Wednesday is the day 21 area athletes have been waiting for.

Beginning at 7:01 a.m., they can sign their National Letters of Intent and fax them to the respective colleges and universities of their choice.

Highlighting this year's crop of future collegiate athletes are four reigning Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette players of the year in their respective sports.

Three are from Hilton Head Island High. Jack Manesiotis will sign to run distance track events and cross country for Florida, Emily Crick will play women's soccer at Winthrop and Chris MacMurray will sign to play soccer at Georgia Southern. Bluffton quarterback C.J. Frazier, the football offensive player of the year, is headed to Newberry.

Faith Lifer was the girls runner of the year in 2012, but she is signing to play soccer at Wofford.

Another nine area athletes won't be signing letters of intent -- the program only applies to NCAA Division I and II schools. NCAA Division III schools, NAIA schools, junior colleges and prep schools, as well as Ivy League schools and the U.S. military academies, do not require letters of intent.

Highlighting those area athletes is Bluffton's Anthony Smith Jr., a cornerback who will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. He will become the first Bobcat to play at the NCAA Division I FBS level.

SIGNING DAY EVENTS

Battery Creek: 1:15 p.m., cafeteria

Beaufort High: 11 a.m., media center

Bluffton: Noon, outside gym

Hilton Head Christian: 12:45 p.m., gymnasium

Hilton Head Island High: 5:30 p.m., media center

Ridgeland-Hardeeville: 2 p.m., Jasper County School District boardroom

Whale Branch: 1:15 p.m., cafeteria

AREA FOOTBALL COMMITMENTS

FBS/FCS (NCAA Division I)

Tyler Chisholm, K/P, Hilton Head Christian -- S.C. State

Dee Delaney, WR/DB, Whale Branch -- The Citadel

Caleb Gee, OL, Beaufort High -- Charleston Southern

Michael Julian, QB, Hilton Head High -- Toledo

Anthony Smith Jr., CB, Bluffton -- Air Force

Jamario Williams, WR/DB, Hilton Head Christian -- Wofford

NCAA Division II

Willie Doe, DL, Battery Creek -- Newberry

C.J. Frazier, QB, Bluffton -- Newberry

Jac'que Polite, OL, Ridgeland -- Missouri Western State

NCAA Division III

J.D. Tuten, CB, Thomas Heyward -- Berry

NAIA

Tyrik Spicer, LB, Whale Branch -- Edward Waters

Kyle Waddell, LB, Bluffton -- Southeastern

Junior College

Jaquan Campbell, SS, Bluffton -- Greenville Tech

Tykeem Major, RB, Bluffton -- Greenville Tech

Jeremy Scott, CB, Bluffton -- Greenville Tech

Marquis Webber, WR, Bluffton -- Gray Military College

OTHER SPORTS

Cross country/Track and field

NCAA Division I

Robbie Iulo, Hilton Head Island -- Lehigh

Jack Manesiotis, Hilton Head Island -- Florida

Sean McMahon, Hilton Head Island -- College of Charleston

Reed Shindell, Hilton Head Christian -- Clemson

Men's Soccer

NCAA Division I

Chris MacMurray, M, Hilton Head Island -- Georgia Southern

Women's Soccer

NCAA Division I

Emily Crick, M/F, Hilton Head Island -- Winthrop

Faith Lifer, M/F, Hilton Head Island -- Wofford

Jordan Haughton-James, D, Hilton Head Island -- Charleston Southern

Kelsey Fitzhugh, M/F, Hilton Head Island -- Charleston Southern

Nikki Schoning, M, Hilton Head Island -- Charleston Southern

NCAA Division II

Taylor Bush, M/F, Hilton Head Island -- Erskine

Victoria Johnston, D, Hilton Head Island -- Erskine

Alex Vinson, D, Hilton Head Island -- Erskine

NAIA

Bridgette Noonan, M, Hilton Head Island -- USC Beaufort