Grand Junction’s Mitch Irwin signed Wednesday to play for Northwestern Iowa, an NAIA school, where he’ll be a linebacker.

Central High School’s Holden Reed gets a hug from his mother, Gina, after signing a letter of intent to play football for Mesa State College Wednesday.

Central High School football standout Holden Reed smiles after signing a letter of intent in the high school’s library Wednesday to play football for the Mesa State Mavericks.

Central High School’s Holden Reed signs his letter of intent to play football for the Mesa State Mavericks on Wednesday in the school library.

Rifle High School’s Jake Massey signed Wednesday to play for Mesa State and teammate Joe Burgess will play for McMurry (Texas) College next season.

Jake Massey and his parents, Daniel and Rhonda Massey and Joe Burgess and his parents, Dawn and Bryan, made Wednesday a special day at Rifle High School, when the two boys signed to play college football.

Zaid Bradfield of Palisade was one of thousands of high school football players to sign with colleges Wednesday. Bradfield will play at Mesa State College next season.

As coach John Arledge watches, Zaid Bradfield signs with Mesa State College

Mindy Bradfield watches her son Zaid Bradfield sign his letter of intent to play football at Mesa State Wednesday afternoon at Palisade High School.

Palisade’s Zaid Bradfield,right, hugs his mother, Mindy, after signing his letter of intent to play football at Mesa State on Wednesday. Bradfield was one of three local players who signed a letter of intent.

Friends were on hand to snap photos of Zaid Bradfield as he signed to play football at Mesa State College.