For Lambert High School, Wednesday’s National Signing Day was nothing out of the ordinary. Student athletes along with their friends and family filed into the auditorium to watch another batch of kids sign their letters of intent. Lambert has been no stranger to the event as they have churned out some of the most prominent athletes to ever step foot in Forsyth County Schools.

Ten more Longhorns signed Wednesday, including Griffin Jarrett (Piedmont College baseball), Haley Bolt (Piedmont College track), Matthew Housley (University of Pikeville football), Alison Crenshaw (Daytona State College golf), Jordyn Ebert (Mercer University women’s soccer), Maddie Edelman (University of Vermont women’s soccer), Brenna Reilly (Kennesaw State women’s tennis), and Jordyn Mollering (Georgia College volleyball).

What made Wednesday different were some unfamiliar circumstances.

The first was when principal Gary Davidson gave the signing day speech that has been echoed twice a year since the school’s opening because athletic director Drew Ferrer was sick and couldn’t make it. The second was a buzzer-beater offer from Georgia Southern.

For Brian Wright, he nearly gave up on his ultimate dream to play football at the next level, but he got a last-minute invite to take a visit down to Statesboro from new offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern, Bryan Cook.

“[Cook] called [Lambert football] Coach [Louis] Daniels about a week ago,” Wright said. “Cook really liked me while he was at [Georgia] Tech, and they want more big backs there now, so he thought of me.”

Wright traveled down for his visit on Sunday, and the coaching staff offered him a preferred walk-on spot.

“It’s a huge relief to not worry about where I am going to school now,” Wright said. “I was always hoping to get an opportunity like this. That has always been my goal.”

Wright’s teammate and quarterback Richie Kenney signed with Cornell University. Kenney, a two-year varsity starter, had been fielding offers from mid-major Division I schools since his junior season. Kenney threw for 2,074 yards and 23 touchdowns on his way to leading Lambert to the program’s first ever region title and state playoff win in his senior season, and Ivy League schools began knocking at his door. Cornell caught his attention immediately.

“It’s an amazing education and a great football program,” said Kenney. “I love the coaches. I love the campus. I love the town of Ithaca.”