Rashad Albert, Jacai Deneveu, and Jalen Rosales at table. Photos: Mark Coplan/BUSD.

The Berkeley High School library was jammed last week with people who came to watch three seniors sign commitments to play football in college.

Wednesday February 2 was National Signing Day, the first day a high school senior can sign a binding letter indicating he or she will play a sport in college. Three BHS students, all football players, had firm offers on Wednesday and another eight students expect to get offers. Rashad Albert (left in photo) has chosen to attend Sacramento State. Jacai Deneveu (center in photo) will attend Humboldt State and Jalen Rosales (right in photo) will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point to play for Army.

All three students had a 3.6 GPA average. Principal Pasquale Scuderi (with microphone) praised the students and then spoke about the importance of placing academics first. He noted that only a small number of college athletes make it to the pros. A much larger number do not finish their college education, he warned.

Families and friends watch signing ceremony at BHS.

See more photos here.

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November...