Anniston, AL – Anniston High recognizes Doss, Kirby, Lewis and Wansart on National Signing Day. As many two more expected to sign.
By Joe Medley
Anniston High recognized four football signees at Wednesday’s National Signing Day Ceremony.
Offensive lineman Collin Wansart (Birmingham Southern) and defensive back Love Kirby (UAB) attended. Quarterback Gavin Doss (Navy) was out of town, and defensive back Jayden Lewis has enrolled at Tulane and is attending classes and workouts there.
“All of those kids are really smart kids,” Anniston coach Rico Jackson said. “They’re all 3.0-and-above kids.
“We’re going to have,maybe, two more sign. It’ll be later.”
Jackson said T.K.Downie has a pending recruiting visit next week.
Lewis, an all-state selection for his work as a defensive back, running back and kick returner, attended last year’s signing-day ceremony, where he announced his commitment to Auburn.
He reopened his recruitment and chose Tulane, following former Troy coach Jon Sumrall,now Tulane’s head coach.
“I’m really proud of him,” Jackson said. “His recruiting was really intense. Tulane is a great place, with a family atmosphere. I really think he’s going to thrive.
“I just texted him a couple of days ago. Everything’s going well.”
Doss, an All-Calhoun County pick, played his senior year at Anniston after playing his first three high school seasons at Saks. He committed to Navy in the fall, the week he ended up leading Anniston to a victory at Piedmont.
“They have a new offensive coordinator, but he does a lot of similar things that they’ve done in the past,” Jackson said. “When he graduates, he can list his job.
“I thought Navy was a really good fit for him. He’s a tough kid. They’re going to provide him with what he needs to be successful.”
Kirby, an All-Calhoun County pick, accepted a preferred walk-on spot at UAB over scholarship offers elsewhere. With a 3.6 GPA, he earned academic scholarship money through the Green and Gold and Be Smart scholarships.
“He has his whole first year paid for, so it all worked out,” Jackson said.”Now he has to go there and earn his dues, but they were really excited about him. They were on the line about offering him.”
Kirby said he liked UAB’s atmosphere.
As for his prep career, he’ll always be remembered for key plays in Anniston victories at Handley in 2022 and Booker T. Washington in 2023.
“I feel like I had a great high school career,” he said. “Now, it’s time to take my talents to the next level.”
Wansart, an All-Calhoun County pick, picked BSC over.Central Methodist.
“Academic wise, it’s great,” he said. “I want to major in business. One day, I want to own my own business, so Birmingham Southern was the best option for me and the best option to set up my life.”
Jackson called BSC a “fit” for Wansart.
“It’s not too far from home,” Jackson said. “He can get back and forth, and family can see him.”
