There was a local flavor to Manual’s National Signing Day ceremony today, as all three Crimsons signing National Letters of Intent elected to go to a local college. Football player Derek Dorsey (12, HSU) and girls’ soccer player Allison Whitfield (12, HSU) both signed with the University of Louisville, and boys’ soccer player Andrew Hagan signed with Bellarmine University.
Dorsey, who will play defensive tackle in college, was the number eight recruit in Kentucky, and was rated as the top defensive tackle in the state. Dorsey chose UofL over the Naval Academy, the University of Kentucky, Notre Dame University, Vanderbilt University and Western Kentucky University, per Rivals.
“I’ve always been a Louisville fan, and a long time ago I made up a list of schools that I would be interested in,” Dorsey said. “My dad always asked me if I had the option to go somewhere else or go to Louisville, ‘which would you choose’? And I always chose to go to Louisville. It’s just always where I wanted to be, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
By signing with UofL, Dorsey became the first Manual football player to sign with a power five conference school since Thomas Chapman signed with the University of Kentucky in 2012. Dorsey is the fifth Crimson to sign with a power five conference team since Keenan Burtan signed with UK in 2003.
“It definitely means a lot [to sign with a power five school],” Dorsey said. “ I can’t believe that it’s a dream come true. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, Whitfield, a three-star recruit according to Top Drawer Soccer, will join Dorsey at UofL.
“I’m super excited, it’s like a dream come true,” Whitfield said. “It’s always been a dream to play for Louisville, and that dream came true today.”
Whitfield is excited to be able to stay close to home so that her family can watch her play.
“I’m excited that all my family, my parents, are going to come get to see me play,” Whitfield said. “I’m just looking forward to the future.”
Though soccer traditionally does not receive as much publicity at National Signing Day as football does, it is still an important milestone for Whitfield and Hagan.
“I feel blessed,” Whitfield said. “I’m so honored to be able to play at the next level and am honored to be a part of this day.”
“I’m not on ESPN or anything, but the local news is pretty cool,” Hagan said. “Signing day is cool; it’s something that when you start playing sports you really want to be a part of.”
While Hagan will not be joining Dorsey and Whitfield at Louisville, the goalkeeper will not leave the city limits by signing with Bellarmine.
“I wanted to stay in-state for sure, preferably Louisville, and when Bellarmine said they wanted me, I really didn’t think about going anywhere else,” Hagan said. “I really wanted to stay in Louisville to get the in-state tuition and to be able to play in front of friends.”
Even though Hagan has been committed to BU for a while now, he was happy that his recruitment is officially over.
“I’m pretty relieved, I never really had thoughts of decommitting,” Hagan said. “ I just felt like I was going there from the beginning so it’s a relief to finally sign it.”
All three students will finish up their senior year at Manual before moving on to college next year.
