LouisvilleCatholicSports.com

Sweeden, English, Heile, Warburg make it official

Four starting linemen from Trinity High School's 2012 national championship football team signed their respective National Letters of Intent to play colege football on Wednesday afternoon, as families, classmates, teachers, coaches and teammates looked on in the Shamrock cafeteria.

Trinity senior OL Tyler English (Western Kentucky University), senior C John Michael Heile (Brown University), senior DE Tyler Sweeden (University of Tennessee-Martin) and senior OL Joey Warburg (Purdue University) all took part in the ceremony on National Signing Day.

Warburg (6-foot-6, 265 pounds) had originally committed to the University of Illinois before an overhaul of the coaching staff occurred within the Fighting Illini program. After reopening the recruitment process, Warburg made his decision public at Wednesday's signing by pulling a Purdue hat out of a brown paper bag he has holding.

“I have enjoyed coaching him,” Trinity head football coach Bob Beatty said of Warburg. “He’s been a starter for three years, has improved every year and has his best football ahead of him. He leads by example and not with his mouth, which is a coach’s dream.”

English (6-foot-4, 280 pounds), who comes from a football family (Dad and four uncles played Div. I football) had scholarship offers from Air Force and Miami (OH), but ultimately decided to stay in the Commonwealth.

“Tyler is a player that has figured out what commitment means,” said Beatty. “He made a true commitment, and now he has the hardware to show for it. He actually played hurt for most of the season, and that shows what kind of heart he has. He’ll be a very good player for Western.”

Heile (6-foot-3, 275 pounds), Trinity's starting center, had several offers from some of the country's top academic institutions and decided to join the Ivy League by signing with Brown. Heile also received offers from Columbia, Florida Tech and Tennessee-Martin.

“This is a perfect fit for John,” Beatty said. “He will contribute right away at the next level. He can make all the right calls, and he enjoys the game of football. He loves the competition and will be missed at Trinity High School. I’m looking forward to watching him at the next level.”

Sweeden (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) made up his mind about the Skyhawks after attending a Tennessee-Martin summer camp. He had an offer from Western Illinois and was being recruited by a slew of regional colleges, including Western Kentucky.

“He has superb work ethic and is a superb person,” Beatty said. “He continues to grow both mentally and physically as a person and a player. UT-Martin is blessed to have Tyler and his family.”

All four players were named to the LouisvilleCatholicSports.com All-Catholic football team.