The two Cherry Hill West seniors signed their National Letter of Intent to play football for Division I programs beginning in the fall. Hand will attend Baylor University and Hernandez will go to Villanova University.
Last Wednesday’s National Signing Day was a big day for many in the Cherry Hill High School West community.
It was a big day for senior Harrison Hand, who signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Baylor University in the Big 12 Conference.
It was a big day for senior Lorenzo Hernandez, who also signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Villanova University.
It was a big day for the Cherry Hill High School West football program to have two players commit to Division I schools in the same year.
It was also a big day for the Cherry Hill community, as more than 50 student-athletes and members of the community joined Hand’s and Hernandez’s families to congratulate two players who, in 2016, helped Cherry Hill West football to its best season in nearly four decades.
“I imagined it,” Hand said about signing day. “But to make it come true is a great feeling. It’s a blessing.”
Hand, ranked as the №2 cornerback recruit in New Jersey by scout.com, announced his verbal commitment to Baylor in early January after receiving offers from a number of Division I programs. Hand’s commitment came about a month after Baylor hired former Temple University football head coach Matt Rhule as its new football head coach. Hand had also received an offer from Temple.
Hand is one of a number of players who have committed to Baylor since Rhule was hired. Another local player, three-star running back recruit Jon Lovett from Cherokee High School, also signed his NLI to play for Baylor last Wednesday.
“It’s really exciting,” Hand said. “It’s a great thing to be a part of it too because the other recruits, they’re my brothers too. We talk every day. We’re ready to get this thing rolling.”
Hand said he is most looking forward to playing under the bright lights of the Big 12 Conference and playing in some of the biggest college football games in the country.
“I’ve been praying and working hard for that ever since I was born,” he said.
While Hand will be traveling halfway across the country to go to college, Hernandez will be staying in the Philadelphia area. Hernandez signed his NLI to play for Villanova University, a strong Division I Football Championship Subdivision program. The Wildcats have gone to the playoffs in six of the last nine seasons and won a FCS national championship in 2009.
Hernandez had also been considering offers from the University of New Hampshire and Towson University before announcing his verbal commitment to Villanova in mid-November.
“When it got down to it, at Villanova, the football’s better and the academics are better,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez had a breakout 2016 season at defensive line for Cherry Hill West, recording 10 sacks. Hernandez credited his big year to focusing more, having a stronger training regimen and bulking up.
“It was not taking plays off and actually getting my conditioning better,” he said.
Hernandez’s high school athletic career isn’t over yet. A few hours after signing his NLI, Hernandez joined his wrestling teammates for the Lions home match against Lenape High School. Hernandez has lost just one match all season and has his eyes set on making an appearance in the state tournament later this winter.
As for next year, Hernandez is excited for the future of the Villanova program and feels the team will be very talented over the next few years.
“This class is a good one, and I’m ready to ball out with these kids,” Hernandez said.
As big of a day as it was for Hand, Hernandez and their families, it was a big day for Cherry Hill West as well. Councilwomen Sara Lipsett and Carole Roskoph presented township proclamations to Hand and Hernandez for their accomplishments, and dozens of students attended the ceremony to cheer their classmates on.
“It gives us visibility within the community, within the district,” Cherry Hill West football head coach Brian Wright said. “The attention they brought to our program is huge. Some of the younger kids were out there watching.”
Wright feels Hand and Hernandez are the perfect examples for younger football players in Cherry Hill, saying they have left their mark on the Lions’ program in a positive way.
“They go about their business different than most do,” Wright said of Hand and Hernandez. “When you watch them play, you can tell they have more fun than most.”
Wright felt the best part of Wednesday was getting to see two of his players accept offers to college, something he was really proud to see happen.
“My first meeting with these guys every year has to do with academics, but it’s also about student loans and doing things the right thing,” Wright said “To be able to have them get set up is huge.”
