On Wednesday, SMU signed eight players to the 2022 early signing period. That won't be the only players to sign to the class as new head coach Rhett Lashlee and Co. have been hitting the recruiting trail hard in hopes of inking a few more in February.

Also on Wednesday was the start of the UIL State Championships in Arlington.

The mustangs did not have anyone signed or verbally committed play in the nine games Wednesday through Friday.

However that changes on Saturday in he first two games of the day.

To lead off the triple-header, SMU-signee Kevin Henry-Jennings leads his Golden Bears in the 5A Division II championship - the first Dallas ISD school to play for a state title since 1958 when Booker T. Washington won it all.

On the year, Henry-Jennings has completed 66% of his passes for 2,840 yards and has a 36-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

In the middle game, North Shore and Duncanville square off for the 6A Division I state title for the third time in four years.

Once again, the Duncanville defense has guided the Panthers through the playoffs and a win away from its first state title since 1998.

There are plenty of headliners on the Duncanville defense, which includes Pierre Goree, Jr., who quietly signed on Wednesday and stayed with his commitment to the Ponies despite being recruited by Ra'Shaad Samples.

Goree Jr. has played on both sides of the ball, mostly in the secondary this year and has not registered any takeaways but his track speed has allowed him to play well in coverage.