National Signing Day 2021: Giant class for Episcopal's soaring Eagles

Scott Haney was looking at the number of masked faces around him at Episcopal's Semmes Gym, and couldn't quite process what he was seeing.

"Last year we only had, I think, one table," the Georgia Tech-bound senior swimmer said. "Now this year we've got like 10. It's incredible."

One of National Signing Day's first ceremonies was also Jacksonville's biggest Wednesday, as nearly two dozen Episcopal athletes confirmed their college plans.

The Eagles inked the largest class of the day in Northeast Florida, with 23 athletes signing — a 24th, Florida tight end and early enrollee Nick Elksnis was recognized but had signed previously.

The row of socially distanced tables stretched two rows deep, and both extended nearly from end to end of the gym.

Athletic director Andy Kidd said the signing class was the largest in school history.

In all, the morning's Episcopal signees included athletes in baseball, softball, football, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, wrestling, rowing, swimming and the pole vault.

"It was so surreal... it was awesome to be a part of it," said senior infielder Kami Eppley, who signed with Stetson softball.

More highlights from around signing day in Jacksonville:

* A 14-sack season had been enough to earn Parker defensive end Chris Victor a berth on the All-First Coast team and a trip to the state postseason.

What it wasn't doing was earning the senior Division I football attention. For months. And months.

"I tried to take my mind off of it with basketball, tried to focus on the season," Victor said. "The waiting part killed me."

Until Sunday night.

Victor signed with Mississippi Valley State at a ceremony in the Parker media center shortly after noon, after receiving an offer from the Southwestern Athletic Conference school on Sunday night — barely 48 hours before signing day.

"Sunday, we went on a Zoom call, an official visit, and I talked with the head coach [Vincent Dancy] and all of the other defensive coaching staff," Victor said. "I really felt like this was the best choice for me."

The speedy Victor, who also competes in basketball for the Braves, played receiver earlier in his career before converting to the defensive edge. Now, he's on his way to the college that produced the king of NFL receivers, Jerry Rice.

"It's a big moment," he said. "Something that I've really dreamed about, going to play college ball at the next level."

* Two years ago, Rian Covington was fighting cancer.

On Wednesday, the Atlantic Coast senior swimmer marked the latest step in his comeback to the pool, signing with Florida State.

"It's kind of the accumulation of all my hard work and determination, so to have a day where I can see that all come full circle is super special," he said.

An All-First Coast selection, Covington raced in the Florida High School Athletic Association championships in November.

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma on Christmas Eve in 2018, forcing him to undergo months of treatment.

Even amid the concern and the long recovery process, though, Covington said he didn't lose heart.

"Everything kind of shut down, but I realized that I would get another opportunity again when I got better," he said. "Now, I don't take anything for granted."