Football signing day is just a bit more than a week away, and a number of area commitments are filing in. We're up to 21 total for Division I or II plus three more for the new NAIA program at Siena Heights.

Check the link at right for "The Next Level" to see all of our senior athletes who have signed or committed for any sport. We posted an update on three DeWitt football players earlier today, but I've heard about four more since, so I've added those in below:

Seven more mid-Michigan football players have announced where they will play collegiately this fall:

• DeWitt seniors Caleb and Jacob Higbie and Nathaniel Deak have committed to sign with Division II football programs next week. The Higbie twins will sign with Saginaw Valley State, while Deak will sign with Ferris State. Both schools play in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. SVSU finished 4-7 and Ferris was 5-6 last fall. Caleb Higbie, a quarterback, threw for 2,571 yards and 34 touchdowns and ran for 1,199 yards and 11 scores in making the Division 3-4 all-state team in his final season. Jacob Higbie caught 62 passes for 974 yards and 18 touchdowns and earned an all-state honorable mention as a defensive back. Deak made the Class B all-area team as a running back with 1,186 yards and 20 touchdowns carrying the ball. Deak will join teammate Jordan Johnson, who last week also committed to Ferris State.
• Holt linebacker Mike Smith will sign with Wayne State, defensive back Nick Thomas with Saginaw Valley State and quarterback/safety Jake Gallimore with Siena Heights. Smith had 93 tackles last fall in earning a Division 1-2 all-state honorable mention. Thomas had 28 tackles and an interception, and both he and Gallimore made the all-CAAC Blue team for defense. Gallimore ran for 588 yards, threw for 486, and had 17 tackles. Siena Heights will field its first team this fall and plays in the NAIA. Wayne State is in the GLIAC and finished 9-2 last season in winning the South division.
• Grand Ledge senior safety Brett Johnson will sign with Grand Valley State after also earning a Division 1-2 all-state honorable mention last fall. He finished with 50 tackles and five interceptions for the Comets. GVSU finished 11-2 overall and won the GLIAC North while finishing first in the overall league standings.