Two key members of Vigor’s football team, Brandon Purifoy and Jerrian Graham, were honored Monday ahead of Wednesday’s early signing day.

Purifoy will play college football at Mississippi Valley State University, while Graham will play at South Alabama.

Since most schools are out already for the Christmas break, many are holding signing ceremonies prior to Signing Day.

Purifoy, a defensive back who has a 3.7 grade point average, had 124 tackles during the 2023 season, with 19 of them being for losses. He also had six sacks, four interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. He was also a member of Vigor’s 2021 Class 4A state championship team.

Graham, who has a 3.0 GPA and who normally plays wide receiver, decided to make a sacrifice for the team and play quarterback. He completed 52-of-100 passes for 788 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. He also rushed 52 times for 415 yards and five touchdowns and caught five passes for 77 yards and another score.

“I liked Mississippi Valley,” said Purifoy, who was also recruited by Alabama A&M, Tennessee State and North Alabama. “I like the way they’re rebuilding, and I’m going to be part of that. To have all these people come out here and support me means a lot.”

Like Purifoy, Graham, who served as a team captain, was a member of Vigor’s 2021 Class 4A football team and played in this year’s North-South All-Star game. He also excelled in track & field, winning sliver in the 100-meter dash in the Class 4A championships and took gold in the 100 at last year’s Class 5A championships and as a member of the 4 X 100-meter relay team.

Graham, who also plans to run track for the Jags, said USA was a growing school and he wanted to be a part of it.

“It’s a growing school,” he said. “I want to be a part of that growing school and the things they’re going to accomplish in the years. During this past season, one of my most memorable games was against Blount at quarterback. Being a quarterback was great. I was able to touch the ball on every play, and I had the best running back in the state (Carlos Benjamin).

“Recruiting was pretty stressful. I didn’t get many offers during my ninth and tenth grade year, but after the spring of my 11th grade year, that’s when everything began to pick up. It was stressful, but after I committed, things died down and now that I’ve signed, everything’s going to be smooth.”

Vigor head coach Markus Cook said he was proud of both athletes.

“I’m a proud coach,” he said. “These are two guys who came here and spent four years at Vigor High School, two natives of Prichard, Alabama, two hardworking kids. The big joy about today is that I know these two kids are going to college and excel; they’re going to do what they got to do on the classroom and on the field, and they’re going to go and make us proud.

“It’s a joy to coach young men like this, and it’s a big testament to our school, our faculty and our staff, but also it’s a testament to their parents and their support system who taught them what they’re supposed to do at home and brought us two amazing young men.”