FAIRHOPE, Alabama – Four Fairhope Pirates signed letters of intent to play college football on Wednesday, National Signing Day for prospective college football players.

Nate Andrews, who played wide receiver, quarterback and defensive back among other positions during his Fairhope career, signed with Florida State. Defensive back Dre Ervin signed with Miles College, running back Bryan Bell signed with Fort Scott Community College and Keylan Smith picked Faulkner University.

“We are really excited about all these young men, Brian, Dre, Keylan and Nate,” Fairhope head coach Adam Winegarden said. “We are just very excited that they have this opportunity. They are great students in the classroom and great athletes on the field.”

Andrews was originally committed to Minnesota and received interest from Alabama, Tennessee and other SEC schools before picking Florida State.

“I just felt like Florida State was the best place for me to go to,” Andrews said. “It is close to home and I knew the coaches well. I just felt comfortable going there.”

He expects to play defense in college.

“I think they need me on defense, maybe at safety,” Andrews said. “I just really want to be on the field. I just love the game of football.”

Ervin picked Miles because he said it felt familiar to him.

“When I took my official visit there it felt like family,” Ervin said. “They were very nice. The head coach there reminds me of coach Winegarden, so it felt like home. It was a very easy decision to make.”

Smith will play for Faulkner University in Montgomery.

“I had some smaller schools looking at me that couldn’t offer athletic scholarships, but Faulkner told me they would like for me to play there,” Smith said. “I went there and liked it a lot. I’m excited to have another opportunity to play football.”

Bell chose Fort Scott so that he would have the opportunity to transfer to a Division-1 school later on.

“I would rather go JUCO because I think I have a chance to go Division-1, and that’s where I want to be,” Bell, who also played receiver and defensive back in high school, said. “They want me to play running back and that’s my favorite position.”