ANDREWS Throughout their high school careers, Andrews’ Beau Narrell and Casey Buck have put in the work.

From early-morning weight room sessions to after-school lifts and traveling to different camps, the Mustangs’ senior duo has done more than enough to garner attention from colleges from around Texas.

Wednesday afternoon at The Dome inside Andrews High School, Buck and Narrell signed their letters of intent to play college football in the fall.

Narrell inked with UTPB, while Buck chose to attend Wayland Baptist University in Plainview.

“It just really felt like home,” Buck said about his decision. “For a long time I was real nervous because I didn’t know where I wanted to go, I was still unsure.

“I had choices and I was like ‘man I just don’t know if I’ve found the right fit yet’ and then I went on my visit to Wayland and it was just like ‘man, this is where I need to be.’ It just felt like God was pushing me there.”

Both Narrell and Buck were three-year starters at Andrews. Over that span, the Mustangs compiled a record of 30-7, won three district championships and four playoff games.

Buck started both ways for the Mustangs this past season as a middle linebacker and running back. He finished the 2017 season with 73 tackles, 15 solo tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, three knockdowns, four fumbles caused and two fumble recoveries.

On offense, Buck finished with 80 carries for 575 yards and 10 touchdowns. Buck added that the Pioneers, who play at the NAIA level, are interested in him playing middle linebacker.

On his visit in Plainview, Buck said he loved the people at Wayland and when he talked to current players, they only had great things to say. He even got to chat with a professor.

“I just loved it,” Buck said. “Ever since I was a kid I always dreamed of playing college football and it’s always something I’ve wanted to do. Now, it’s surreal, it’s coming into reality now. It’s just awesome to think about.”

Narrell will make the 40-minute commute from Andrews to UTPB as one of a few local signees to ink with the Falcons this year. Pecos’ Bubba Henson, Greenwood’s Matthew Groeschel and Midland Lee’s Grant Brown also signed with the Lone Star Conference school.

In 2017, Narrell played both defensive end and wide receiver for the Mustangs. On defense, Narrell finished with 53 tackles, 13 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, four hurries and one fumble caused.

“I think that the main key with UTPB is they’re close to home, they’re affordable and they’re a new program that I’m looking forward to hopefully helping to make prosperous in the future and do some great things.”

Narrell doesn’t know which position where he’ll be playing for the Falcons yet. He thinks it will either be at wide receiver or somewhere on defense.

Andrews head coach Ralph Mason thinks Buck and Narrell will fit into their respective programs right away.

“They’re both led by outstanding men, staffs that care about kids and I think it’s going help that transition because a lot of times, kids go off to college and it’s totally different than the high school experience and that discourages a lot of them,” Mason said. “I think they’re going to feel that same kind of feeling at Wayland and UTPB. I think it’s not going to be that big of an adjustment for them.”

Both Narrell and Buck said they’ll use a lot of what they learned at Andrews to succeed collegiately. They were a part of Mason’s first group to go through his entire program from seventh grade on up.

“We’ve had great coaches that have taught me almost everything I know even all the way down to when I played in YFL in second grade, I had great coaches even then,” Buck said. “I’m just blessed to be in the place I am today.

“I wouldn’t think it’s any different having the family of brothers out there playing on Saturdays just instead of Friday nights.”

{{tncms-inline account=”EricBlumOA” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Andrews' Casey Buck (<a href="https://twitter.com/caseybuck_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@caseybuck_15</a&gt😉 and Beau Narrell (<a href="https://twitter.com/NarrellBeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NarrellBeau</a&gt😉 signed their letters of intent to play college football at Wayland Baptist and UTPB earlier today. Hear from both of them below about their decisions. <a href="https://t.co/QvxXQ0Vov5">pic.twitter.com/QvxXQ0Vov5</a></p>— Eric Blum (@EricBlumOA) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricBlumOA/status/961356175576129538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2018</a></blockquote>” id=”961356175576129538″ type=”twitter”}}

LOCAL COMMITMENTS ON NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

Permian — Brother Miller (Abilene Christian University, football)

Permian — Ethan Easley (Cisco Junior College, football)

Permian — Seth Higdon (Cisco Junior College, baseball)

Andrews — Casey Buck (Wayland Baptist University, football)

Andrews — Beau Narrell (UTPB, football)

Greenwood — Matthew Groeschel (UTPB, football)

Greenwood — Sloan Stephens (Tarleton State, football)

Monahans — Tylan McCalister (Cisco Junior College, football)

Pecos — Bubba Henson (UTPB, football)

Crane — Cris Martinez (Sul Ross State University, football)

McCamey — Trajan Johnson (Franklin Pierce University, football)