. I’m going to continue my athletic and somewhat academic career at Shelton State.”
