Photo Courtesy of our partners at the Chattanooga Times Free PressCLEVELAND, Tenn. (WRCB) -- James Stovall ultimately decided to follow family footsteps.
Those steps just happen to lead him a bit farther away from home.
The Bradley Central wide receiver has decommitted from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and instead plans to sign a national letter of intent with the United States Naval Academy on National Signing Day in two weeks.
Bears' head coach Damon Floyd confirmed the news Thursday morning, and added that running back Justin Houston and lineman Patrick Benson have both given verbal commitments to play for Tusculum.
Stovall, who had shoulder surgery Wednesday in Nashville, committed to play for the Mocs after catching 47 passes for 681 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior in 2011.
Floyd said Navy increased its contact with Stovall after the season ended, and finally offered the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder three weeks ago.
"He's had several family members that have been in the military, so it's always been something he was interested in pursuing," Floyd said by phone Thursday. "Even if he had gone to UTC, he probably would have participated in something of that nature.
"But this now gives him a great opportunity to play ball on the (Football Bowl Subdivision) level and pursue those interests."
Houston scored 13 touchdowns as a senior last fall and racked up more than 4,000 all-purpose yards in his career. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Benson is also a wrestling standout, but opted to pursue a football career on the college level.
