Heritage got National Signing Day started in Rockdale County Wednesday morning.

Several Patriots' football players and two soccer players gathered in the school's media center at 8:30 a.m. to sign letters of intent to play their respective sport in college.

Highligting the football signings was Ryan Watson. The All-state honoree, Region 8-AAAA defensive Player of the Year and The News' All-Area defensive Player of the Year signed with Air Force.

Rockdale News All-Area defensive team member and All-Region defensive team member Jamaal Lane signed with Division II Fort Valley State. Also signing with Fort Valley State is Quami Stanley, another All-region player of the year and the region's second leading rusher Quali Stanley. 

Teammates Robert Boddie and Domic Craft signed with Dean College and Jordan Martin is headed to Georgia Southwestern, where he will play baseball. Brandon Campbell is the Patriots other signee in football, but is still trying to decide between Division III schools.

Watson wasn't the only Heritage athlete to head toward a Division I school, as soccer player Arielle Gunderson signed with Florida.

Gunderson is going to UF on an academic scholarship to pursue a career in arenautical engineering. The Patriots' midfielder chose the Gators over Purdue.

Gunderson's teammate Courtney Hodges will also be continuing her soccer career, as she signed with Clayton State.

 Later Wednesday afternoon, Salem also sent some football players to college.

Jahaad Coleman, the region's top rusher, signed to play at Alabama State.

Teammates Terrance Duke and Brandon Cullen also signed letters of intent, to Reinhardt and LaGrange, respectively.