Four Bainbridge High School Bearcats football players signed national college football letters of intent Wednesday morning in the school’s gymnasium hospitality room.

Looking on were families, coaches and friends of safety Rohan Gaines, who signed with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks; place kicker and punter Keenan Adams, who signed with the Colorado State University Rams; corner back, wide receiver and punt and kickoff returner Shawn Samuels, who signed with the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers, and linebacker Jamario Brown, who signed with the Albany State University Golden Rams.

Gaines, a second-team selection on the coaches All-Region 1AAAA team, was third on the team in tackles with 59 despite missing the final two games of the season due to injury.

He was named most improved defensive player at the Bearcats annual football awards banquet. Five of his tackles were for losses and he had one quarterback hurry.

Adams suffered a season-ending leg injury in the second game of the season against the Cairo High School Syrupmakers.

As a junior, he was named both first-team All-Region 1AAAA place kicker and punter by the Region coaches and first-team All-State punter by the Georgia Sportswriters and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also named All-Area place kicker and punter by The Albany Herald.

As a junior, Adams accounted for 38 points, hitting 17 of 19 extra point attempts and seven of 12 field goal attempts. He had a long field goal of 52 yards and made three of four from 45 yards or farther.

Adams led Region 1AAAA as a punter in 2009, averaging 39.8 yards a punt. He had five punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long punt of 61 yards.

In addition, he had a 53-yard average on 36 kickoffs and seven of his kickoffs were touchbacks. He had a long kickoff of 65 yards.

Samuels was an honorable mention All-Region 1AAAA selection as a defensive back, an all-purpose performer and a return specialist and an All-Area selection by The Albany Herald.

On defense, he had 36 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups.

Offensively, Samuels had 25 yards rushing, two touchdown receptions and 240 reception yards. On special teams he had 13 kickoff returns for 406 yards, a 31.2 yards per return average and one touchdown. He had a long return of 93 yards.

He was second in Region 1AAAA in punt returns with 14 for 134 yards, a 9.6 yards per return average, a long return of 33 yards and four fair catches.

Brown, a first-team All-Region 1AAAA linebacker on the coaches All-Region team and a first-team All-State linebacker on the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State team, led the Bearcats in tackles with 86. Five of his tackles were for losses. He also had nine big plays, one caused fumble, one pass breakup and three fumble recoveries.

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