Arlington’s McPherson commits to play with Army

Arlington quarterback Blake McPherson signed a commitment to play football for the U.S. Military Academy on Wednesday night, according to an email The Herald received from his brother Brad McPherson.

McPherson’s commitment gives Snohomish County three high school athletes receiving Division-I scholarships this year. The fleet-footed quarterback threw for 2,355 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 301 yards and six scores.

Due to the U.S. Military Academy appointment process, names of recruited cadet-athletes are not available until they arrive for Reception Day in the summer.

In a press release, Army head coach Rich Ellerson wrote that Wednesday is still an important day for Army recruits.

“It’s probably not quite as dramatic as it is some places because we’re on signatories to the National Letter, but an awful lot of guys have that date as ‘zero hour,’” Ellerson explained. “They’re going to sign something, even if it’s just a certificate from us stating that they’re going to attend West Point and we’re glad to have them … But because the rest of the college football world is centering around that date, our guys do as well. Most of those decisions have been made well ahead of time, but there’s still a sense of ceremony, still a sense of celebration at that moment.”