It was a proud day at Manning High School on Thursday, February 27, as three standout student-athletes signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. Family, friends, coaches, and teammates gathered in the school’s media center to celebrate the accomplishments of Tyler Green, Jarae Mitchell, and Jalynn Coard in a signing ceremony led by Head Coach Reggie Kennedy.
“On behalf of Superintendent Dr. Shawn Johnson, the Clarendon County School Board of Trustees, Principal Dr. Kevin Lemon, and the Manning High School family, we’re excited to welcome everyone to our signing ceremony,” Kennedy said. “Thank you all for coming to witness a great event for these young men today.”
The first athlete to sign was Tyler Green, who committed to North Carolina A&T. Surrounded by his parents, Tyler expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, and faith for helping him reach this milestone. “I’d like to thank God, who is the head of my life, for blessing me with the opportunity to be where I am today,” Green said. “I’d like to thank my parents for being my support system, for keeping me focused and pushing me to be a better student and athlete. With that being said, for the next three to four years, I will continue my athletic and academic career at North Carolina A&T.”
Next up was Jarae Mitchell, Manning’s standout quarterback, who committed to Benedict College. Coach Kennedy praised Mitchell’s impact on the team since transferring from Lakewood two years ago. “We got lucky with Jarae,” Kennedy said. “Two years ago, he came to us from Lakewood… we needed a quarterback; it was kind of perfect timing for us.”
Joined by his parents, grandmother, and aunt, Mitchell reflected on his journey and support system. “I want to give all the glory and praise to God. Without him, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today,” Mitchell said. “I want to thank my family for being my support system, keeping faith in me, and for always being there for me through thick and thin. And I want to thank all of my coaches for the knowledge and for pushing me to my limits on and off the field. With that being said, I am truly blessed to be furthering my education and to play football at Benedict College. Go Tigers!”
The final signee of the day was Jalynn Coard, who committed to South Carolina State University. Coard made a lasting impact on the program as a four-year varsity starter. Coach Kennedy acknowledged his leadership and longevity on the team. “This young man’s been a part of our program for the last, well he’s been a starter on varsity for four years,” Kennedy said. “He’s the only young man that’s done that, since I’ve been here… it’s going to be a little different going in it without him this upcoming spring.”
Accompanied by his mother, Coard expressed appreciation for his support system. “I’d like to thank my parents, especially my mom—this is a strong lady right here,” Coard said. “I also want to thank my coaches for believing in me and making me stronger, and definitely God, because nothing would’ve been possible without Him. With that, I’m taking my talents to the birds—South Carolina State.”
The signing ceremony was a testament to the hard work and dedication of Manning High School’s athletes. As they prepare to take the next step in their academic and athletic journeys, it’s clear the Monarchs’ football program takes pride in seeing its players move on to compete at the next level.
