Football's National Signing Day was Wednesday, with numerous recruits across the Oklahoma City area signing to colleges across the country.

Here are the stories from some of the signees:

‘That’s my guy’: Relationship with coaches, Jalen Pitre helped guide Putnam West’s Corey Gordon to Baylor

Bethany’s Jocelyn Malaska continues journey from Haiti to Utah

Eleven years ago, Jocelyn Malaska didn’t know what American football was.

On Wednesday, however, the senior defensive back at Bethany signed with Utah during a ceremony inside the gymnasium.

“There was never any thought that I would be playing at the biggest level,” Malaska said. “I’m super grateful just to be in this position right now.”

He was at an orphanage in Haiti with two brothers. Soccer was their sport. But when David and Alisha Malaska adopted Jocelyn and his two brothers and brought them back to Bethany, it didn’t take long for football to become a big part of Jocelyn’s life.

He first played in seventh grade and quickly became a star. Once he got to high school, Bethany coach Jon Arthur quickly realized how special he was on both sides of the ball. But it was his prowess at defensive back that really stood out.

Now at 6-foot-1, 172 pounds, Jocelyn became one of the best defensive backs in the state. He was committed to Texas Tech until a recent coaching change, but after a visit to Salt Lake City, it was clear he was meant to be a Ute.

“Utah is exactly like Bethany,” Malaska said. “The football team is really close. It’s like a family up there, and I really like the coaches.”

'I’ve always liked the small-town vibe': Jones' Carson May 'always had a big arm' and now he has a big-time offer

Jones QB Carson May signs with Iowa

Carson May sat at mid-court of the Stevens Chase Center on Wednesday as the people he nearly spent his entire life with looked over him.

For the time being, May’s family and some of his teammates traded in their Jones apparel for yellow and black Iowa Hawkeye shirts in support of May as he made his decision final.

“All those were my shirts by the way,” May said with a smile. “But it’s truly special to have everyone here. Ever since the beginning, they were there for me."

May, the standout quarterback from Jones, signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Iowa. The hometown kid was officially a Division-I athlete just as May’s family, teammates and coaches all knew the quarterback would be one day.

“It’s a true honor for him,” May’s brother and former Tulsa football player Dalton said. “He really deserves it. He worked a lot harder than I did. I didn’t think I was ever going to be at this stage right here because I just never put in all the work that I totally could have, but he definitely does. He deserves everything for it, and I think he’s done a really good job.”

May and his family moved to Jones before his third-grade year and since then, he’s become a town favorite. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback threw for more than 8,500 yards, 87 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions in his high school career. He’s also rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 30 touchdowns.

May was named as the District 2A-2 Player of the Year for his outstanding senior season, throwing for 3,082 yards and 37 touchdowns and rushing for 11 more.

The Oklahoman's Super 30 athlete didn’t have many Division-I offers before his senior season began, but what the senior wanted most was the best fit. So when he received his offer from Iowa in July, he made his commitment official the next day. He’s had his sights set on the Hawkeyes ever since.

“Honestly just running out of that tunnel on my first game day and having my family there,” May said of the moment he’s looking most forward to. “It’s really going to be special.”

Oklahoma Christian School's Collin Matteson signs with Army West Point

Collin Matteson touted his Black Knights T-shirt as "Beat Navy!" was displayed on the National Letter of Intent in front of him.

Pictures of the big plays he made as an Oklahoma Christian School Saint were framed on the table beside a pair of U.S. flags.

Inside OCS High School on Wednesday, the highly touted defensive back and wide receiver signed his letter to West Point.

“I’m pumped,” Matteson said. “I’m super excited to get up there and get to work.”

OCS head coach Brooks Stephenson, who was a position coach during Matteson’s freshman year said he vividly remembers Matteson’s first rep at OCS and was convinced Matteson would be a great player.

“I remember thinking back then,” Stephenson said, “just like all freshmen he was a little scrawny kid out there. But just seeing the rep, obviously his athleticism, and the football IQ. Everything is there.”

Stephenson’s eye for talent was right.

Matteson, one of the state’s best defensive backs and wide receivers, racked up 4,980 all-purpose yards, 52 touchdowns, 24 interceptions and 237 tackles in his prep career. The 6-foot, 175-pounder helped lead OCS to consecutive deep playoff runs, including back-to-back one-loss seasons.

“What just screams off the field, off the page for Collin,” Stephenson said, “and has for his entire career, he does everything so humbly. And that’s exactly what you’d want out of a guy who’s leading your program.

“He’s one of the most soft-spoken people I’ve ever been around and that’s not from anything other than just the desire to be humble. He’s got such a bright future ahead of him, he’s an incredible football player as we’ve all seen time and time again.”

Santa Fe’s Pfieffer headed to Houston Baptist

Scott Pfieffer did some impressive things as Edmond Santa Fe’s quarterback — things that haven’t been done since former Oklahoma State and NFL quarterback Brandon Weeden was leading the Wolves.

Pfieffer, who signed with Houston Baptist on Wednesday, set five school records during his high school career, for completions in a game, touchdowns in a game and completion percentage in a game, a season and a career.

Pfieffer was one of nine signees for Houston Baptist, which only began playing football in 2013 and is an NCAA FCS member of the Southland Conference.

“I’m really excited to sign with a school I’m really proud of,” Pfieffer said. “I really like the coaching staff. The relationships I created with the coaching staff is something I’ll never get anywhere else.”

Choctaw's Cade McConnell finds home with Minnesota

Choctaw’s Cade McConnell’s senior season was certainly interesting.

He entered on a high.

The 6-foot-5, 291-pound offensive lineman was committed to TCU. He had big plans on the field.

None of that worked out.

In the third game of the season, McConnell suffered a season-ending knee injury. Two months later, he was reopening his commitment following the departure of longtime TCU coach Gary Patterson.

“It all kinda blew up the last few months but I think it really led to where I need to be and where I should have been the whole time,” McConnell said.

That is Minnesota, where McConnell signed Wednesday afternoon just three days after announcing his commitment.

McConnell chose Minnesota over TCU — which re-offered — Texas Tech and Vanderbilt.

“I think everybody around the state’s kinda realizing that Choctaw was really culture driven,” McConnell said. “I think Minnesota is about the same. I think they’re really culture driven. Coach Fleck does a good job really driving that in.

“And the developmental part of the O-line at Minnesota is just ridiculous. They could have had five guys go to the league this year, but they had their center stay. That’s a big part of it.”

Signing with Minnesota made the past few months worth it.

McConnell relied on his father, Aaron — a former Midwest City star who played at Oklahoma State before becoming a star at Division-II Pittsburg State — had been through the process before.

They talked things over constantly. Minnesota won out.

“Minnesota’s getting a steal,” Choctaw coach Jake Corbin said.

McConnell wasn't the only Choctaw lineman to sign. Alton Robinson signed with Missouri S&T.

Yukon's Lane Parks to continue blocking in option offense at Army

Lane Parks has lots of experience blocking in an option offense.

With Jeremy Reed as the head coach for most of Parks’ career at Yukon, the Millers ran the flexbone and relied nearly solely on rushing the ball.

When Reed left after the 2020 season to coach at Bethel College in Kansas, Marshall Hahn took over and implemented a spread offense that also featured the option attack.

Parks thrived in both systems, and he’ll be in another run-heavy offense at the next level.

Parks signed with Army on Wednesday inside the Yukon gymnasium. The offensive lineman committed to the Black Knights in August, choosing the school over offers from Air Force, Navy and New Mexico, among others.

Army, which runs the flexbone, is a perfect fit.

“I like pass blocking, but ultimately my demeanor is running the football,” Parks said. “There’s nothing better than lining across from somebody who knows you’re coming at him, and you get to move him backwards.”

Parks, who switched from guard to tackle for his senior season and helped Yukon make the Class 6A-I playoffs, is ready for the challenges on and off the field that go along with attending Army.

“Obviously a huge commitment,” he said. “Football is just a minor aspect of the whole picture. I prayed about it a lot, thought about it a lot. It was definitely not an easy decision. Not one that I took lightly, but in the end I think it’s the best decision to me.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: National Signing Day: Oklahoma HS football players make college picks