National Signing Day proved to be exciting for Peoria Area football players.

Kendrick Foster joined Josh Augusta and Logan Tuley-Tillman and became the third Peoria athlete to sign with a Division-1 school. Kendrick signed with the University of Illinois, Augusta will be heading to Missouri and Tuley-Tillman is already enrolled in classes at the University of Michigan.

Foster is a 5’8, 185lb running back from Peoria Richwoods high school. He gave a verbal commitment to Illinois before the season, but waited to sign until yesterday. Foster finished his high school career with 6,401 rushing yards and is the Peoria Area’s all-time leading rusher and fifth all-time in the state. The Illinois recruit was recognized on the all state team and became the first two-time winner of the Peoria Journal Star’s large-school player of the year award. Foster is part of a new emphasis U of I has on recruiting top athletes from Illinois. Other schools that gave Foster a scholarship offer were Illinois State and New Mexico.

Josh Augusta, a 6’4, 275lb defensive tackle from Peoria Central, signed his letter of intent to play football for the University of Missouri last month. Augusta is the Tiger’s highest ranked prospect and according to 247Sports’ rankings, Augusta is a 4-star recruit and is the 19^th best player at his position this year. He is ranked 236 out of all prospects in the nation and is the ninth best player coming out of Illinois. Augusta was selected to the All State 1^st team as a tight-end and defensive lineman. He received offers from 10 Division-1 schools but it came down to Missouri, Illinois, Michigan St. and Illinois State.

Logan Tuley-Tillman signed with Michigan in February of last year. He graduated a semester early and is enrolled in classes at U of M this semester. According to ESPN, the 6’7, 314lb offensive tackle is the 7^th best lineman in the nation, 3^rd best prospect in the state and 104^th best recruit in the nation. Tuley-Tillman chose Michigan out of 21 Division-1 schools which included; Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC.

These three weren’t the only ones that brought excitement to the schools and families. Nine other area football players signed letters of intent to play college football.

Four players from Peoria Richwoods:

Tight end, Brandon Roberts accepted a walk-on invitation to play with Illinois.

Offensive tackle Tyler Brown signed with Illinois State.

Center Avery Stewart and lineman, Zach Jackson signed with an NAIA school, William Penn.

Four players from Peoria Central:

Quarterback Eric Daird signed to play at Western Illinois.

Linebackers Harrison Hale and Darion Simmons will play together at McKendree (D-II).

Defensive back Dan Watson is heading to D-III school Augustana.

Elmwood/Brimfield running back Brady Westart, the Peoria Journal Star’s small-school player of the year, will play at St. Cloud State, a Division II university in Minnesota.