National Signing Day | 9 Braden River High football players sign college scholarships

EAST MANATEE -- Jacob Huesman paused during his emotionally charged speech toward the end of Braden River's National Signing Day ceremony in the school's auditorium.

"I feel what he's feeling," senior defensive back/linebacker JoJo Louis said. "He's just saying it, but I can feel it. I can feel everything he's saying. We're like brothers. It's like a brotherhood. It's not even a team. It's a brotherhood. Everybody's close."

That closeness was displayed Wednesday when Huesman and Louis were two of the Pirates' nine football players to sign a national letter of intent.

Head coach Curt Bradley said he thinks it's the largest class in program history, signifying a culture change from a 1-9 campaign in 2012 to a 13-1 record and a No. 14 state ranking this past season.

"They could have bailed after that 1-9 season, but they hung around and their hard work changed the program," Bradley said. " Our first year here, we only had two or three (college) coaches coming in the spring and now we had over 50 this year. So to have that sort of notoriety and that sort of exposure for future generations of kids in this school and this program is huge."

Huesman (Appalachian State), tight end Ryan Neuzil (Appalachian State), Louis (Florida International) and Alex Salguero (Marshall) represented four FBS signings for the program.

Prior to their signatures, only Willie McNeal (Western Kentucky) had signed with an FBS program from Braden River.

Other signings Wednesday were defensive back A.J. Moore (Minot State), kicker

Kyle Thoma (Anderson Moore (Minot State), kicker Kyle Thoma (Anderson University), defensive end Dylan Tyson (Anderson), running back/wide receiver Jaylin Austin (Highland Community College) and defensive/offensive lineman Michael Walker (Palmetto Prep Academy).

In Huesman and Neuzil's case, the decision to choose Appalachian State came in January; the former flipped from his commitment to FIU.

For Salguero, Marshall's coaching staff, campus and team added up to an easy choice.

"I didn't really know until my junior year that I learned I was pretty good," said Salguero, who chose Marshall among 15 suitors including Western Kentucky and Ohio. "I didn't know, so I was just going with the flow."

Attending a Florida A&M camp, Salguero met Marshall's offensive line coach Alex Mirabal after his recruitment started with linebackers coach Adam Fuller.

"He's aggressive, but he's not crazy aggressive," said Salguero about Mirabal. "I'll get along with him perfectly."

The lure of returning to South Florida where he grew up, and hearing FIU's plans for him was too much for Louis to pass up.

"I'm going to play either/or safety or nickel, depending on the packages," Louis said. On my official visit, they told me, 'Don't plan on redshirting, because you're going to come in and play right away.' That was the green light for me. I said, 'Alright. No problem.'"

Louis was part of a secondary that recorded 27 interceptions last fall, while Salguero anchored an offensive line that generated 5,050 yards.

"I remember freshman year, we'd go to practice and there was nothing," Salguero said. "It was barren. No one came."

Now that's changed.

Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017 or via email at jdill@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 12:13 PM with the headline "National Signing Day | 9 Braden River High football players sign college scholarships ."