THOMASVILLE — Ty Anderson and Jimmy Bowdry have been on the same field, and the same side of it, for nearly all their lives.

They’re already wondering about the day when they could be across the field from each other.

The Thomasville High School seniors were two of THS’ seven signees Wednesday afternoon on national signing day.

Running back Malik Harper and wide receiver Jay Cody signed with LaGrange College, linebacker Tyrun’Dai Hayes signed with West Georgia, quarterback Shannen White signed with Georgia Military College and wide receiver Dijmon Wheeler, a basketball player at THS, signed with Western Kentucky.

Anderson, Bowdry, Cody, Harper, Hayes and White helped lead the Bulldogs to a 13-2 record, a state championship game appearance and a region title. 

In the four years of this group at THS, the Bulldogs went 37-17 with two region crowns.

“This group is the most special we’ve had and look at the run they’ve had,” head coach Zach Grage said. “I feel these guys are all going to be successful in whatever they choose to do. Their efforts and their character have trickled down through the program and we have been able to reap the benefits. 

“They’re not done.”

Harper led the Bulldogs with 1,218 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. He ran for 2,274 yards in his career. Cody had 335 yards on 21 receptions as a senior.  

“Malik and Jay went to LaGrange and they liked it right off the jump,” Grage said.

Harper had several other schools show interest but LaGrange’s proximity, and his family being able to see him play regularly, factored into his decision.

“A lot of that came into his decision,” Grage said. “Malik had a lot of great opportunities.”

Hayes was third on the team in tackles with 87 and third in tackles for loss with 18. 

White threw for 1,996 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 474 yards and eight scores. 

Wheeler, rated by 247sports as the No. 111 prospect in the state, played at Colquitt County and moved to Thomasville before the start of the playoffs. He was ineligible to play for the Bulldogs, however, as Thomasville had a coach who came from Colquitt and players can’t play for the same coach in two different locations in consecutive seasons.

He’s made an impact on the basketball team and an impression on Coach Grage.

“He goes to basketball workouts and he’s fun to watch. He’s Phi Slamma Jamma,” Grage said. “Getting to know him and his family, he’s a joy. He fit right in. Our group is very, very tight-knit. But to accept him, that’s a testament to him after just six weeks.” 

Anderson and Bowdry are going to well-respected Football Championship Subdivision programs — Anderson, a three-time Class AA all-state selection at linebacker, is headed to Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., and Bowdry, an all-state defensive back, will be going to Tennessee-Chattanooga. 

Though Chattanooga plays in the Southern Conference and Gardner-Webb is in the Big South, the two schools aren’t that far apart and could meet one day in the regular season — or even the FCS playoffs.

“We’ve talked about it,” Anderson said. 

High school players now have to deal with the impact the transfer portal has on college programs. Some Football Bowl Subdivision programs in what is known as the Group of Five are relying more on transfers from other programs than on signing players out of high school, Grage said, 

“Each of these guys has his own special story,” Grage said. “None of them went after the first shiny thing held out in front of their face. I think they all made good, well-thought-out decisions.”