Jordan Robinson has been thinking about playing college football for a while.
Now, the Jefferson City senior will get that opportunity.
Robinson will continue his career at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., this fall after signing a national letter of intent Wednesday morning.
"It's just surreal," Robinson said. "You start out young and you want to get to this point. When it happens, it's like a dream - it's like a dream come true."
Robinson had narrowed down his choices to three schools - including Southeast Missouri State and North Dakota - but playing for the Fighting Leathernecks seemed like the perfect fit for the 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end.
"It was a tough decision at first because there were other schools calling," Robinson said. "But when I went on my visit to Western, it pretty much sealed the deal. They welcomed me with open arms.
"It's family based there - it's like one big family. The players are a band of brothers and the coaching staff is like a band of fathers looking out for you and making sure you do what you have to do."
Western Illinois is coming off a 4-8 season, 2-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, under the direction of Bob Nielson, who is entering his third season as the Fighting Leathernecks head coach.
Joining a program that is relatively young was another draw for Robinson.
"It's in the rebuilding stage - new coaching staff, new everything," he said.
Robinson, a three-year letter winner for the Jays, recorded 41 solo tackles to go along with 16 assists during his senior year. He also had five sacks and caused a fumble to help lead Jefferson City to a 6-4 record in 2013.
Throughout his career, Robinson compiled 82 solo tackles, 36 assists, 9.5 sacks, and caused three fumbles.
"He's an incredibly gifted athlete," Jefferson City head coach Ted LePage said. "In his time over the last couple of years, he's matured a lot and I think he really got himself going in the offseason this past year and really dedicated himself to trying to be the best football player he could be. To watch his growth process was very, very good."
Robinson was one of four Jefferson City athletes that will continue their football careers at the next level as Gabe Marcantonio, Brayden Byrd, and Isaiah McBride also signed national letters of intent Wednesday morning.
Marcantonio is heading to Missouri S&T after being named to the Missouri Football Coaches Association second-team as an athlete and punter his senior year.
Marcantonio, the Jays' starting quarterback in 2013, completed 102-of-203 passes for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 799 yards rushing on 165 carries and scored 12 TDs. On the defensive end, Marcantonio had four solo tackles and two interceptions.
Marcantonio also averaged 40.1 yards per punt, was 10-of-12 on extra-point attempts and 4-of-4 on field-goal attempts.
Byrd, a second-team all-state offensive lineman in 2013, will continue his career at Southwest Baptist University.
As a senior, Byrd played left tackle for the Jays and helped clear the way for 1,973 yards rushing and 1,234 yards passing.
McBride is heading to Benedictine after recording 22 solo tackles, 10 assists, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries as a senior.
"We are always really pleased anytime a player takes enough in their self worth to do the academic side, the citizenship side, and then be the football player," LePage said. "It really makes it satisfying for a coach to know that that player has made a family commitment and a commitment to themselves to be better. It's an opportunity for them to make a great life decision - that's something that really is pleasing to us."