Surrounded by their family, coaches and fellow teammates, seniors Tim Kelley, Tyree Reese and Ian Shuttleworth signed their letters of intent Feb. 6, National Signing Day, to continue their football careers into the college arena.
“This exact day last year, whenever I watched Dillion [Winfrey] sign, I walked out of the place and remember thinking that I’m going to be signing on this day next year,” Shuttleworth said. “And that was my goal.”
Shuttleworth, an offensive lineman decorated with many honors including the Paul Eells Award, committed to Arkansas Tech Wednesday. He said he’s excited about the future.
“This is the start of the next five years,” he said. “New routine, new teammates, new everything.”
Kelley admitted he didn’t believe college football was a possibility.
“I didn’t think during my junior year I’d play college ball,” he said. “But as time progressed and coaches started contacting me, it started to become more real and real. That’s when I thought I had a real good chance of playing.”
Kelley will also attend Arkansas Tech and room with Shuttleworth their freshman year. Reese took a different route than Kelley and Shuttleworth, committing to Southern Arkansas University.
“About a week ago, I really wasn’t planning to sign on Signing Day. I was planning on waiting it out,” Reese said. “SAU came to me late, but they gave me an offer I couldn’t pass up.”
Whether it’s Arkansas Tech in Russellville or Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, they all admit Bryant will be a tough place to leave.
“It’s going to be very different,” Kelley said. “I grew up in Bryant, always stayed in Bryant and it’ll be a real big change for me going up to Russellville.”
For Shuttleworth, the community will remain a large part of him.
“I’m going to leave, but I’ll always be a part of Bryant,” he said. “It’ll be weird having a new team and new coaches and getting out of that regular routine I’ve been into every single day for the past six years. But, I’ll get used to it.”
They also remember the coaches that have taught them the sport’s lessons.
“Coach [Paul] Calley’s done so much for me,” Reese said. “It’s going to make leaving hard, being coached by somebody else.”
Despite the negatives of leaving, Kelley, Reese and Shuttleworth are excited about their futures. Kelley said he plans to pursue a degree in history or mechanical engineering while Shuttleworth said he will continue to excel in football and school. Overall, Reese said he is excited with the change of venue.
“It’s definitely a place I could see for the next four to five years in the future,” he said.
