NSD 2022: McKitchen, Lee signees ready for new chapter; River Region seniors sign
Yvonte McKitchen (standing) speaks during the Lee signing ceremony as teammates Julius Owens and Austin Yelder look on. (Staff Photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
Robert E. Lee offensive lineman Yvonte McKitchen has dealt with a lot of emotional highs and lows in the last several months.
Last August, he and his teammates lost a dear friend in Dmitri “Big Meech” McKee during preseason practice. It left a pale on the entire season.
The Generals had an up and down year on the field, finishing 8-2 but could not get beyond the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.
McKitchen, a 6-foot-3 310-pound four-year starter, dealt with all of that, plus the fact that practically no colleges were paying him any attention.
Or at least he thought.
McKitchen was one of four Generals to sign a grant-in-aid on National Signing Day on Wednesday.
He picked up a late offer from Livingstone College (N.C.) on Tuesday and signed the next day.
“Yes, it was frustrating,” McKitchen said. “I wasn’t sure why no one had shown interest in me. I thought I had done something wrong.
“But I stayed faithful and believed something would happen. And it did.”
McKitchen was joined by defensive back Julius Owens, linebacker Austin Yelder and wideout Christopher Dillihay as signees from Lee. Yelder signed with Tennessee State, Dillihay with Bethune Cookman and Owens with Independence Community College in Kansas.
“These guys have been through a lot so it makes me proud to see them get this opportunity,” stated coach Eric Hudson, who led the program for three years before being released from his job following the 2021 season.
“This is a family and we do all we can to look out for these young men. We all had to deal with the tragedy and I know Meech would have been up there today.”
McKitchen dedicated his senior season to McKee. The two had come up through the Lee program since eighth grade and started along side one another on the offensive line.
After McKee passed, McKitchen moved to the right tackle position.
“I thought about that a lot,” he admitted. “It wasn’t easy at first but I kept hearing (Meech) telling me to keep going.”
Yelder will play in what has become one of his favorite cities, Nashville, when he attends Tennessee State this fall.
“I just fell in love with the place,” he said. “It’s a great place and I really enjoyed my time when I went on campus. I’m really looking forward to being up there.”
Like so many others, McKitchen admitted he hasn’t been away from home much in his life but he is about to embark on an adventure.
“At home I just ask my mom to take care of something and she does,” he said. “Now it’s up to me. It makes me a little nervous to think about it but I’m looking forward to it.”
Seniors from Prattville signing on Wednesday included (back row, from left) Trey Lee, Joe Lane, Javen Andrews, ToMari Vinson, Javon Harris; Collin Rogers; (bottom row) Juius Toodle, Eric Benson and Laderius Fitts. Also pictured (coat/tie) coach JB Wallace. (Photo courtesy Rob Mitchell, Prattville Athletic Director)
Others sign on Wednesday
Several high school seniors took part in National Signing Day on Wednesday including Prattville, which had nine players sign.
The list included kicker Collin Rogers signing with SMU; wideout Laderius Fitts with Austin Peay; lineman Joe Lane with Huntingdon; linebacker Eric Benson with Bethel College; lineman Javon Harris and lineman Trey Lee with Bethel College; lineman Javen Andrews and lineman Julius Toddle with Chilton County Prep; defensive end Tomari Vinson with Jones Community College.
Park Crossing had two players sign including defensive end Cameron Williams with Independence Community College and defensive back Brandon Wilson with Tennessee State.
G.W. Carver had three players sign including defensive back Jaqueraius Thomas with Shorter; defensive lineman Tyrone Johnson with Bethel and lineman JaTavid Robinson with ASA Miami.
Pike Road quarterback Iverson Hooks announced in December that he planned to sign with UAB but waited until Wednesday.