When Jaden Longmire woke up Thursday morning, the day of his signing, he still wasn’t 100-percent sure where he’d end up.

For months, he’d juggled between Point University, a private Christian liberal arts college in West Point, Ga., and Bethel College.

But later that morning, Point University won out as the Georgiana offensive and defensive lineman made his commitment official in front of an audience consisting of his closest family and friends.

For Longmire, it was the feeling of being needed that ultimately spurred on his decision.

“It was just the feeling of how badly they wanted me,” Longmire said.

“I’ll probably end of playing defensive tackle at Point.  Because of my size, they think I’ll be able to stop the run and get off blocks.”

Longmire is the second Panther in nearly as many weeks to sign a college football scholarship, following fellow Georgiana lineman Zeke Powell’s commitment to the University of South Alabama earlier this February.

Georgiana head football coach Ezell Powell said that the recent signings are just a testament to the talent level within the Georgiana community and their hard work both on the field and in the classroom.

“I hope it’s one of those things that will be a motivating factor for all of the young kids coming up to understand that it’s more than just athletics,” Powell said. “You also have to do it in the classroom to have the opportunity to live out a dream when the opportunity presents itself.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for him and his family, and I think the young man will do a great job of representing them and this school.”

Powell said that Longmire often let his work speak for himself, calling him a quiet, laid-back, “blue-collar” guy who went about his business every day.

Though he kept his emotions in check, he also wasn’t afraid to show them.  Powell said that it was one of the things he appreciated most about Longmire.

“He was one of the two cornerstones of our offensive line this year,” Powell sadi. “Replacing him is going to be hard. He was a great leader for us up front, and he believed in what we did.

“He helped other guys believe in what we did and helped them understand that this is the way we have to work in order to be successful.  He understood that it wasn’t going to be all glitz and glamour, and he relayed that to the young guys, and that the success of our program would depend on them.  Whether they liked it or not, that’s what it was all about.  His leadership will be missed tremendously.”

For Longmire, the appreciation goes both ways.

In the past four years, Longmire has been with the Panthers for every step of the way on the team’s journey toward relevance, and eventually dominance, in Class 1A.

“Like Coach Powell says, it’s been a process,” Longmire said. “When I first started, this team won just one game.  And to come off a season where we went undefeated until the third round of the playoffs… and I think back on all of these years and all of the hard work we put in day-in and day-out, and it’s been some of the most fun times of my life.

“Watching the Panthers in the future will be even greater to see how they’ll outdo what we did and complete that main goal of bringing home a championship to this city.”