Hancock, Wakefield sign with colleges
A dream for any high school athlete is being able to get a scholarship and having the opportunity to play at the next level. For seniors Steven Wakefield and Zykese Hancock, this dream is becoming a reality.
Wakefield signed to Savannah State University in Savannah on Feb. 5 at Cedar Shoals High School. At Savannah State, he will play Division II football at the offensive tackle position.
“The players and coaches were very welcoming, and it felt like somewhere I would want to play for the next four years,” Wakefield said.
Hancock signed to Antelope Valley Community College in Lancaster, California. He will play CCCAA football at defensive tackle.
“I’m excited to be playing at the next level. Moving to California will be a big change, but I’m ready,” Hancock said.
Hancock had a few bumps in the road throughout high school. He admitted to hanging around the wrong crowd in his first couple years of high school, which lead to him quitting football his sophomore year.
“I was hanging around the wrong people who didn’t want the best for me, so it was only right to change my ways and get back to playing football,” Hancock said.
Hancock came back to the Cedar football program his senior year. Now, Hancock is confident in the future of his football career and more than ready for this next chapter.
High school football had rough patches for Wakefield as well after different injuries occurred mid-season, lowering his expectations for college eligibility. Over time, Wakefield matured and started taking football in high school more seriously, considering his talent.
“Football really helped him come out of his shell, before football he was always shy. Once he started playing I noticed he started to break out of his shell and mature,” said Wakefield’s mother, Kashavia Wright.
“Steven has matured a lot this past year, around commitment and recruiting season he really started to mature and get serious about his future,” head coach Leroy Ryals said.
Wakefield remains confident when it comes to balancing the workload of college as well as football.
“I’m going to balance college work the same way I do it here, school first, football second. I’ve got no doubts about the future of my career,” Wakefield said.
