MIAMI — Nine members of the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College football team have signed mid-term letters of intent at the NCAA Division 1 level, and two others have signed letters of intent at the NCAA Division II level according to Golden Norse head coach Clay Patterson.

The Division I signees include: Nick Johns (QB), Sammy Bernard (OL), Larry Joubert (OL), Davis Harker (OL), Jaylon George (DL), Jacques Penny (DL), Marcus Green (DB), Dalton Witherspoon (K) and Lon "Case" Hampton (DS). 

Tometrion "Taz" Griffis (DL) and Jonathan Palmer (OL) both signed to play at the Division II level.

Johns (6-2, 220 from Leesburg, VA.) signed with the Zips from Akron University. Johns helped lead the Norsemen offense which broke several school records during the 2016 season. 

Benard (6-5, 285 from Lindsay), Joubert (6-4, 265 from Oklahoma City Douglass) and Hampton (6-1, 250 from Grove) all signed to play at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. All three players were starters for the Golden Norse in 10 games as sophomores. Joubert and Benard were first team selections to the all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference squad.

Harker (6-3, 305 from Tulsa Union) signed with New Mexico State University at Las Crucas. Harker started both years at center for the Norsemen. He received all-SWJCFC honorable mention recognition.

George (6-3, 260 from Atlanta, Georgia) inked a letter of intent with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. As a sophomore George ranked third on the Golden Norse with 36 solo tackles and 41 assists in 10 games as a defensive tackle. He recorded 9.5 quarterback sacks for minus-54 yards, 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for minus-19 yards and one fumble recovery.

Penney (6-1, 310 from Tulsa Washington) signed an intent letter with the Rattlers of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. He played in 10 games at nose tackle as a redshirt freshman. He posted two unassisted tackles and six assists while coming off the bench.

Green (6-2, 190 from Cedar Hill, Texas) is transferring to the University of Memphis in Tennessee. Green ranked second at NEO with 55 solo tackles and 28 assists while recording seven deflected passes. He earned second team all-SWJCFC honors.

Record-setting place kicker Dalton Witherspoon (5-9, 160 from Moore) is joining the University of Houston Cougars. A second team all-conference selection as a special teams performer, Witherspoon established a new NEO school record with 92 total points by a kicker while also leading the team in overall scoring. Witherspoon connected on 41 of 42 extra point attempts while hitting 17 of 21 field goal tries. Witherspoon also broke the previous NEO record with a 58-yard field goal.

???????Griffis (6-4, 270 from Shawnee, OK) will transfer to East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Griffis was part of the Golden Norsemen defensive line rotation that finished in the top ten nationally in sacks for the fourth straight season.

Palmer (6-4, 285 from Oklahoma City) signed with Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Palmer was a versatile player for an experienced offensive line who rotated at all three offensive line positions.

The Golden Norsemen football program has produced over 30 Division I (FBS & FCS) signees over the past 18 months. The next national signing day for both NJCAA and high school student athletes is February 1^st, 2017. The Norsemen are expected to add to their Division I signee total in the spring of 2017 with five Norsemen currently holding FBS offers. NEO will look to sign 35-40 student athletes for their 2017 class.