National Signing Day: Creve Coeur Student Athletes Commit To Colleges

Seven De Smet Jesuit Spartans signed letters of intent Wednesday to play baseball, football and soccer at the college level.

For more photos from the school ceremony, check out our Facebook Photo Gallery which also includes photos from Parkway North and Priory.

Read Also:

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Football

Donnie White, Jr. made it official, signing with New Mexico after making a verbal pledge in November to Tulsa. The Defensive End/Linebacker said a position switch is part of what lead to the school swap. The Golden Hurricane staff wanted him to play more at Defensive End, while White wanted to stay with a hybrid scheme that would let him play at Linebacker but then switch to the Defensive End position on pass rush downs. 

Tulsa, which thought a few weeks ago it would get two St. Louis-area talents in this year's class, ends up with none, as both White and CBC's Jonathan Parker opted to go elsewhere. Parker chose to stay closer to home and signd with Iowa.

"I have the utmost respect for Tulsa, they stayed with me through the whole process, I thank them for that but at the end of the day its about you and I think I made the right choice by going with my heart and that was New Mexico," White told Patch.

Lucas Nikolaisen, a Tight End, signed with Holy Cross, a school now able to offer athletic scholarships for football.

Nick Wunderli, a member of the Spartans' vaunted offensive line, signed Wednesday with Missouri S&T.

Rugby

In Rugby, Mike Kellett signed a letter of intent with Lindenwood University as that school moves up to Division I.

Baseball

A pair of baseball Spartans will continue their careers at the next level, as Brandon Miller signed with Lindenwood and Brandon Gutzler signed to play at Meramec Community College. Miller will not pitch this season as he continues recovery from Tommy John surgery, while Gutzler has also attracted the interest of pro scouts, according to De Smet Jesuit Athletic Director John Stewart.

Soccer

Another former Greg Vitello pupil, this time on the soccer side, will also graduate to the next level. Brian Hail, a former Post-Dispatch Player of the Year, will play at Wisconsin. Hail, did not play for the Spartans his senior season, instead choosing to stick with his Scott Gallagher club team as part of new rules which required players to pick the academy system over a high school program.

Hail said the coaching staff, and sports medicine facilities were draws to Madison, as was the opportunity to play with current Gallagher teammate Nicholas Jones, who also signed with the Badgers, and a former Gallagher teammate and rival at CBC, AJ Cochran.

Patch will have more on the college transition facing Creve Coeur area soccer standouts who went the "Academy route" later this week.