TIFTON — For the third straight year, the Tift County Blue Devils will have a football player heading to a major Division I university.

Shayon Green announced Wednesday he has verbally committed to continue his career and education at Purdue University. The Boilermakers were one of 15 schools to have either talked to Green, or offered him a scholarship for the 2009 season.

Green will join a pair of former Tift County teammates at a Division I university during the 2009 season. Tift had a player go to a Southeastern Conference university off of the 2006 team, Israel Troupe to Georgia, and a player go to an Atlantic Coast Conference school off of the 2007 team, Zach Allen to North Carolina State.

Participating in an evening workout Wednesday, Green said his reasoning for going to become a Purdue Boilermaker was simple.

“I can get an education in what I want to study (physical therapy), and I think I could get a chance to play as a true freshman,” said Green.

The defensive lineman is also happy to help Tift County keep its streak of sending players to the Division I level alive.

“I think I am going to be better than Israel and Zach though,” Green said with a grin.

The senior was named this week as a third-team defensive lineman on the Reebok Georgia Football Phenoms preseason all-classification squad. Varsity Sports Media’s Georgia Football magazine put out those teams, and includes players from every classification in the state of Georgia.

Joining Green on the squad from Tift County is Jordan West, who was named second-team placekicker.

With a pair of defending state champions in Region 1-AAAAA this season (Lowndes and Northside), the Devils may be flying under the radar, but Green thinks the Tift squad is in for a good year.

“I am really excited about the season,” said Green.

Wednesday marked the first day the Devils could go in full pads. Expect Tift to continue to practice every day after school until the Aug. 22 scrimmage at Ware County.

The Devils will then open up the regular season at home Aug. 29 against the Roswell High Hornets.