Kaufmann verbally commits to Army

McALLEN — On a day when the Rio Grande Valley had multiple college signees, former McAllen Memorial quarterback Matthew Kaufmann verbally committed to compete for Army on Wednesday.

Kaufmann is expected to sign is National Letter of Intent sometime next week, Memorial coach Bill Littleton said. Kaufmann visited the school last month.

The quarterback was named the Valley Freedom Newspapers’ Player of the Year this past season. Kaufmann rushed for 2,107 yards and 30 touchdowns in 13 games to help lead the Mustangs to their first 12-win season. Kaufmann started in 47 games for the Mustangs.

Even after he signs, Army is not allowed to officially release the names of the recruits until they arrive in West Point this summer because of the U.S. Military’s Appointment process.

ARZATE TO WEST TEXAS A&M

McAllen High kicker Jose Arzate signed his NLI on Wednesday at McAllen High to compete with Division II West Texas A&M in Canyon, which competes in the Lone Star Conference.

Arzate had hoped to sign with a Division but felt comfortable with West Texas A&M.

Arzate kicked for the Bulldogs from 2009-11 and scored 170 points, the all-time high for a Bulldogs kicker. Arzate was the VFN’s All-Valley kicker the last two seasons.

"He is talented," Harris said. "He could do everything he wanted to do. He could on-side kick, he can pooch kick, he kicked field goals and he could kick off. He is the only one of the all-time top 5 kickers (in McHi history) that was also a punter."

FAIRES, TREVINO MAKE CHOICES

EDINBURG — Edinburg’s Zachary Faires was one of 13 who signed with Texas Southern on Wednesday. Faires (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) was a long snapper and tight end with the Bobcats, and he’s expected to fill the same role at TSU, the same school that produced future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.

Texas Southern competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which is Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) level.

Faires was one of two players from Edinburg that signed. Edinburg North offensive lineman Rudy Treviño signed with New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college based in Roswell, N.M.

Treviño (6-6, 270) was a first-team All-Valley selection. Edinburg North coach Roy Garza said Treviño was injured last summer and didn’t get to participate in camps, which are crucial for college recruits. Garza said Treviño hopes to play well enough at NMMI to earn a scholarship with a Football Bowl Subdivision (former NCAA Division I) school.

GUAJARDO LANDS AT KINGSVILLE

HIDALGO — Wednesday was a significant day for Valley View’s Christian Guajardo. Actually, it was a big day for the school as well.

Guajardo, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive tackle, signed his national letter of intent on Wednesday with Texas A&M-Kingsville. Guajardo’s signing is one that Valley View coach Christian Navarro hopes will open some eyes around the Valley View program, that there are ways to play collegiately.

"There’s a lot of pride and joy, and not only in the coaching staff but what we call ‘The Brotherhood,’ which is each and every one of us and his peers," Navarro said. "With this signing, a lot of their eyes have really opened and they’re seeing that there’s actually more out there."

Navarro continued that Guajardo’s signing is inspiring his Tigers teammates to strive for what Guajardo accomplished.

YOUNG MAKES LATE SWITCH

MERCEDES — Mercedes offensive lineman Grady Young was all set to go to Mary Hardin-Baylor. But after changing his mind late, Young decided that Southern Nazarene University was a better fit.

"He’s very excited," Mercedes coach Michael Uribe said.

At Young’s signing ceremony Wednesday, Uribe told the gathering Young hasn’t yet reached his full potential but with his "work ethic and character," the 6-4, 290-pound lineman will reach those heights.

He’ll do that at a school other than Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Southern Nazarene is located in Bethany, Okla. about 10 miles from Oklahoma City. The school is in the process of moving up to Division II and will complete the transition by 2013.

Young was a second-team all-district selection this season for the Tigers.