- January 26, 2025
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Kwasie Kwaku Jr. (center) signs to play football for the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats with his dad Kwasie Kwaku Sr. (left) and mom Courtney Kwaku (right) by his side at Mainland's early signing ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Photo by Michele Meyers
Christian Hudson signs to play football at the University of Colorado for coach Deion Sanders during Mainland's early signing ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Photo by Michele Meyers
Phillip Moore signs to play football for the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats at Mainland's early signing ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland early football signees (left to right): Kwasie Kwaku Jr., Christian Hudson and Phillip Moore. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland head football coach Jerrime "Squatty" Bell announces his three early signees: Kwasie Kwaku Jr., Christian Hudson and Phillip Moore. Photo by Michele Meyers
Football player Phillip Moore signs with Bethune-Cookman college at Mainland's early signing ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kwasie Kwaku Jr. (right) and his dad Kwasie Kwaku Sr. (left) hang out before Kwaku Jr. signs to play football at Bethune-Cookman University at Mainland's early signing ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Phillip Moore (right) shares a moment with Cynthia McGuire Moore after signing to play at Bethune-Cookman University during Mainland's early signing ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Phillip Moore (right) shares a moment with Cynthia McGuire Moore after signing to play at Bethune-Cookman University during Mainland's early signing ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Christian Hudson (center) signs to play football at the University of Colorado for coach Deion Sanders during Mainland's early signing ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kwasie Kwaku Jr. (right) and his mom Courtney Kwaku smile during Mainland's early siging ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kwasie Kwaku Jr. (second from left) celebrates with his family at Mainland's early signing ceremony. Kwaku signed to play football at Bethune-Cookman University.Photo by Michele Meyers
Phillip Moore (center) celebrates with his family at Mainland's early signing ceremony. Moore signed to play football at Bethune-Cookman University. Photo by Michele Meyers
Christian Hudson (center) and his parents, mom Chloe Cherelle and dad Don Hudson, are all smiles after Christian signed to play for the University of Colorado with coach Deion Sanders at Mainland's early signing ceremony. Photo by Michele Meyers
Christian Hudson (left) and Mainland head football coach Jerrime "Squatty" Bell pose together at Mainland's early signing ceremony. Hudson signed to play at the University of Colorado with coach Deion Sanders. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mainland football players Christian Hudson, Kwasie Kwaku Jr. and Phillip Moore participated in the Buccaneers' Early Signing Day ceremony Dec. 4 in front of a full house held in the school's multipurpose room. Hudson signed to play for the University of Colorado while teammates Kwaku Jr. and Moore will be headed to Bethune-Cookman University.
Head football coach Jerrime Bell kicked off the ceremony with “thank-yous” to Principal Joseph Castelli, athletic director Terrence Anthony, parents and guardians of the players.
“I want to thank the parents that helped get the kids to reach their full potential; they are not here without you,” Bell said. “Thank you Principal Dr. Castelli and athletic director Terry Anthony for helping get these kids where they are today. I appreciate all of my coaching staff and academic team. No one works harder in this area than the Mainland football staff. The proof is in the pudding.”
Hudson led Mainland this season with 60 tackles — 31 for loss — five sacks and two fumbles and was a highly sought three-star defensive lineman. He committed to the University of Central Florida in July and said at the time that he was fully invested. In October, he met with Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, defensive line coach Damione Lewis and staff members Warren Sapp and Devin Rispress. At the end of the FaceTime meeting, they offered Hudson a full scholarship.
Hudson said a lot of Florida players want to stay in Florida. He said his journey is to move out of the state and build his character. He said he was not very talkative two years ago. He feels this is a further opportunity to get out of his shell and explore new things.
“My first coach, Travis Roland, took a chance on a young freshman who had a little bit of size, but he really believed in me and taught me the ways around recruiting,” Hudson said. “Then Jerrime Bell came in my senior year, knowing who I am, he bet the book on me. He put the team on my back and I feel like all that just helped build to this moment.”
A couple of weeks ago, B-CU assistant head coach D.J. McCarthy reached out to Moore. Mainland’s wide receiver, safety, linebacker and occasional kicker said Wildcats head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. gave him his official offer to play on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and safety for B-CU.
Recruiting never stops. I hate to see the players go; they become family but there’s no time to be sad. We have other kids to push to make sure they get to the same level as these kids, so it never stops. It’s 24/7.
— JERRIME BELL, Mainland head football coach
Moore said he got emotional as he delivered his speech because he always wanted to play college football. He said he chose B-CU because of the love he felt from the coaches even though he comes from a Florida A&M family.
“There’s a lot of love at Mainland, also. It’s a brotherhood,” he said. “I wish my boys luck next year — class of 2026, 2027 and 2028 — go all the way. Don’t let anything stop you from reaching what you’re trying to get to.”
Kwaku Jr., based his decision to sign with B-CU on the possibility that his grandmother Boysie Mae Smith-Walden could attend his games. The longtime Volusia County educator had back surgery a few years ago which has made it difficult for her to travel. Kwaku's dad, Kwasie Kwaku Sr., who played football at B-CU said he is very proud of his son’s decision.
“My father used to say ‘I’m raising you to live in a world without me, not with me,’” Kwaku Sr. said. “The blessing is we raise our kids with the opportunity to make those decisions just in case we are no longer here. When we talked about certain colleges, he (Kwaku Jr.) wanted to go to, he said he wanted to make a decision that was not only best for himself but, also, he took into consideration his grandmother. I told him I support whatever decision he makes and love the reason why he made it.”
Bell was Kwaku's coach at Atlantic High School for three season. As a junior, Kwaku led the Sharks with 16 touchdowns and averaged 131.6 rushing yards per game. B-CU extended an offer to him in the spring of that year and kept in touch. He transferred to Mainland when Bell was hired to replace Roland.
“They (B-CU coaches) have been keeping in touch ever since and made sure that I felt like a priority to them,” Kwaku said. “That also made the decision a lot easier. You wouldn’t want to go somewhere where you don’t feel wanted, so them making me feel like a priority made me feel like this is where I want to call home.”
Bell said B-CU’s best years were when they had local kids on their football roster. He said having Kwaku and Moore on the roster will bring the local crowd and passion for B-CU which should help turn the program around.
Hudson will be playing with the Buffaloes in the Big 12 Conference. Bell said he has been unblockable in high school and can see him dominating early for Colorado.
“These are three of our hardest working kids on campus,” he said. “Bethune is getting two impact players that should come in right away and help them immediately. And you know what you get with Christian Hudson. You’re going to get a two-way star on both sides of the ball that is just dominant. I think that’s what Prime (Sanders) liked about him. He is going to be the trench version of Travis Hunter.”
The Division I regular signing period for football begins Feb. 5. Bell said his goal is for 100% of his players to be recruited which means sending 29 kids to college this year.
“Recruiting never stops,” he said. “I hate to see the players go; they become family but there’s no time to be sad. We have other kids to push to make sure they get to the same level as these kids, so it never stops. It’s 24/7.”
