Three members of the Emanuel County Institute football team have declared their intentions as to where they’ll play college football.

Running back Washaun Ealey and linebacker Dexter Moody have made early verbal commitments to play at the University of Georgia in 2009. Lineman Chad Turner will sign a letter of intent for three-time defending national champion Appalachian State on Wednesday and join the Mountaineers this fall.

“They’ve been Georgia folks from the beginning,” ECI coach Milan Turner said of Ealey and Moody. “They’ve been fired up about going up there and they both camped there last year — they’re just real excited about it.”

Both Ealey and Moody are juniors and will try to help the Bulldogs (15-0) to defend a state title in Class A this season.

Ealey rushed for 2,982 yards and scored 57 touchdowns, setting the Georgia high school state record for touchdowns in a season.

Chad Turner, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior, is expected to sign with App State on Wednesday, the first day of the signing period.

“I think it was just a great fit for (Chad),” said Coach Turner, adding that three nation championships didn’t hurt either. “He really felt good about the program and wanted to play for a winner. The thing about (ASU) was the coaching staff having been together for so long, and just a lot of continuity there. There’s some local schools around here that had a lot of turnover and had coaches’ names mentioned for other jobs every year. He just wasn’t real confident that the folks around here were going to be there for very long.”

Appalachian visits Statesboro and Paulson Stadium on Oct. 18.

Senior wide receiver LaCollie Gordon is leaning toward Valdosta State where he will make a visit and then make an official announcement Feb 6.

Also, junior lineman J.C. Lanier is being heavily recruited by Clemson. However, Turner said Lanier probably won’t make any decisions until late spring on his football future.