RAPID CITY - Local and area high school athletes charted their future athletic and academic careers during Wednesday's National Signing Day for football.

Among local players signing national letters of intent were Trey Masterson of Rapid City Central, who will play football at two-time defending Dakota Athletic Conference champion Black Hills State University next fall, and teammates Alex Hollibaugh and Cory Hartley of St. Thomas More, who both will suit up for the perennial NAIA powerhouse University of Sioux Falls.

Other signees of note include Lincoln Smith of Philip, set to prowl the gridiron for the Northern State Wolves next fall, and Kenny Miller of Lead-Deadwood, who will join Masterson and former Rapid City Stevens player Chris Opitz at Black Hills State.

Opitz is a transfer from the University of Sioux Falls.

Masterson said the lure of a strong program close to home was a key factor in his choosing to play for coach John Scott and the Yellow Jackets.

"They're growing, and they've had a winning program the last couple of years," Masterson said of the Yellow Jackets.

"They're going to be champions soon, and I want to be a part of that."

Masterson looks to be a punter for the Yellow Jackets for a couple of seasons and then hopes to develop a role as a strong safety or defensive player.

Also on Masterson's short list was Valparaiso State in Indiana and Northern State University in Aberdeen.

"BH is the place I wanted to be," he said.

Masterson is undecided on a major. "I'm still looking around, keeping my options open," he said.

Hollibaugh is an all Black Hills Conference and All-State standout for the Cavaliers. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound running back rushed for 1,341 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading the Cavs to their fourth consecutive state football championship appearance in 2007.

The USF Cougars also have a winning tradition, with two consecutive appearances in the NAIA national title game, winning the crown in 2006.

"I really like the tradition they have," Hollibaugh said. "I liked all the campus and I like Sioux Falls."

'They want me to play running back, so that's a definite plus," he said.

Hollibaugh said he was also considering the University of Mary and Northern State.

Hollibaugh plans to major in criminal justice at USF.

Hartley, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive end, joins older brother Mike, a junior defensive lineman on the Cougars roster. Cory Hartley is also an all-BHC selection for the Cavaliers. He is undecided on a major.

High school signees:

SDSU

Joe Kennedy, St. Thomas More

Kennedy was a force on the defensive line for state Class 11A runner-up St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City. In his lone season with the Cavaliers, Kennedy tallied 94 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 13 1/2 sacks to earn first-team all-state honors.

He also recorded three interceptions and blocked two punts. An all-around athlete, Kennedy has placed as high as fourth at the state track and field meet in the high jump, while also running on two state-qualifying relay teams. He plans to major in business economics.

Northern State

Lincoln Smith, Philip

Lincoln Smith, a 6-foot-2 defensive end from Philip High School, lettered all four years in football and was selected to the all-conference team all four years. Smith was a two-time All-State selection who received the team's outstanding defensive player award and the Scottie Award.

Smith lettered in wrestling, in which he was a state champion, a two-time captain, an MVP award recipient and a Scottie Award recipient.

Sioux Falls

Alex Hollibaugh, St. Thomas More

Alex Hollibaugh is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound running back that rushed for 1,341 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2007. Hollibaugh also had 80 tackles and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. In 2007, Alex was an All-State running back as well as an all-conference running back. Hollibaugh is looking to major in criminal justice.

Cory Hartley, St. Thomas More

Hartley is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive end that played in the State Championship for St. Thomas More each of the past four years. He was also an all-conference selection in 2007. Cory is undecided in his college major.

Tyler Ollerich, Lyman

Ollerich is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound quarterback. He is a three-time all-conference selection along with the 2007 Conference Player of the Year Honor.

His career totals include 4,000 passing yards and 65 touchdowns. Tyler is looking to major in exercise science.

Mark Sayler, Scotland

Sayler is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver. In 2007, Mark was named the Joe Robbie Award winner in the state Class B championship game. He was also a first team All-State selection as well as an all-conference selection.

Mark played on Scotland's state championship teams in 2006 and 2007. In his senior season, Mark had 1,800 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns. On defense, Mark grabbed 14 interceptions. Mark is undecided about his major.

Braden Benson, Gillette, Wyo.

Benson, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound wide receiver from Gillette, Wyo, comes from Campbell County High School where he was Second Team All-State, First Team All-Conference and First Team Super 25. In 2007, Braden threw 131 passes while completing 52 for 859 yards.

On the ground, Braden rushed for 670 yards and totaled six touchdowns. As a team, Campbell County High School was a 2007 5A semifinalist and 2006 5A state champions.

Ray Moore, Sundance, Wyo.

Moore stands at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Moore was voted Wyoming Super 25 as a senior. Other awards that Ray has received are as listed; conference offensive and defensive player of the year, 2A Offensive Player of the Year, All-State and all-conference. At USF, Moore plans to study Mathematics Education.

South Dakota Mines

Todd Sherman, Colome

Sherman is a 6-foot-5, 220 pound offensive lineman that will solidify the Hardrocker front line and add depth at the same time.

Sherman was a part of the 2007 Class 9B Colome Cowboys state championship football team and finished the year with an 11-1 overall record.

While at South Dakota Mines, Sherman plans to study civil engineering.

Chadron State

R.J. Boylan, Gillette, Wyo.,

Boylan, a 6-foot-5, 260- pound offensive lineman, was a two-year starter at Campbell County High School and he was a heavyweight wrestler. He hopes to participate in both sports for the Eagles. He started at both offensive and defensive tackle last fall, when he earned second-team Class 5A all-state honors.

He wrestled at 215 pounds the past two years and placed third at state and had a 38-11 record as a sophomore. He was second at state and went 39-10 last year. This year, he has a 31-3 record and will enter the Senior Nationals Wrestling Tournament in Virginia Beach, Va., this spring and participate in a wrestling cultural exchange trip to Germany in May.

Cody Roes, Chadron, Neb.

Roes, a 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, inside receiver, earned Class C1 all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald and Huskerland Prep after leading Chadron High to a 10-1 season and a top 10 ranking last fall. He played fullback and inside linebacker and averaged 5.6 yards while rushing for 674 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns.

He led the team in tackles with 56 solos and 33 that were assisted. He earned second-team C-1 all-state in basketball last winter, when he shot 51.6 percent from the field and averaged 14 points and nine rebounds on the Chadron team that reached the state championship game. This season, Roes is averaging 13.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists on the Cardinals' 15-2 team.