Three more King’s Fork football players, Josh LaVeist, Jeff Super and Mike Mason, have made college decisions recently and will continue playing football at the next level.

Mason, a wide receiver/defensive back/kick returner, has committed to Liberty University. Mason will be the third Bulldog student-athlete to go on to a Division I program in the last three school years. Sha’ka Miller, a 2007 graduate, is currently at Morgan State, and Logan Sorenson, Mason’s classmate, has committed to Virginia Military.

LaVeist, a wide receiver/defensive back, is going to Lincoln University in Chester County, Pa. Super, an offensive lineman/linebacker, is going to University of Virginia-Wise.

“It just seems like a good opportunity to go where my dad went to school and I’ll have the chance to play football,” said LaVeist, whose father, Will, is an alum of Lincoln.

LaVeist transferred from Chicago to King’s Fork as a senior, but made a big impact on the Bulldog offense as new head coach Joe Jones tried changing KF’s offense from a run-heavy attack to a spread formation and a balance between run and pass.

“It’ll be a big step up. I know I’ll have to get bigger, stronger and faster to be able to compete. I have to expect that playing college football in Pennsylvania, but I think I’m able to do that,” said LaVeist.

Lincoln, in NCAA Division II and the CIAA, restarted its football program with the 2008 season and LaVeist will be joining a Lion team which will be largely made up of sophomores and juniors. Lincoln went from 1960-2008 without football. The Lions won their first game of their program’s rebirth, a 34-7 score over George Mason, but then lost their last nine games of the season, mostly against CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) opponents.

Despite the family connection to Lincoln, LaVeist said he had visited the university once, when he was too young to take too much of it in, before the recruiting process.

“It’s a good environment and it’s a good learning environment … it’s a good opportunity for me to be able to succeed,” said LaVeist.

Super, who started playing football only three years ago, was recruited primarily as a middle linebacker by UVA-Wise.

“I went up there and the people are the main reason I decided to go there,” said Super.

“I was recruited by a couple other schools, but (UVA-Wise) was the first one where I visited it and I loved everything about it. The coaches are exceptional and the facilities are excellent.”

The Highland Cavaliers finished last season 8-3 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-South Conference. It was the third straight season UVA-Wise finished nationally ranked, 21st, in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

“Defensively, they run the same defense we do (at King’s Fork), which is a 3-5,” said Super.

Super’s excited to focus mainly on the middle linebacker position. “The middle linebacker is usually the leader of the defense and I love having that leadership role.”

“I’ve only been playing for three years, so I’ve always felt a little bit behind, but I know no one will out-work me,” said Super. “My goal is to play right away, but that might not happen, so I want to contribute however I can.”

Mason wasn’t at the signing ceremony on Thursday afternoon with LaVeist and Super as he was in Lynchburg at an orientation program at Liberty. Mason was a second team All-Southeastern District receiver last fall.

Liberty had a school-record season last year, finishing 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the Big South Conference. It was the first 10-win regular season in program history. The Flames narrowly missed getting their first FCS (formerly NCAA Div. I-AA) playoff berth in school history. Liberty opens this upcoming season at West Virginia on Sept. 5.