Every Katy ISD graduate who participated in Saturday’s Bayou Bowl was focused on one thing, doing what was best for their college futures.

The players sung the praises of the bowl all week for not only it’s fun and competitive spirit, but for how it gave them a test of what to expect at the next level, as al four Katy ISD graduates who competed in the game are signed to play football in college.

“This is the kind of experience you need, it was different,” said Mayde Creek graduate Jordan Kelly. “It was just way different than preparing for any high school games. I was away from my parents all week and I had a lot more freedom than I usually do. It just showed me what’s expected of me at the next level and how you have to be ready.”

Kelly, a Central Michigan signee, is getting prepared to make the jump to Division I. Cinco Ranch’s Fordham Parks is preparing for FCS football with Stephen F. Austin, Tompkins graduate Bryce Shaink is heading to Navarro Junior College and Morton Ranch graduate Jokobe Hinton is taking the NAIA route, as he will attend Benedictine College in Kansas.

The bowl game and week of preparation provided all of them with a good learning experience.

“The whole week was crazy,” Shaink said. “Every hour we had something new to do. We’d practice, then eat, then practice again and then go out and do something. It was a really fun experience and we went to a lot of fun places but also got a lot of work in to get ready. It really showed me what I need to be doing.”

Each of the four has been working on improving their game before they get to the next level. Shaink has been working on getting stronger and making sure he can handle the rigors of college ball as well as upping his speed, Parks has also been working on his strength and putting on weight, Hinton has been putting work in in the weight room while also working on his agility and footwork while Kelly has been working to get even faster as well as on improving his hand eye coordination.

“That’s very important to me,” Kelly said. “I just go around catching anything. Catching rocks, catching water bottles, tennis balls and even rugby balls since that requires a wider grip. Just working on all of those things.”

All of them have already set goals for themselves for their freshman years as well, they are preparing for that next step. Kelly wants to put in as much work as he can when he gets to Central Michigan to lock down a starting spot, Parks is focused on learning from the veterans at Stephen F. Austin and chipping in wherever he can while trying to be a good locker room leader. Hinton is looking to be a force on the Benedictine offensive line while Shaink wants to make sure he puts together a solid year at Navarro so he can also move up to the Division I ranks.

“I just want to get on the field and I want to set the bar high for myself once I’m out there,” Shaink said. “I think my big goal is to play six months and do enough to get out and move up even further wherever that lads me. But just go get on the field and play with my brothers is a blessing. I just want to make sure I’m having fun too.”