Bainbridge High School Bearcats senior Shawn Samuels, an honorable mention All-Region 1AAAA performer at three positions for coach Ed Pilcher’s Bearcats, has verbally committed to play college football with the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers.

The first day high school football players can officially sign national football letters of intent with colleges is Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Samuels, who played corner back and wide receiver while also returning punts and kickoffs, was an All-Region 1AAAA selection by the Region coaches as a defensive back, an all-purpose performer and a return specialist.

Defensively Samuels, a 5-foot-9, 175-pounder, had 36 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups. The fastest player on the team, he was also an All-Area selection by The Albany Herald.

Offensively, Samuels had 25 yards rushing, two touchdown receptions and 240 reception yards. On special teams he had one touchdown and 406 yards on kickoff returns and 134 yards on punt returns.

An all-around athlete, Samuels is also a center on coach Rickey McCullough’s defending Region 1AAAA champion Bearcats basketball team and a sprinter on coach Larry Cosby’s defending Region 1AAAA champion and state Class AAAA Bearcats track team.