Football seniors sign scholarships
Burks to play at West Alabama, Leonard at Illinois junior college
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Moving on Above: Jacob Burks signed a football scholarship with West Alabama last week. Also pictured are (seated, from left): sister Andrea, mother Barbara and father Buddy Burks. Back: GBHS assistant coach Mark Ransom, head coach Chris Nemith, assistant coach Matt Alt, Principal Sylvan Ladner and athletic director Mark Kostic. Below: Joey Leonard signed a football scholarship with Harper College in Palatine, Ill. last week. Also pictured are (seated, from left): brother Jeff, mother Debbie and father Joe Leonard. Back: Ransom, Nemith, Alt, Ladner and Kostic.

The Dolphin football seniors didn't have the type of season they hoped to have. For two of them, their season-ending loss to Navarre won't be their final game.

Defensive lineman Jacob Burks signed a letter of intent with West Alabama Thursday, while offensive lineman Joey Leonard signed with Harper College in Palatine, Ill.

"They both have an opportunity to do something they've been dreaming about," head coach Chris Nemith said.

Burks was a two-year starter for the Dolphins on the defensive line. His 62 tackles was the fourth highest total on the team.

"Their coaches were real welcoming. They seemed real interested in me," said Burks, who was named Mr. Gulf Breeze High by his classmates last fall.

Burks, whose older brother Buddy was a quarterback at Gulf Breeze in 2002, was recruited to be a tight end, where he played his sophomore year on the Dolphin JV team.

"Good things happen to good people - he's a testament to that," Nemith said of Burks. "Jacob's going to play for some guys that walk the same walk he does."

West Alabama went 1-9 last season, but five of those losses coming by eight points or less.

Leonard's signing could be attributed to the late Jimmy Valvano's line 'Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up.' Three years of being a reserve, Leonard stepped in as a starter this season on the Dolphin offensive line.

"You know where Joey has come from since his ninth grade year," Nemith told the crowd Thursday. "His persistence, resolve and not giving up has made this day possible."

That persistence paid off when the Hawks called Leonard after receiving his questionnaire and film.

"They said I had good feet - that I could become a great football player," said Leonard. "They told me they'd play me at guard, but if I could get a little faster, they'd move me to tackle."

Harper College, who went 6- 6 last season, were the National Junior College Champions in 2003 and 2004. They've qualified for a postseason playoff berth 25 of the last 27 years. Atotal of 22 players from Harper's 2007 team have moved on to play at a Division I, II, I-AA or NAIA schools.

"I couldn't have done it without all the coaches that gave me a chance," Leonard said. "Coach Nemith and Coach (Matt) Alt really helped me a lot."

Brunty, Atzhorn

to sign soon with Southern Miss, South

Carolina

Burks and Leonard won't be the only Dolphin seniors continuing their athletic careers. Dolphin center fielder Kameron Brunty, who signed with Pensacola Junior College last month, verbally committed to the University of Southern Mississippi last week.

Both Brunty and swimmer Aileen Atzhorn will sign their letters of intent in the coming weeks. Atzhorn will join her older brother Andy at the University of South Carolina. She had also drawn interest from the University of Arkansas.