Chapel Hill K Austyn Fendrick Commits To Northwestern State + OL Jeremy West Picks Up Offer From Grambling

Thomas Sitton had to be a particularly proud head coach Tuesday afternoon.

Chapel Hill senior kicking specialist Austyn Fendrick committed to Northwestern State while senior offensive lineman Jeremy West received his fourth overall Division I college football scholarship opportunity from Grambling State. Both players announced their respective news via their Twitter accounts.

Fendrick's situation is very unique among kickers.

Northwestern State, an FCS program in the Southland Conference, offered him a full-ride scholarship in early June. Most collegiate kickers pay full tuition their first year, walk onto the team and then receive a scholarship only after proving themselves on the level.

The specialist will join a Demons team which posted a 6-6 record last season after his senior year and is a favorite destination among East Texas players.

Van defensive end Brice Borgeson, Kilgore offensive lineman Jonathan Hubbard and John Tyler cornerback Ike Warren became the latest local players in the fold last February when they signed their national letters of intent. As of this week, the three signees are all on campus.

Fendrick connected on 5-of-7 field goal attempts with a long of 43 yards last season. He also made 53-of-54 PAT attempts and put 28 of 72 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

As a punter, he averaged 38 yards per kick.

Chapel Hill could give the specialist a chance to beat his 68 total points from last season. Most of the team's critical offensive starters from a Class 4A Division I area round team which lost to eventual state champion Navasota will return this season.

West (6-3, 297) is among those players.

Grambling State, an FCS program from the Southwestern Athletic Conference enters the lineman's pictures after a 7-5 season in 2014.

Northwestern State, Louisiana-Lafayette and SWAC conference foe Alcorn State join the Grambling State Tigers in the mix.

West also has interest from Oklahoma State and Texas Tech heading into his senior campaign.

Fendrick and West, like all senior high school football players, become eligible to sign with any school that offers them on Feb. 3, 2016.

Chapel Hill opens its season Aug. 28 at home against Lindale.