(pictured above: From left to right: Zach Yopp, 2014 NFC Grad, now at West Point; Jack Marsh, NFC senior; Tanner Clemons, NFC senior; Jacob Wynn, NFC senior)

Jack Marsh, Tanner Clemons, and Jacob Wynn, three seniors at North Florida Christian, continue to navigate the process required to secure a coveted nomination for one of the United States service academies.
Tanner Clemons, who has attended NFC since kindergarten, is an active member of the Varsity Basketball team, numerous clubs, and manages to stay at the top of his class.
Clemons has been working towards excelling on the SAT and ACT in order to raise his chances of being selected to attend one of the military academies.
He demonstrates leadership skills, a crucial quality to be accepted into an academy, while serving as the Student Body President at NFC. Clemons’ top picks are the Coast Guard Academy where he would like to major in electrical engineering, or the Naval Academy where he would like to work with cyber operations.
Jack Marsh has also attended NFC since kindergarten. He participates in Varsity Wrestling and Track and Field, National Honor Society, Key Club, and is at the top of his class academically.
Jack has served in a variety of leadership positions, such as being an elected member of Student Government and an officer in Key Club.
Over the summer, Marsh was selected to attend the Naval Academy Summer Seminar camp in Annapolis, Maryland. The camp focused on teaching fundamentals of the Naval Academy. “I really enjoyed the experience because it helped me to see what the Naval Academy really stood for, and the different cultures that surrounded it,” said Marsh when asked about his personal experience.
His top choices are the Naval Academy or the United States Military Academy at West Point, but has a back-up plan of attending either Auburn University or Florida State.
Jacob Wynn has attended NFC since Preschool. He has lettered in Varsity football as well as track and field. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and has started the first ever newspaper at NFC. He has held offices in NHS, Key Club and has held various positions as a class officer. Jacob has also participated with Kid’s Vote and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Jacob’s first choice would be The United States Military Academy at West Point. If his first choice is not awarded, Jacob plans to get involved with the ROTC at one of the local colleges.
Over the past several weeks, Marsh, Clemons, and Wynn have interviewed with the offices of officials like US Senator Marco Rubio and US Representative Gwen Graham in hopes of gaining their support.
They are also active in the West Point Society of Tallahassee, which exposes them to the traditions of the service academy and provides opportunities to meet with retired veterans and alumni of various academies.
Marsh, Clemons, and Wynn also had the opportunity to meet with West Point graduate David Rich, who is a leader in the West Point Society of Tallahassee.
In recent years, NFC has sent several graduates to West Point, the most recent being Zach Yopp, who graduated in 2014.
North Florida Christian has sent a total of 11 students to a service academy since 2011, more than any other school in the surrounding area.

In his senior year at North Florida Christian School (NFCS) he led the football team to a victory in the Florida 2A state championship game after an undefeated season.

In addition to playing safety on the NFCS football team, Blanks was also a member of the National Honor Society.

Coming out of NFCS, Blanks was rated as the #15 overall player and the #2 safety in the nation by ESPN.com.

He signed with Clemson and was their top freshman performer in 2012 and a starting safety during most of the 2013 season before suffering a season-ending injury. He has played in 24 games (18 starts) in his career with Clemson.

He decided to take a redshirt year in 2014 to work on the mental aspect of his game and recover from a torn ACL. Despite re-tearing his ACL, he said he made the right decision.

Blanks told Tigernet.com, “I’m glad. I made the right decision, even though I got hurt through that redshirt season.” I just wasn’t ready mentally and physically. It would’ve done myself a disservice to try to live up to expectations and try to do what everyone wanted me to do if I wasn’t mentally and physically ready. At the end of the day, I made the right decision.”

A year later, Blanks said he is as healthy as he’s ever been.

“I don’t have any limitations. I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I’ve been healthy all summer and it’s the best I’ve ever felt.

Brent Venables, Clemson’s defensive coordinator seems to agree.

Venables told Scout.com when asked about Blanks, “He’s not really had any lingering effects. He’s within 5 or 10 pounds on all of his lifts from almost two years. He’s worked really hard. They did a great job rehabbing him and getting him ready. The mental aspect has been really good.”

Blanks will suit up Saturday, wearing number 11, as the starting strong side linebacker for Clemson in their opening game in Death Valley against Wofford. Kickoff is 12:30.