On the first Wednesday of February every year, the spotlight shines on prep athletes around the country.  It's National Signing Day, a day that has become one of the most important college football events of the year.

Despite losing a little luster in 2018 because of the first-ever early signing period in December, there was drama and excitement surrounding many of the seniors in Central Florida.

The most significant recruit in the Class of 2018 from Central Florida is Lorenzo Lingard, considered the nation's #1 RB in the nation by some recruiting websites.  Lingard signed with Miami during the early signing period in December.

Apopka's patented power running game was led by two Division-I caliber linemen in 2017.  William Barnes and Ed Montilus helped spearhead an offense that scored over 34 points/game and they'll continue their partnership at North Carolina next season.

Gateway defensive lineman Dennis Briggs committed to Florida State over Miami on January 28th and stayed true to his commitment to the Seminoles.  He is the highest-profile recruit in Gateway history.

"I was almost about to go [to Miami] but then Coach Taggart came in and just made me reaffirm everything about FSU," Briggs said. "It's hard to find somewhere where they treat their players like family and it's not just saying it, but they proved it also so it's going to be fun playing for Coach Taggart and for all the coaches and for FSU."

The Florida Gators secured the services of East Ridge WR Justin Watkins.  The early-morning signing concluded a whirlwind recruitment for Watkins, who previously had verbally committed to Florida State (June 2016) and Texas (February 2017).

Jones' dynamic dual-threat QB Quadry Jones will be staying close to home.  He signed with UCF as a preferred walk-on.

Here's a complete list of Division-I Central Florida signees (including from the early signing period in December:

APOPKA
Mychal Austin, 3-star DE - Tennessee-Chattanooga
William Barnes, 4-star OT - North Carolina
Chance Bush, 2-star CB - Southern Illinois
Ed Montilus, 3-star G - North Carolina

BISHOP MOORE
Eric Seidelman, 3-star C - UCF

COCOA
Javian Hawkins, 3-star APB - Louisville

DR. PHILLIPS
Davarius Bargnare, 3-star WR - Georgia Southern
John Campbell, 3-star OT - Miami
Braxton Clark, 3-star CB - Nebraska
Joe Gulla, 2-star ILB - Brown
Tanner Ingle, 3-star CB - North Carolina State

EAST RIDGE
Caleb Lynum, 3-star QB - FIU
Justin Watkins, 4-star WR - Florida

EDGEWATER
Caleb McMillan, 2-star WR - Marshall

GATEWAY
Dennis Briggs, 4-star DT - Florida State

JONES
Sevyn Banks, 4-star CB - Ohio State
Brandon Cross, 3-star CB - Georgia Southern
Devin Hayes, 3-star DE - FAU
Quadry Jones, 2-star QB - UCF
Kerby Joseph, 3-star ATH - Illinois
Jaylen Joyner, 3-star DE - FAU
Stacy Kirby, 3-star DE - USF
Terrell Ware, 2-star CB - Bethune-Cookman

LAKE BRANTLEY
Tyler Falvey, 2-star OT - Middle Tennessee State
Jack Wofford, 2-star G - Air Force

LAKE NONA
Anthony Manning, 3-star WR - Wake Forest
Anthony Queeley, 3-star WR - Syracuse

LEESBURG
Wyatt Rector, 3-star QB - Western Michigan

LYMAN
Deon Woods, 3-star DE - FAU

MAINLAND
D’Marcus Adams, 3-star WR - Florida State
Adonis Boone, 3-star OT - Louisville
Nathaniel Dell, 2-star WR - FIU
Raymond Horton, 2-star G - FIU
John Huggins, 3-star S - Florida

MATANZAS
Devin Mathews, 3-star OLB - Navy

MELBOURNE CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Lavonte Valentine, 3-star APB - South Carolina
Zamari Walton, 3-star CB - Georgia Tech

OAK RIDGE
Connor Parks, 3-star DE - Kent State

OLYMPIA
Troy Golden, 2-star DE - Colorado State
Shane Hooks, 3-star WR - Ohio
Joe Milton, 4-star QB - Michigan
Jordan Underwood, 3-star WR - FIU

OSCEOLA
Dion Bergan, 3-star DT - Wake Forest
Malcolm Davidson, 3-star RB - FAU
Jordan Redmond, 3-star DT - Virginia

OVIEDO
William Przystup, K/P - Michigan State

ROCKLEDGE
Jashaun Corbin, 4-star APB - Texas A&M
Antoine Green, 4-star WR - North Carolina
Jesson Walker, 2-star CB - FIU

SEMINOLE
Kenneth Horsey, 3-star G - Kentucky

SOUTH SUMTER
Deontae Grant, 2-star CB - Georgia Southern

ORANGE CITY UNIVERSITY
Lorenzo Lingard, 5-star RB - Miami

ORLANDO UNIVERSITY
A.J. Uzodinma, 2-star WR - Ball State

VANGUARD
Avonta Crim, 3-star S - Western Kentucky
Marquez Glover, 3-star QB - Kent State

VIERA
Brandon Mays, 3-star OLB - Army

WEKIVA
Jarvis Ware, 3-star CB - Missouri

WEST ORANGE
Franklin Jackson, 3-star DE - FAU