Prep football | Three Bradenton Christian players sign to attend NAIA programs

BRADENTON -- Two Bradenton Christian players are getting in on the ground floor of the Southeastern University football program.

Safety Dusty Peebles and offensive lineman Kevyn Rametta signed to play for the NAIA school in Lakeland on Thursday.

College football will be new to the pair of Panthers.

Then again, college football is new to the whole school.

Playing in a new on-campus stadium, the Fire went 7-3 in the program's first season in 2014 and finished second in the inaugural year of the Sun Conference. Southeast offensive lineman Raleigh Alexander was a red shirt as a freshman, and Palmetto's Devan Barnes committed to play there Wednesday.

"I really got a good feeling from the coaches on my visit," said Peebles, who also played quarterback for the Panthers last season. "I met Coach (Richard) Marsh and Coach (Shap) Boyd, and they told me I would be a good fit."

Three Bradenton Christian football players committed to NAIA programs during a signing ceremony at the school's auditorium.

Offensive and defensive lineman Brett Hiskes signed with Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The school may be unknown to most Manatee County football fans, but it's well-known at BCS. Several teachers and Superintendent Dan Vande Pol are alumni.

"It's got a good Christian foundation," said Hiskes, who will be an offensive lineman in college.

Rametta, who was the center and long snapper for the Panthers, has been told he could play anywhere on the offensive line.

Peebles and Rametta plan to study finance and business, while Hiskes is going into nursing.

"I'm really a cheerleader for these three young men," BCS head coach Allan Gerber said. "It's great to see them on the threshold of the next stage in their lives."

BCS finished 4-5 in 2014.

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 12:00 AM.