Members of the Jamestown High School football program gathered at McElrath Gymnasium on Wednesday to announce the college commitments of seven senior student-athletes. Seated, from the left, are Ty Shults (Buffalo State), Sincere Green (Buffalo State), Caleb Bane (Brockport) and Nick Miraglia (Brockport). Standing are Jamestown athletic director Ben Drake, Jamestown assistant football coaches Arrick Davis and Ryan Calkins, Joey Delgado (Brockport), Julian McGaughy (Brockport), Jaylen Butera (Mercyhurst), assistant coach Richie Joly, head coach Tom Langworthy and assistant coach Steve Propheter. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Tom Langworthy has coached football at Jamestown High School for 14 seasons, during which there have been many Red Raiders who have committed to play at the next level.

But seven in one graduating class?

Never.

“This year is extra special,” Langworthy said Wednesday afternoon during a photo opportunity with seniors Jaylen Butera, Caleb Bane, Joey Delgado, Nick Miraglia, Julian McGaughy, Sincere Green and Ty Shults and their respective families at McElrath Gymnasium. “I knew it was special by the way we played on the field. To be able to be part of a program that helps people not only go to college and play football in college, but also get their educations, it’s just great to be part of that, really. Football changes your life, and that’s really what we’re trying to do.

“It’s a special day for us to see these kids excited about this next chapter.”

Butera, the two-time Post-Journal Player of the Year and first-team all-state running back, will be attending Division II Mercyhurst University; linemen Bane, Delgado, Miraglia and McGaughy will attend Division III SUNY Brockport; and defensive backs Green and Shults will be headed to Division III Buffalo State.

“All of them are great fits,” Langworthy said. “They’re going to universities and colleges that have shown interest over the course of the recruitment window. It’s places that the players have visited, so they’ve been able to see that it’s a good fit. They’re at a place where they are wanted and they’re at a place they can flourish, and I think it’s a good fit, not just athletically, but academically as well.”

Langworthy said that Mercyhurst showed the most interest in Butera of any school.

“They really like Jaylen,” Langworthy said. “They think he can make an impact right away. He’s close to home, he can come home on all of his holidays and breaks, and his family and friends can come and watch him play every weekend and be home the same evening.”

An alumnus of the school, Langworthy also played football for the Lakers two decades ago.

“I wanted to make sure that Jaylen knew it was about his fit and his experience, and nothing to do with that being my alma mater,” he said. “We talked about that a couple times.”

Like Butera, Bane, McGaughy, Delgado and Green were Post-Journal all-stars last fall, helping the Red Raiders (12-1) capture a Section VI Class A championship, a Far West Regional title and a berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals.