PAHOKEE – It was a dream come true for Pierre Fertil on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Pahokee High School.
📷/👨💻: Agedits32
The Pahokee Blue Devils ‘24 defensive back put pen to paper as he signed his letter of intent with The Citadel during the morning hours of National Signing Day at the high school’s auditorium.
Pierre Fertil goes with The Citadel as his college choice.
Photo Credit: Agedits32
Fertil chose the FCS school over the likes of Western Kentucky, FIU, Middle Tennessee State, UNC pembroke, Wright State, Jacksonville State, and Montana State. He garnered 10 total college scholarships offers throughout his recruiting process.
Pierre Fertil to The Citadel.
Fertil on how his decision to go with The Citadel came about:“It was really on my official visit,” said Fertil, who spent time at the Charleston, S.C.-based school on the weekend of Jan. 19-21.“They kind of sold me and had me leaning towards them,” Fertil continued. “I started receiving a lot of attention from schools towards the back end of the process, but The Citadel kept telling me, “You come here, you go play as a freshman.” Hearing that from a high school kid means a lot. Looking at the stuff they did last year with their defense, they played 11 freshmen alone on the defensive side of the ball. They were saying how they would use me in the return game and just let me go out there to be a playmaker. They fell In love with my speed. And I just thought this would be a place I could come in, work hard, and play early.”Fertil had even more to say about The Citadel.“I knew I 100 percent could come in and work for a starting spot from Day 1,” Fertil said. “This could happen If I come in and work. I was like the No. 1 DB on their board, and they really pushed the agenda that they wanted me at their school.”
Pierre Fertil on his official visit to The Citadel from Jan. 19-21 in Charleston, S.C.
Photo credits: The Citadel Football
What’s even more exciting than that?
Fellow Pahokee ‘24 teammate and athlete Jenorris Wilcher will be joining Fertil at The Citadel. Both standouts signed with the college institution together on National Signing Day.
Fertil on Wilcher moving on to the next level with him:
“Jenorris actually committed that Wednesday after we came back from the OV,” Fertil said of Wilcher’s verbal pledge, which came on Jan. 25.
“Coach [Josh] Jones, the secondary coach, did an in-home visit with us that week prior, so when I learned that Jenorris had committed, it made The Citadel a major contender because me and him actually have been playing together since nine years old,” Fertil continued. “And with him going there with me, I’m knowing we are going to come take over. He’s not really a talker much. I’ll probably have to do all the trash talking for him, but they’re going to get an absolute dog out of him. Just seeing how much he has grown as a player, I expect Conference Freshman All-American out of him.”
Both players received their official offers from The Citadel on Jan. 3, the start date of the duo’s college process together with the FCS school.
With all that said, Fertil is thankful for the journey that led him to his personal watershed moment.
Born in Haiti, the 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back would move from his native homeland to the Okeechobee Center on the outskirts of Belle Glade. But over a period of time, Fertil would make Pahokee his proud hometown.
“In a strange way, I tell people I’m from Pahokee,” Fertil said. “Pahokee is home to me.”
Speaking of Pahokee, Fertil steadily made progress over the past few years for the Blue Devils. His best season came this past year as a senior, where he posted the following statistics in 10 games played:
•14 solo tackles
•25 total tackles
•2 interceptions
•9 pass deflections
•1 fumble recovery
•1 blocked field goal on special teams
•3 receptions on offense
•500 all-purpose yards
Fertil’s best individual game occurred in Week 2 at Inlet Grove (29-6 victory). Here are his stats from that one:
•2 interceptions for 44 yards•5 tackles•3 pass deflections
Fertil reflected on his time with the Blue Devils.
“My years at Pahokee have been great,” Fertil said. “Been on varsity since ninth grade. Didn’t really start to produce until my junior year. But from Day 1, the city of Pahokee and my teammates took me in just like I was born in Pahokee. Some of them guys I been knowing for most of my life, but I also gained new friends and bonds at Pahokee, coaches and all. In a way I feel like I’m from Pahokee, but it’s been one unique journey. A lot of ups, rarely any down moments.”PHOTO CREDITS ON INSTAGRAM: Agedits32 and The Citadel FootballVIDEO CREDITS ON X: Hudl, NSN (Nelson Sports), and Rising Stars (Jerry Williamson)
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