Heard County Braves at the signing table (L-R): Andrew Leak, Alijah Huzzie, Kezman Kelley, Aaron Beasley, LeQuincy Shepherd, and Zaylin Wood (Not pictured: Tray Dunson) along with HCHS coaches and administrators (standing L-R): Maggie Williams, Rodney Kay, Marybeth Winningham, Jodie Davis, Brent Tisdale, Kyle Yates, Chuck Sykes, Tim Barron, Kinley Cantrell, Shane Lasseter, Tyler Napier, D.J. Curbow, Cory Shelnutt, Randall Curbow, and Dustin Lane (Photo: Penny Hood/HCHS)

(Franklin, GA) — A program record seven senior Heard County Braves signed letters of intent to play football at the next level Wednesday morning at Heard County High School on National Signing Day.

All-state defensive standouts Zaylin Wood and Andrew Leak each signed with Middle Tennessee State University, a public university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

MTSU is most prominently known for its Recording Industry, Aerospace, Music and Concrete Industry Management programs.

The university has partnered in research endeavors with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory,the United States Army, and the United States Marine Corps. The Blue Raiders, compete in Conference USA of the NCAA’s Division I.

All-state two-way star Aaron Beasley stayed true to his longtime commitment to the University of Tennessee.

The Volunteers compete in the vaunted Southeastern Conference and have played football for 121 seasons, starting in 1891. The Vols’ combined record of 833–383–53 ranks them twelfth on the list of all-time win-loss percentage records .677 and ninth on by-victories list for college football programs as well as second on the all-time win/loss list of SEC programs.

The Vols’ all-time ranking in bowl appearances is third (52) and sixth in all-time bowl victories (28), most notably four Sugar Bowls, three Cotton Bowls, an Orange Bowl, and a Fiesta Bowl. They have won 16 conference championships and six national titles in their history and their last national championship was in the 1998 college football season.

The Vols play at Neyland Stadium — its 102,455 seat capacity makes Neyland the nation’s fifth largest stadium.

Brave fans have long wondered if two-sport star Alijah Huzzie would further his career in football or basketball and as it turns out he may be doing both as he signed with East Tennessee State University and plans to participate in both sports.

ETSU is a public university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Buccaneers compete in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference. ETSU has won the Bill Bibb Trophy for the best overall Atlantic Sun athletic program all six years since it was first awarded for the 2006-07 season. The basketball team competed in the NCAA Tournament as recently as 2017.

Brave defensive lineman Kezman Kelley will be moving on to play at Community Christian College in South Carolina. The Black Knights are a Junior College program located in Lancaster, SC based on a commitment to the continued development of our student-athletes academically and spiritually.

Tray Dunson signed with Gardner-Webb in North Carolina

All-state wide receiver and defensive back LeQuincy Shepherd and senior linebacker Tray Dunson are each headed to Gardner-Webb.

The Gardner–Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Gardner–Webb University located in North Carolina.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Big South Conference. Gardner–Webb’s first football team was fielded in 1970.

The team plays its home games at the 9,000 seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Congratulations to these seven Brave State Champions on all of their accomplishments, hard work and effort!