CHUCK LIDDY - cliddy@newsobserver.com
Hillside High defensive end Jamal Marcus is surrounded by friends and family as he announces he will play football at Ohio State. He and other members of the team signed National Letters of Intent Wednesday in the school gymnasium. Story, 7C
Durham Hillside linebacker Jamal Marcus, one of the top high school football players in the state, said he knew he wanted to go to Ohio State after talking to new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer for the first time.
Marcus (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) chose the Buckeyes on Wednesday during a signing day event in the school gymnasium that included 10 teammates. Marcus had narrowed his list to Ohio State, N.C. State, Florida and East Carolina.
High school football players may commit to college programs at any time, but the agreement is not binding for the player or the school until a player signs a national letter of intent.
The football signing period began Wednesday and will continue through April 1. Field hockey, soccer, cross country and track and field have the same signing period.
Marcus, who is ranked No. 15 in the state by rivals.com, said he enjoyed his visit to Ohio State, but said one of the biggest reasons he chose the Buckeyes is its tradition.
"I know I will have a chance to play for a national championship," he said.
It won't be next season, however, with the Buckeyes serving a one-year bowl ban for NCAA violations under Meyer's predecessor, Jim Tressel.
Hillside coach Antonio King said the 11 seniors had played on three Piedmont Athletic Conference championship teams, posted an undefeated season and won a state title.
Two players at Broughton signed with ACC schools on Wednesday. Linebacker Drew Davis decided to stay in town and play at N.C. State while elusive running back Chris Mangus signed with Virginia Tech.
Durham Jordan linebacker Phillip Williamson turned in his signed letter to North Carolina early on Wedneday.
"I've wanted to be a Tar Heel since I was little," Williamson said. "When the Carolina coaches saw me and told my coaches that they wanted to sign me, I knew I wanted to go there. I remember watching Carolina beat Miami by a field goal years ago (31-28 in 2004). That day, I became a Carolina fan."
Garner, which advanced to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4AA championship game, had three players sign - running back Demetrius Fairley (Gardner-Webb), lineman Greg Milhouse (Appalachian State) and defensive lineman Maylon Rowland (St. Augustine's).
Not all of the top area senior players signed national letters on Wednesday.
Millbrook running back Keith Marshall graduated in December and already has enrolled at the University of Georgia. Middle Creek defensive lineman Darius Wilkins also graduated early and is at Old Dominion.
It was a big day for some track and field standouts, too.
Granville Central sprinters Briana Haith and Tevin Hester signed with South Carolina and Clemson, respectively. State 4A cross country champ Samantha George signed with N.C. State, and four-time independent school cross country champion Thomas Graham of Cary Academy signed with Stanford.
Correspondent David Justice contributed to this report.
