By Kyle McCaskey

Four Derby High School seniors inked to play football in college on National Signing Day, Feb. 1.

Dillon Call, Nick Shifflett, Logan Duff and Garrett LaBarge signed their letters of intent together.

“(Signing together) means a lot, because we’re all leaving each other,” Duff said. “It’s another step.”

Call, a 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound linebacker, signed to play at Division II Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He lettered three years for Derby, and was a first-team Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I selection this season.

This past season, Call recorded 57 solo tackles, but was more well-known for his spirited leadership. He said he hopes to get a lot of playing time in college.

“I like this place. It’s really small, so everybody knows everybody,” Call said. “It’s going to be a really good environment.”

 Shifflett was a defensive lineman for Derby this season, but will make the transition to middle linebacker at McPherson College.

“I like it. It’s a good switch. I think I understand the defenses well enough to make the switch,” Shifflett said. “It’s a big family thing like it is here in Derby.”

Shifflett was a key cog of the defense, helping plug lanes to put pressure on the quarterback and create space for the linebackers. His work earned his AVCTL second-team honors.

Joining Shifflett in creating havoc for opposing offense at Derby was Duff, a 6-foot-1-inch, 280-pound defensive tackle. 

Duff was a first- team AVCTL selection. He will attend Butler County Community College, and hopes to land at a Division I school after that.

“It’s pretty cool. I’m honored to go there,” Duff said. “It’ll be a fun two years of my life.”

LaBarge was the only offensive player to sign this past week. He lettered two years for the Panthers. His strong run blocking skills fromthe wide receiver position earned him a spot at Friends University.

“I thought it was a good school,” LaBarge said. “My dad went to it. I felt like it would be a good choice for me.”

Derby may still see other members of its senior class sign for football in the coming weeks. Some players remain undecided.

The Panthers finished the 2011 season 8-4. They made the state semifinals before losing to state runner-up Wichita Heights.

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