Lamar Goods is taking his football talents to the U.S. college ranks.
Goods held his signing ceremony at Father Mercredi High School on Dec. 30, 2019, officially becoming a member of the Florida Gators.
In attendance was his football coach, Kevin Garbuio, and mother, Marcella Gionet.
Goods said he dreamed of the opportunity going back to the seventh grade when Garbuio discovered him while he was a member of the bantam team.
“Everything is kind of coming at me, I’m taking in it. I don’t think words can fathom the feeling.”
Also in attendance were local football prospects, Dylan Remillard and Luke Foster.
Goods said he plans to enrol on Jan. 4, 2019.
It’s official: @GoodsLamar is a Florida Gator. The defensive lineman from @FMCSD signs to join the @GatorsFB as Father Mercerdi coach, Kevin Garbuio looks on pic.twitter.com/KVt32xTaeR
— MyMcMurray (@MyMcMurray) December 30, 2019
Now, Goods was quick to mention the importance of gaining an education.
He thanked Coach Garbuio for showing him that education is the key to life.
“I really lacked in my education, but I lucky enough to have people like [Kevin] Garbuio to support me to get to where I am, which is a straight-A student on the honour roll, so I’m really proud of that.”
He encourages all students in the region to continue their academics.
Garbuio said more programs in Canada and the U.S. are looking to our region.
He recalled one visit from St. Mary’s Huskies football head coach, James Colzie III.
“He was up to see Dylan [Remillard] saying ‘you got Lamar Goods, Luke Foster: They all came from Fort McMurray?’ We’re competing with a lot of programs say [from] Edmonton and Calgary.”
Garbuio said he hopes the individual and team success in football will continue.
The Florida Gators play in the Southeastern Conference in the NCAA, a Power-5 conference school.
They finished in sixth place in the nation in 2019.
