Jaylen Wester heads group of 6 Palmetto football players signing scholarships
PALMETTO — A pair of in-state signees led a half-dozen Palmetto High football players in putting pen to paper at the school’s auditorium on National Signing Day.
Jaylen Wester is heading to Boca Raton and the Florida Atlantic Owls, while 6-foot-3, 295-pound Eric Brust is bound for Deland and the Stetson University Hatters.
Brust brushed up his football resume as a Tiger by playing all five positions on the offensive line during his high school career. “I am just going to play whatever gets me on the field,” Brust said, following the signing ceremony on Wednesday. “I can play all five spots on the offensive line."
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Wester will join head coach Willie Taggart at FAU. Taggart starred as a quarterback at Manatee High and Western Kentucky before being the man in charge at WKU, USF, Oregon and Florida State.
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“Coach Taggart has been great,” Wester said. “There was a feeling of love. They want me to win, on and off the field.”
Wester hopes to become a key part of Taggart’s defense after receiving offers from the likes of SMU, FAMU, Army and Colorado State.
“I think I would be the best fit as a down safety or outside linebacker because I can play in the box,” Wester said. “But I also like to showcase that I can cover receivers, as well as come down and hit people.
“I am going to try to be a leader, even as a young guy. I can bring that to the team.”
Brust considered several factors before landing in Deland.
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“Stetson is only two hours down the road,” he said. “I can still see my family if anything goes down. I can stay in touch with a lot of people.
Brust is looking to major in finance. He’s also spent plenty of time focusing on academics as he prepares for the next step on the educational ladder — “If I get red-shirted, then I will go and get my MBA, as well,” Brust said.
Also on Wednesday, former Palmetto wide receiver Duke Timmons declared his intention to attend Northwest Missouri State while strong safety Alzavien Houston is headed to Seton Hill in Pittsburgh.
Offensive lineman Kyjuan Smith is bound for East Central Mississippi CC and free safety James Simmons will attend Keiser University.
National Signing Days are always bittersweet occasions for veteran Tigers head coach Dave Marino.
“It’s a lot of work and sacrifice by a lot of people,” Marino said. “There are families, teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, all doing what they can to get them to this point. Today is a day to celebrate for everybody involved in the long process.
“The relationships are what it is all about. It’s great to see them achieve some of their dreams. It’s all about these kids. It’s why we do what we do.”
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: National Signing Day: Jaylen Wester, 5 other Palmetto football recruits sign