Athens High’s Michael Speegle, center, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play football at the University of North Alabama. Seated with Speegle are his sister, Katie, and mother, Marie. Standing, from left, are Athens High coach Greg Greenhaw, Speegle’s grandmother, Kathryne O’Barr, aunt and uncle, Caryol and Buddy Gregg, Athens High equipment assistant, Mason Ruf, and friend, Reed Zachary.

There was no shortage of purple and gold inside the home economics room at Athens High School Wednesday morning.

Both quarterback Stephen Rivers and offensive lineman Michael Speegle sported brightly colored ties representing the college of their choice as they prepared to ink national letters of intent to play football this fall.

Rivers, who verbally committed to Les Miles and the Tigers last summer, signed with LSU as expected, while Speegle is taking his talents to the University of North Alabama.

“I’m excited to be a part of one of the top schools in the nation,” Rivers said. “I just felt there wasn’t a better place out there.”

Rated as a three-star quarterback by recruiting sites such as scout.com and rivals.com,  Rivers chose LSU over a handful of other major college programs, including Arizona State, Florida State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA and North Carolina State.  This past season, he threw for 1,158 yards and 12 touchdowns as he led the Golden Eagles to the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs before being ousted by Region 8 rival Russellville.

“When I went down for camp, I just felt it was really one of the top programs in the country as far as facilities and the school,” he said. “I really enjoyed working with the coaches and they have a real good situation, as far as going in and being able to compete real early and start in the next couple of years, hopefully.”

Leading up to his decision, there was a constant buzz surrounding the younger brother of NFL Pro-Bowl and current San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, on where he would continue his career. But throughout it all, Athens High coach Allen Creasy said he handled it well.

“Stephen handled it all with a grain of salt,” Creasy said. “I don’t know if there has been anyone that has come through the program that has had to deal with the pressures that he has had to deal with. When you follow in the footsteps of the people he’s had to follow, that’s hard to overcome, but he’s been able to excel and been able to produce and I think that’s only going to help make him stronger when he gets to LSU and has to compete with the top athletes in the country.”

Creasy added that he doesn’t expect that to intimidate the quarterback.

“I think he’s going to be able to do some great things. I’m ready to hear somebody refer to Philip as Stephen’s big brother,” the coach said, getting a chuckle from a roomful of family and friends.

Meanwhile, Rivers teammate, Speegle, decided to stay closer to home. He is one of 15 signees the Lions picked up Wednesday.

“I went down last Friday, toured around and decided it was best for me with it being close to home,” Speegle said. “All my family can come see me play. I just really prayed on it, and I think I made the right decision.

Creasy credited Speegle’s work ethic for helping get him to the next level, a goal he’s had since he was little.

“People don’t realize the journey Michael had to take and the things he’s had to overcome,” Creasy said. “You see a big, strong, young man, and he certainly is, but he’s had to fight through a lot of tough times and it’s never affected his work ethic and focus, and he’s sitting here today because of it.”

Among the 14 incoming freshmen next fall at UNA, including Speegle, will be a wealth of offensive talent that includes four running backs, a quarterback, a tight end, two offensive linemen and three players signed as athletes who could help on either side of the ball. UNA’s list of transfers includes six wide receivers and three linebackers.

“Our most immediate needs going into next season are at receiver and the defensive front seven,” said head coach Terry Bowden . “With the guys that we   brought in midyear, we got a lot of help at receiver and at linebacker. Then on signing day we focused largely on our area and getting the best possible high school athletes we could get. We’re really excited to get 10 signees from our local area and 14 freshman signees overall that we feel are talented and can help our program.”

Bowden said the Lions will continue recruiting throughout the spring to fill their needs on the defensive line.