Staff photo / Dan Hiner Warren G. Harding cornerback Airiz Coleman-Bey signs his letter of intent to continue his academic and football careers at Brown on Wednesday at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

WARREN – It’s not too often a high school sees a student sign with a Division I program, and it’s even rarer for a school to have three in one year.

But the Warren Harding community gathered at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to celebrate three football players signing their letters of intent.

Chaz Coleman signed with Penn State, Stephen Sims is headed to Youngstown State and Airiz Coleman-Bey will play for Brown.

“It’s a great day to be from the city of Warren and a great day if you’re in the Raider family,” Harding head coach Matt Richardson said. “Anytime you can get three kids to move on and continue their education, it’s a beautiful thing.”

Coleman was the big name among the trio. The edge rusher had offers from schools around the country, and they continued to flow in even after he verbally committed to Penn State.

In addition to playing on the edge, the 6-5 athlete was the team’s starting quarterback and punter as well.

He finished this past season with 75 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 21 QB hurries, three interceptions, nine forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also returned one fumble and one interception for touchdowns.

On the academic side of things, Coleman is undecided on his major.

“When I went on an official visit (to Penn State), the people around you, they care for you,” Coleman said. “And the coaches around you care for you too.”

Coleman-Bey had a slightly different recruiting cycle.

The senior defensive back earned his way to Brown, and getting into an Ivy League program has its own process.

First, a student-athlete must be able to get into the school. If they meet the academic requirements, then they can focus on an athletic scholarship.

Brown reached out to Coleman-Bey after a camp over the summer. His production on the field helped, as he put up 35 tackles and three interceptions – including one for a touchdown – while playing cornerback.

Coleman-Bey will stay at corner in college, and after football, he’s looking toward a career as a psychiatrist, psychologist or a pediatrician.

“I’m very happy,” Coleman-Bey said after the signing. “I’m glad I get to share this moment with family and friends.”

Sims made a name for himself at Girard before transferring to Harding during the offseason.

He played receiver and was also used in the run game for the Raiders. He found a home early on defense, however, starting at safety.

Sims made 65 tackles, forced three fumbles and recovered a fumble. But he will play receiver for the Penguins in the future, and he put up 600 total yards and scored six touchdowns for the Raiders’ offense this fall.

He will major in Accounting during his college career.

“All my family is home, and everybody is still here to support me,” Sims said of his choice to go to YSU.

The trio is the first group of signees with Richardson as Harding’s head coach. He said the players bought into the new systems he brought into the program, and they took advantage over the past few months.

“Very appreciative of the work they put in. They gave everything they got, did everything I asked them to do since we got here from Day 1,” Richardson said. “They’re reaping the benefits of it.”