Dundalk High's Joe Speed, a first-team All-Metro selection at defensive back by The Sun last fall, said he will sign a letter of intent with Navy today, the first day of the National Collegiate Athletic Association football signing period.
Speed's two-way play sparked Dundalk (8-2) to its first season lTC with seven or more victories since 1980. Speed, 6 feet 2, 180 pounds, had three interceptions, and, as a quarterback, rushed for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Two other area high school players also announced their college choices and said they will sign before the signing period ends April 1.
Overlea running back/linebacker John Swigart (5-11, 215) announced that he would attend Towson State.
Poly defensive back Antwaine Smith (5-10, 170) chose Northeastern. Smith had been recruited heavily by Maryland.
Officials at Towson State said that no signings would be announced until today because of NCAA rules. However, the Tigers reportedly have commitments from DeMatha quarterback Dan Crowley (6-1, 180) and Billy Fisher, a 280-pound defensive tackle from Camden County (N.J.) Junior College.
Morgan State, the city's other Division I-AA team, has not hired a coach to replace Ed Wyche, who was fired after a 1-10 season, but the Bears have commitments from three players -- linebacker Ronald Dixon (6-2, 230) from Oxon Hill, quarterback James Perkins (6-3, 175) of Gwynn Park and defensive lineman Anthony Byrd III (6-2, 250) from Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy. Byrd previously attended John Marshall High in Chesterfield, Va.
All three are expected to sign today.
Morgan also was waiting to hear from Ernest Johnson (6-0, 175), an offensive lineman from DeMatha. He is expected to sign with the Bears today.