COURTLAND—Andre’ Rawls will continue his football career at Virginia State University.

Boone signed to play with the Trojans on Saturday.

Surrounded by his mother, Alesia Rawls, and father, Sidney Rawls, and Athletic Director Littleton Parker, Rawls signed the letter of intent at home.

“I think it is a wonderful opportunity for him,” Parker said about Rawls, who played as an offensive and defensive back. “I am just happy to see him get an opportunity to go to school — No. 1 to one get his education and No. 2 to play football.”

Virginia State is a public National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II University and a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In the 2009 season, the Trojans had a 6-4 overall record and were 4-3 in the CIAA. They placed fourth in the Eastern Division.

The 18-year-old was named all Southside District for both running back and defensive back in 2009 as well as All-Region for both running back and defensive back in 2009.

Rawls said that the school seems to be a good environment for him; he likes the coaches and playing time was an influence in his decision.

“I think that should be the goal of any young man,” said Parker. “One is to go to school to get an education, to better himself in life, and two to have an opportunity to do extracurricular activities while in school and that’s most important.”

Alesia and Sidney Rawls were both proud of their son being able to go to college to get an education and to be able to play football at the next level.

“I like the fact that he will be close to home,” said his mother. “We like the coaches and the staff. We liked the players. We were able to ask them a lot of questions with the coaches outside of the room, and they were honest with us, and that was a big thing for me.”