It wasn’t so much the bigger Teche Area schools that made the big splashes on National Signing Day, it was the smaller schools that grabbed the spotlight as area players moved on to the next level.

Highland Baptist made the first splash as senior running back Brontre Griffin, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards as sophomore, followed the route his older brother Brody took two years earlier when he signed with New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college located in Roswell, New Mexico.

“It’s not quite following in his footsteps but I felt like that was a good choice for me,” Griffin said. “I prayed on it a lot and talked with my family and that was the decision I made although I have to admit that Brody kind of pushed me to go there as well.”

Griffin is expected to play running back for the Broncos.

“They told me that they were going to change the offense this year and I felt that with that and the offer they made to me it was a good choice to go there,” he said.

HBCS football coach Scottie Williams was happy to see Griffin head off to the college ranks.

“It’s always a good feeling when an athlete that has worked hard moves on to the next level,” Williams said. “He was always known as a running back but last year he had to play an expanded role for us because we were so young. He played some linebacker, defensive line and every so often was a wide receiver for us. It just goes to show how good of an athlete he is.”

Older brother Brody also signed on Signing Day, inking with Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

Not long after Brontre Griffin signed, Assembly Christian quarterback Jonah Wolfe, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career, signed with Texas College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school located in Tyler, Texas.

“I originally was looking at a school in North Dakota but through a recruiting website the coach at Texas College contacted me and asked me to come on a visit and I went there and it felt like the right place for me,” said Wolfe, who quarterbacked the Lions into the Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana playoff the last two seasons.

Wolfe, who was recruited to play quarterback at Texas College, becomes the first Assembly Christian athlete to sign in a sport.

“Hopefully the first of many,” ACS head football coach Dwight Fage said. “I’m proud of what he’s accomplished in three years. He was Best of the Teche for two years and was first-team All-State (ACEL) for two consecutive years.

“He had two or three places to pick from, so this wasn’t his only offer. He talked to the coaches and the offensive coordinator and he has a good chance to compete for a starting spot as a freshman.”

Also signing Wednesday was Franklin receiver Israel Washington, who signed with North Alabama as the Lions start the transition from Division II to Division I and the Football Championship Subdivision with the 2018 football season.

West St. Mary’s Trey Biggles signed with Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.

Catholic High quarterback Diallo Landry didn’t sign with Nicholls State in Thibodaux, but he is expected to be part of the football team while he gets some academic issues worked out and and is expected to be offered a scholarship at a later date.

“This past week we went on a visit with my family and the Nicholls staff has been with me since day one,” Landry said. “Coach Tommy (Rybacki) and Coach (Tim) Rebowe have been in touch but what really caught my eye was how my family fell in love with Nicholls and thought it would be a great place for me.

“They treated me like family and that meant a lot to me.”

Catholic High coach Brent Indest said that Landry still has some academic work to do and that’s why he isn’t signing right away. But Indest also added that as soon as Landry finishes his academic work he’s expected to be given a full scholarship.