Three senior football players from Southeast High School are preparing for a significant transition as they make plans to continue their athletic careers over 1,300 miles away in Iowa. Myreon Lowe, Caleb Steele, and LaDavion Johnson officially signed letters of intent on National Signing Day, committing to play at William Penn University and Clarke University.
Myreon Lowe and Caleb Steele will join William Penn University in rural Oskaloosa, a school named after a Creek Indian princess. The duo expressed excitement about the new opportunities that await them. “It’s going to be a new adventure,” said Lowe, a linebacker. He looks forward to experiencing new environments and meeting different people, which he believes will ultimately enhance his development as both a player and a person.
LaDavion Johnson, who signed with Clarke University in Dubuque, has already begun his adventure. “I saw snow for the first time,” he remarked, acknowledging the dramatic climate change they will face from November to March. Despite the challenges of colder weather, all three players are eager to embrace their new surroundings.
Both Lowe and Steele’s decision to attend William Penn was influenced by their longstanding friendship. “We’ve been friends since freshman football,” Steele said. “I could’ve gone anywhere, but once I got the opportunity to play ball with my brother, I gotta take that.” This support system will be crucial as they navigate their new lives. As Lowe noted, “When we get homesick, one of us will have to tell the other, ‘Hey, man, we gotta keep working. We gotta keep our heads level. We got somewhere to be.’”
The early morning practices will require discipline and accountability. Lowe highlighted the importance of having Steele by his side. “We gotta wake up at 5 a.m. for practice? If I don’t want to wake up, he’ll make me wake up. We’ll hold each other accountable.”
Their head coach, Curt Bradley, played a role in guiding their decisions regarding both football and financial commitments. “When it’s not a D-1 full scholarship, there’s lots to contend with—academic money, football money,” he explained. “They don’t want to put themselves in financial handcuffs for the future.” Coach Bradley praised the players for their dedication, noting their 100% attendance in offseason workouts. “They’ve been raised in great families. They’re great kids. These guys are going to make it,” he added.
Interestingly, while the players will be teammates in college, they will also be opponents. Both William Penn and Clarke University compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Johnson commented on the upcoming rivalry, saying, “That’s going to be fun. I’ll be in touch with them, see how they’re doing. But when that game comes? Gonna be a different story.” Lowe is ready for the challenge. “He’s going to try to run me over.”
In addition to these three athletes, several other students from the Manatee School District made their commitments known on National Signing Day. Notable signees from Southeast High included Jaeda Dean, who will play volleyball at the State College of Florida, and Liam Fernandez, who committed to SUNY Maritime College for football.
Athletes from other local high schools also made headlines. Parrish Community High saw students sign with various colleges, including Wesley Anderson at State College of Florida for baseball and Caleb Hoch at Jefferson Community College in New York for baseball. At Manatee High, notable signers included Ronin Dangler, who will play football at Mercer University in Georgia, and Zyaire Green, who signed with Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania for football.
With exciting paths ahead, these young athletes are set to take their skills to new heights while representing their schools and communities in the collegiate athletic arena. The journey from Florida to Iowa marks not just a geographical change but an important step in their personal and professional growth as they prepare for the challenges of college football.
