By: J. Daniel Pearson
Positively Osceola
Four exceptional athletes from Osceola High and St. Cloud High turned years of dedication into opportunity Wednesday as they signed their National Letters of Intent to play college football.
At a ceremony at Osceola High, three players off the Kowboys regional semifinalist team made their choices. DB/WR Jakyri Watson accepted an offer to play at the University of South Florida, DL Amier Clarke is headed to Georgia Tech; while Athlete Alijah Jenkins will attend Clark Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs DB/WR Bryce Williams committed to Middle Tennessee State University in a signing ceremony at St. Cloud High.
Injuries forced Watson, who was a three-year letterman and two-year starter at defensive back, to become a two-way player for the Kowboys in 2025. Although he missed four games with injuries himself, he managed to compile 806 all-purpose yards on offense and special teams – averaging 11.5 yards on 22 rushing attempts, catching nine balls for 127 yards, passing for 45, and compiling another 423 yards on kickoff and punt returns. He averaged 18.7 yards every time he touched the ball; while still recording 35 total tackles, two interceptions and two pass defenses on the other side of the ball.
Watson was a defensive mainstay on Osceola’s 2024 State Runner-up team that finished 13-4. He had two interceptions and finished with a team-high 26 pass defenses. Despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, he helped anchor a defense that allowed just over 14 points per game.
“I’m really excited to start the next chapter,” Watson said. “South Florida was one of the first schools to show an interest in me and they stayed with that interest and commitment all the way through. To have a chance to play division one football this close to home was also a factor.”
Clarke is the latest in a long-line of outstanding Osceola linemen to go on earn Division-1 scholarships. A two-year starter, he led all defensive linemen with 94 total tackles, including team-high 23 tackles-for-loss and 12 quarterback sacks. A four-year varsity contributor, he posted 169 career tackles, 24 quarterback sacks and 25 additional TFL.
Clarke noted that Georgia Tech’s academic reputation played a key role his decision. “You can’t play football forever and a degree from an institution like Georgia Tech represents a tremendous opportunity.”
Jenkins was a jack-of-all-trades for the Kowboys. He finished the season as Osceola’s leader in all-purpose yards (1520). He rushed for 904 yards on just 103 carries (8.8), led the team in both receptions (19) and receiving yards (344), and was second in the team in scoring (52 points).
An electric return man, Jenkins averaged 33 yards per kickoff return and 25 yards per punt return during his two-year varsity career. Overall, he amassed more the 2400 all-purpose yards and accounted for 15 total touchdowns.
Jenkins is projected to play slot receiver at Clark Atlanta, a Division II school in the Southern Athletic Intercollegiate Conference. Jenkins, who had several offers, said Clark Atlanta “felt like home.”
Originally overlooked by bigger schools, Williams jumped on the radar of Division-1 programs after an outstanding senior season – playing a major role in leading the Bulldogs to an 8-2 year.
A four-year starter at safety, Williams led the county with nine interceptions in 2025 to go with 65 tackles, 21 pass defenses and 2 fumble recoveries. But he was simply too valuable to keep on one side of the field.
He led the team in receptions (49), receiving yards (804) and receiving touchdowns (9); while scoring 13 total touchdowns. If that was not enough, he won the team’s punting job in the pre-season and finished with a 50.4 average.
“I would tell any athlete that if they want to play at the next level, they should study the path Bryce took,” coach Mike Short said. “Entering his junior year, he wasn’t really on anyone’s radar and even going into his senior year the interest in him was tepid. But he just continued to work his tail off. Through hard work and determination he made the colleges pay attention to him.”
Middle Tennessee competes in the Sunbelt Conference. As a former 1-AA school, they qualified for the NCAA playoffs seven times; before making 14 bowl appearances after joining Division 1 in 2001.
“They sort of came in late, but when I visited the program I fell in love with the campus, the coaches and the players I met,” Williams said. “It certainly felt like this was the place I belong.”
Although he played a hybrid position defensively at St. Cloud, where he would often line-up at safety, outside linebacker and sometimes corner, Williams is projected as a corner with the Blue Raiders. “That’s where they said they were going to put me next fall, but it really doesn’t matter. I think I can play any position in the defensive backfield. My only goal is going to work hard and try to challenge for a starting spot as a freshman.”
In Williams, MTSU is getting a true scholar-athlete. He compiled a 4.1 GPA at St. Cloud and is scheduled to graduate in the top 10 percent of his class.
