Friday Recruiting Roundup: Four East Texas Football Seniors Commit to Colleges

A quartet of East Texas senior football players made their college pledges Friday afternoon with National Signing Day only five days away.

Carthage tailback Tevin Pipkin told ETSN.fm that he has committed to Kilgore College, which also got a commitment from New Diana running back/athlete Garrett Barton, according to New Diana head coach Brett Ratliff. Bullard Brook Hill's Zac Wilson, who will likely play linebacker in college, announced via Twitter his commitment to Hendrix College.

Kilgore's Benny Colbert started the day with the first commitment as he pledged to Texas A&M-Commerce. Colbert, who played quarterback for the 'Dogs in 2013, will likely play in the secondary at the college level.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Pipkin capped a history-making, three-year varsity career with 2,113 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2013, when he played a major role in Carthage's 15-1 Class 3A Division I state championship campaign. Pipkin also served as a threat catching the ball out of the backfield with 19 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns.

Pipkin's senior effort marked the sixth 2,000-yard rushing season in Carthage history as he became the Bulldogs' career rushing leader with 5,465 yards, breaking the previous record held by former SMU running back Kris Briggs (5,130 yards from 1995-98).

Pipkin will join the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Barton at Kilgore College, which is a JUCO D-I program that competes in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. Barton had a big year himself running the ball, finishing 2013 with 1,432 yards and 19 touchdowns. He added 15 catches for a team-best 384 yards and five scores, while recording 36 tackles, one interception, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery from his safety spot.

Ratliff said Barton will likely play slot receiver and be involved in the return game at KC.

Colbert was one of the region's best cornerbacks in 2012 as a junior, when he accumulated 54 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two kick blocks, and seven pass breakups.

This past fall, Colbert moved to quarterback and helped the Bulldogs compile more than 5,000 rushing yards. Colbert ran for 770 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 44 of 71 passes for 802 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Texas A&M-Commerce, which competes in the Division II Lone Star Conference, signed eight East Texans a year ago.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Wilson played on both sides of the ball in 2013 for Brook Hill, which went 7-4 and made a playoff appearance. Wilson started the year at quarterback before an injury sidelined him for a while, but he returned at linebacker, where he tallied 47 tackles, one interception, and two fumble recoveries.

Hendrix, which is a Division III program, competes in the Southern Athletic Association with other D-III schools from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky.