Northview Grad McCall Makes History As A UWF Football First Signee

December 20, 2014

A Northview High School graduate made history Friday as one of the first two student athletes to sign with the new University of West Florida football team during the NCAA midyear transfer signing period.

Northview’s Blake McCall, an offensive lineman, will transfer to UWF from Jackson State. Tyler Henderson, a safety from Crestview, will join the program after starting his college career at Florida Atlantic.

The UWF football team will play its first season in 2016. The program will add more commitments on February 4, 2015, the NCAA signing day for football. All football student-athletes enrolled at UWF during the 2015-16 academic year will redshirt that season.

Both McCall and Henderson, who were teammates at Davidson Middle School in Crestview, have enrolled at UWF for the 2015 spring semester. They will both have three years of athletic eligibility when the Argonauts begin play in 2016.

“It’s important to us that both of these student-athletes are local here in the 850 area code,” said UWF head coach Pete Shinnick. “We’re looking for young men that will be the best fit for our program from this area. They have to meet the marks that we’re looking for, and both Blake and Tyler do that.”

McCall, 6-3 and 300 pounds, helped lead Northview to an 11-3 overall record and a 4-0 district record as a senior. Northview averaged 42.9 points per game and took the Florida Class 1A state championship with a 42-21 win over Trenton High School during his senior year. McCall was a three-year starter and played all five positions in the offensive line. In 2013, he redshirted during his freshman year at Division I Jackson State. And during the 2014 season, he saw playing time as a redshirt freshman at Jackson State. On the offensive line, McCall helped lead the team to 25.8 points and 376.1 total yards per game.

At Crestview High, Henderson earned his first team all-area honors in both football and baseball. In 2013, he redshirted his freshman year at Division I Florida Atlantic and earned a spot on the Conference USA Honor Roll.

Comments

6 Responses to “Northview Grad McCall Makes History As A UWF Football First Signee”

  1. Tom Meehan on December 22nd, 2014 11:28 am

    Way to go Blake! So proud that a Chief will play for UWF. I know you will do well. Just remember, it’s your responsibility to help maintain UWF’s undefeated record.

  2. Roy Vance on December 21st, 2014 2:14 pm

    Hitem high Hitem low just make sure they can’t go. Stay on course Blake, your family is very proud of you.

  3. Richard C on December 21st, 2014 5:53 am

    Congrats Blake continue to represent Northview Chiefs.

  4. The Baggetts on December 20th, 2014 2:00 pm

    Congratulations to both young men. Awesome to see one of our local Chiefs playing close by!

  5. Gayle Weaver on December 20th, 2014 5:38 am

    Blake, your Northview family is so very proud of you. We look forward to seeing you play. Good Luck!

  6. 429SCJ on December 20th, 2014 5:27 am

    6′3, 300lbs, I do not think that Mr McCall is the type of player that a college level defensive guard or tackle wishes to line up in front of.

    Good luck gentlemen.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports