Eisenhower football standout RJ Fisher smiles as he signs paperwork that will give him an opportunity to play for Air Force.
When RJ Fisher departed for Colorado Springs, Colo. on Jan. 27, he didn't have high expectations for what the trip might produce.
Fisher, who led Eisenhower to the state football playoffs for the first time since 2011 last fall, was on his way to the Air Force Academy for a football recruiting visit. As he and his parents made the nine-hour drive from Lawton, he had no idea the military school might serve as his home for the next four or five years.
However, as he toured the campus and the football facilities, his skepticism quickly turned to surety and comfort.
Before the night was over, Fisher revealed his intention to play for the Falcons via Twitter, and he made his commitment official at the Ike auditorium on Wednesday afternoon as part of the renowned National Signing Day.
Rather than signing a National Letter of Intent (NOI) like most other high school senior athletes, Fisher inked a Certificate of Intent (COI).
According to a statement released by the Air Force Academy on Dec. 20, the COI is a "non-binding agreement that signifies an athlete's commitment to follow through with the appointment process and allows them to participate in signing day for publicity purposes".
The Academy's atmosphere and football facilities swayed Fisher to his life-altering decision, and he said finally signing after a long recruiting process was a surreal experience.
"This is something you dream about — to play Division I college football — ever since you're a child," Fisher said. "To have my parents with me and all of my friends and family around me, it's a very good feeling. I'm very proud of myself, and I think my parents are, too.
"Honestly, I never knew Air Force was going to be the place for me. I went up on my visit, and I fell in love with the place. When you think of Air Force, you don't think of a great football school, but when you get there and see the facilities, they're top-notch just like all the other schools in the nation."
Fisher also received offers from Arkansas State and two other service academies, Army and Navy, and he even garnered interest from the likes of Oklahoma State and Michigan, but he chose Air Force for reasons beyond football.
Fisher said Air Force offers something many schools can't.
"When I graduate there, I know I'll have a career," Fisher said. "Other schools can offer you football, but Air Force offers me a career and good football."
Fisher will play quarterback for the Falcons, who finished 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the Mountain West last season, and he will likely have to fight for the starting job this spring.
Air Force returns starting quarterback Arion Worthman, who finished with 1,921 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns in 2017.
Despite that, Fisher said he is a competitor and looks forward to the offseason battle with Worthman and the rest of the depth chart.
"They're actually bringing in a couple of quarterbacks, but that's something I think will help me get better," Fisher said. "I'm not scared to compete, and I'm ready to get out there and try to get the starting job."
Whether Fisher takes over the starting role or becomes a backup in his first season, there is no denying the Falcons' triple-option flexbone offense fits his skillset perfectly.
Fisher showed his ability to utilize his arm and his legs last season for Ike, passing for 1,239 yards while rushing for 1,311 on the way to a combined 31 touchdowns.
After a short film session with Air Force offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Thiessen during the late-January visit, Fisher envisioned himself executing the Falcons' offensive scheme with precision and accuracy.
"I really liked what they do on offense, and I think it's a blessing I'll be able to play quarterback at the next level," Fisher said.
Fisher followed in the footsteps of his father, Rod, who graduated from MacArthur in 1987 and played the ensuing four seasons at the University of Oklahoma under coaches Barry Switzer and Gary Gibbs.
Fisher said his father was nothing but supportive, providing plenty of help and advice throughout the recruitment process.
"He's been through it, so he know a lot of the X's and O's of the recruiting process," Fisher said. "He left a lot of the weight on my shoulders because he wanted me to make the decision for myself, and I think that's what I did."
The senior was also sure to credit his high school coach, Mike Burris, for the work he put in to ensure Fisher received the necessary exposure.
"He was the main one getting my film out, along with my dad," Fisher said. "Coach Burris has a lot of football knowledge, and he helped me a lot."
Burris said he anticipates great things from the quarterback, warning Fisher's future opposing defenses to beware of what Fisher can do with the ball in his possession.
"RJ is just an all-around great athlete," Burris said. "He can do a lot of things, and going to Air Force, where he's going to have the ball in his hands every snap, it's going to be tough on defenses."
Air Force opens the 2018 season on Sept. 8 with a road contest against the reigning C-USA champion, Florida Atlantic.
Two of Fisher's Ike teammates also signed letters of intent to play college football on Wednesday.
Offensive lineman/linebacker Tavita Ieremia signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and running back Kenneth Graham signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State (SWOSU).
Lawton High had eight players sign, including a trio of playmakers, wide receiver/defensive back JayQuan Lincoln, defensive back/wide receiver Kejuan Neal and defensive back Jordun Carradine, who will all be heading to East Central University in Ada.
Meanwhile, receiver Dominick Neal and tight end/defensive end Nate Eggleton signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, defensive tackle Matt Hernandez signed with Oklahoma Panhandle State and lineman Kole Petering signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
MacArthur had three players make their intent know as well. Linebacker Rylan Webb and tight end Tre Currin both signed with Northeastern State, while tackle McKain Hammond signed with SWOSU.