Two Russellville High School football seniors celebrated signing day Feb. 2 with family, friends and coaches as they made their future plans known.

RHS linemen Seth Franks and Dallan Montgomery will be continuing their education while also getting to play football at the collegiate level. Franks will be attending Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, while Montgomery will attend Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn. Both are four-year institutions, with the Tabor Bluejays participating in NAIA athletics and the Maryville Scots in the NCAA Division III.

“I’m excited about the new opportunities I get,” Franks said. “I want to thank the people who got me here and thank God for everything He’s done, for putting these people in my life.”

Franks shared that some of his favorite memories of playing as a Golden Tiger include back-to-back region championships and getting to play at Legion Field in Birmingham during the 2020 playoffs.

Montgomery began playing football in the eighth grade, and he said that as he continued getting bigger and better, he wanted to continue playing. Although Montgomery played only one season at RHS after transferring from Lawrence County, he immediately made an impact and was also accepted by his new teammates after moving to Russellville.

“They all accepted me so well, and I made a lot of great memories and friends here that I’ll never forget and carry on with me the rest of my life,” Montgomery said.

“These are great kids,” said Russellville head coach John Ritter about the two signees. “They are great people that come from great families – not to mention they are really good football players, too. They are very fun to watch, and they are the type of guys you want playing offensive line. They are very physical, very rough and very smart. They will be greatly missed, but I’m very proud of what they accomplished and what they are getting to do.”

Getting the opportunity to play college football is a reward for the hard work put forth by the players and by the coaches that helped mold them into the student-athletes they are.

“I think it’s a testament to not only their work ethic but also the program that we have established,” Ritter added. “We’re going to promote these guys from east coast to west coast and north to south to find an opportunity for them to play at the next level, and I think Maryville and Tabor are getting two great players and phenomenal people.”