CAIRO — After a season that saw Cairo’s football team reach the state quarterfinals, the squad will be accordingly represented in multiple college football programs this fall.

A total of 10 Syrupmakers signed letters of intent to play their sport at the next level on Wednesday. To head coach Steve DeVoursney, it means a lot to have that many players moving on from his program.

“We had a good senior class,” he said. “All of our coaches worked hard trying to get them places, sending them film and all that. It’s a great day to be a Syrupmaker.”

Cairo boasted some of the best talent in the area for this year’s signing class, with a few players that were recruited by some top Division I programs.

One of them was Cole Phillips, the all-state kicker who tied and broke records in 2016. He had schools like Florida State, Alabama and Georgia giving him preferred walk-on offers, among some full scholarship offers from places like Georgia State and Georgia Southern.

He actually had his mind made up a few weeks ago, but Marshall University persuaded him into a last-minute visit. That did the trick, and he’s now set to play for the Thundering Herd this fall.

“I wasn’t even gonna go up there,” Phillips said. “I was a silent commit to Alabama. They finally convinced me to go and I loved it. It was a great time and I decided that it was the place for me.”

The other big prospect under Cairo’s belt was linebacker Walter Grant, who finally signed with the University of Georgia after choosing the in-state school over Alabama last fall. He racked up 79 total tackles, three sacks and one pick during his senior year.

“There’s no words,” Grant said. “I don’t even know what to say. There’s a lot of excitement. I liked the whole program. They’re both good colleges but at the end of the day, it’s where I feel the most comfortable at.”

Grant was not the only player from Cairo’s defense that received a chance to further their football career. St. Augustine’s College in North Carolina landed three Cairo defenders in Jeremiah Gordon, Quan Sherman and DJ Donaldson.

Fort Valley State also had a some good representation, with Zach Anderson and Jacquez Oliver signing with the middle Georgia school. Offensive lineman Tony Smith signed with Georgia Military College.

Defensive back Jamal Thomas and linebacker Jahsari Patterson will both be headed to Chattanooga to continue their time playing football. Jahsari and his twin brother, Jahseari, tied for the team lead in tackles with 105 last year as anchors of the Syrupmaker defense. Jahseari is currently committed to Fort Valley, but has not signed with them yet, and could still join his brother as a member of the Mocs.

Regardless of that outcome, Jahsari is grateful to be where he is now.

“It’s just a milestone in my life,” he said. “I’m at the point where it’s the best thing that’s happened in my life — My career, my future. So it’s amazing.”