Cam McClellan and Bryce Irving said they wouldn’t be here without a passion for football. 

The pair of Homewood-Flossmoor football seniors signed their letters of intent to play in college at the school’s May 11 event in the south gym.

“It shows the commitment and hard work we put into it and the overall fun and enjoyment we get from it,” McClellan said. 

Irving chose Concordia in part because it was the first school to offer him a scholarship, he said. He thinks it gives him the best chance to showcase himself in college. He also considered Rockford and Roosevelt. 

He’ll play linebacker and safety in college. It was important to him to have a chance to play early.

“They see me coming in to maybe start as a safety,” he said. “They seem me making a big impact to the team and helping change things.” 

McClellan, a defensive back, will also play in Chicago at Roosevelt. He’ll have a Vikings teammate, too. DaJuan Taylor committed to the Lakers first but wasn’t able to attend the signing event.

“It just happened. They showed the same interest in him that they did in me,” Irving said. “We talked. We definitely had conversations about it.”

Early playing time is also possible for McClellan. Another factor was that several H-F grads have gone on to play at Roosevelt.

“(I wanted) just to follow them, to go and start freshman year and go kill it,” he said. 

Both said being close to friends and family was important.

“It’s downtown, like 20 minutes (from home),” Irving said. “That was a game changer for me.” 

McClellan will major in finance. Irving will study computer science. 

“The class of ’26, we started the new H-F,” Irving said. “It’s a whole different team with a new coach coming in (in Troy McAllister). It’s great vibes, great everything.” 

Hearns to be first H-F flag footballer to play in college

Kayla Hearns made history at the signing event, inking with Bridgewater College in Virginia. She’ll be the first Vikings flag football player to play in college.

H-F started the program this school year. It was sanctioned by the IHSA last year. 

“It meant a lot for this to become a real sport. Growing up, I’ve always loved football. I hated being told ‘You can’t play,’” Hearns said. “Being able to actually play the sport that I loved to play with my brothers is a great feeling.” 

Hearns said she was eager to get to signing day. 

“I remember just seeing it on TV, seeing other people do it, I was just like ‘When is my day? When am I going to do it?’” she said. “I made sure I got my outfit ready. I made sure I told my family members. It’s definitely exciting.” 

Academics were as important as athletics in Hearns’s decision, she said. She plans to major in psychology and hopes to be a child therapist. 

The Eagles are just starting a flag football program. BJ Jackson was hired to be the head coach in February.

“I love to make history,” Hearns said. 

Augustave headed south for cheerleading

Elisa Augustave wanted to go to an HBCU. She had options but fell on Alabama State for the future of her cheerleading career.

“I fell in love with the school. I wanted to be with people who would understand me more,” she said. “We have a predominantly black cheer team and I wanted to continue that and just feel more comfortable.” 

She also considered Florida Memorial and Tennessee State. She felt like Alabama State was more inviting in her communication with coaches. She never visited the Montgomery campus, though.

Augustave plans to study pre-health with the hopes to become a medical stenographer. 

She gave credit to Vikings coaches after signing.

“(H-F coaches) reinforce positive thoughts and not negative thoughts and I feel like that really helps,” she said. “They help lift you up.”