MADISON TOWNSHIP — It wasn’t so much a signing as it was a celebration.
A standing room only crowd filled the Madison library and spilled out into the adjacent hallway Wednesday afternoon to see Tyrell Ajian became a member of University of Kentucky football program.
The ceremonial signing — Ajian’s official national letter of intent arrived in the UK athletic department early Wednesday morning — included most of the school’s coaching staff as well as several teachers and administrators.
“It’s kind of a testimony to what a great young man Tyrell is that we have this kind of crowd,” Madison athletic director Doug Rickert said. “Not only his family, but his friends and our administrative staff and all these teachers.
“This doesn’t happen every day.”
The ultra-athletic Ajian verbally committed to Kentucky last April, choosing the Wildcats over Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State among others. He had 17 Division I offers but decided to join the Wildcats’ 24-man class.
“I picked Kentucky because of the coaching staff and from the vibe I got from visiting there,” Ajian said when he committed. “All the coaches and players were very honest. They answered every question we had about Kentucky.”
Ajian was ranked as the No. 8 safety in the country by ESPN. The two-time All-Ohioan owns career records for receptions (86), receiving yards (1,622) and touchdown catches (27).
“Tyrell is a versatile athlete who can play every position in the secondary and has shown great leadership,” coach Mark Stoops said in a release. “His awareness and instincts have been evident on the football field and basketball court.”
In addition to his football accomplishments, Ajian also is a standout basketball player. He became the 10th member of Madison’s 1,000-point club earlier this season.
“If not for a broken foot his sophomore year, he would have demolished our scoring record,” Madison basketball coach Tim Mergel said. “To have a kid of his character, talent and ability, it’s once-in-a-lifetime.”
Ajian is Madison’s first Division I football signee since Justin Larrick. The 1998 graduate played at Toledo before transferring to Ashland University to play basketball.
“I have the utmost confidence that this young man is going succeed in whatever he wants to do in life,” an emotional Madison football coach Jamie Masi said. “I’m very proud of him.”
