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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Chilton County High School held a signing day ceremony on Feb. 9 to recognize four of their football players taking the next step in their athletic and academic career. Safety Jakeveon Bolding, running back Rashard Childers, center Isaiah Davidson and kicker Paul Romero all signed their letters of intent in the CCHS auditorium in front of family, friends, and coaches.

“All four of these represented the program well on the field and off the field,” CCHS coach Marvin Morton said. “I could not be prouder of them.”

Romero signed with Tennessee Valley Prep Sport Academy in Huntsville to continue his kicking there. He said Tennessee Valley having a kicking coach on staff was the biggest thing that drew him to sign with them.

“The coaching staff there managed to convince me to come play there, and I had multiple prep offers,” Romero said. “(Tennessee Valley) has a kicking coach, and none of the others had one. I feel like I bond well and communicate well with him.”

Romero said the coaches at CCHS helped him learn lessons through the good and bad days, and how to pull through and keep going.

“Paul was just a soccer player who happened to play football,” Morton said. “The last couple years he took a lot of pride in excelling in his kicking abilities in football. For him to (have that kicking coach), it shows how important it is for him to be successful kicking in (college) football.”

Romero said his senior night was his best memory of playing football at CCHS.

Childers, who posted over 1,000 rushing yards his senior season in 2022, signed his letter of intent to attend Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

“It was something close to home and something I could handle,” Childers said. “I liked the energy there when I visited, and it seemed like it was all love and it seemed all real. I thought that was a place where I wanted to be.”

Childers plans to play running back at Huntingdon as well and hopes to be vying for touches and starting spot his freshman year there.

CCHS taught Childers how to be a leader, and he plans on taking those traits with him to the college ranks. The Tigers’ programs also taught Childers how to fight through adversity.

“These guys know adversity makes them stronger, and I have seen that personally through Rashard,” Morton said. “He was able to overcome some things, and I am very proud he is going to be able to take that mentality with him to Huntington.”

Childers said his junior year is the fondest memory he’ll have from his time at CCHS. He was able to fight through adversity and solidify himself in the Tigers backfield that season.

“I know coming in not a lot of people looked at me as a starter,” Childers said. “I came in and established myself as a starter.”

Davidson signed with Faulkner University in Montgomery where he looks to continue playing center. Davidson did not know Faulkner was a program until a recruiter from the school came to visit him last summer.

“I took a visit … Me coming from a Christian background I learned what Faulkner was about,” Davidson said. “I already knew then I was locked in. How the players and coaches interact with each other, there is a lot of love shown in the atmosphere, and I loved it.”

Davidson did not pick up his scholarship offer from Faulkner until his last game visit to the school. He did have offers from other schools, but they were not what Davidson was looking for, and he was set on Faulkner.

“When something is pushing you back, you have to push forward,” Davidson said. “When people doubt you, you have to be able to respond to that. People are going to doubt you everywhere you go no matter where you go … I took it and used it to push me.”

Davidson said the time spent with teammates are the memories he’ll carry with him into college from CCHS.

“He was the glue to our offensive line,” Morton said. “He is a very humble young man, and he is also going to bring that to Faulkner. He is well-rounded with a good work ethic.”

Bolding fought through some adversity of his own during his senior year in 2022. Bolding suffered a foot injury midseason and was sidelined virtually the entire second half of the CCHS football season, his last opportunity for film and looks.

Now, Bolding has signed his letter of intent to play at Alabama State University in the fall.

“He never gave up,” Morton said. “He stayed true and kept the faith. That is where God wants him to be, and I know he will do great things at ASU.”

Bolding played both wide receiver and safety at CCHS but will focus on the defensive side of the ball and the safety position at ASU.

“When I took my official visit, I really liked it,” Bolding said. “They treated me like it was home, and I knew then I was going to commit there. I am going to miss the Friday nights playing, scoring, catching interceptions … the most.”

When Morton arrived at CCHS as an assistant coach, the four players were freshmen. Morton was able to coach all four players throughout their entire high school career.

“It has been really cool to see these guys grow these last four years,” Morton said. “I am so proud of them because not only are they getting the chance to continue to play athletically, but also get the chance to further their education.”