Chatt Prep's Marquis Gardner Makes School History Signing With Navy

Running back becomes first Division I signee in school history

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Chatt Prep running back Marquis Gardner signed with the U.S. Naval Academy on National Signing Day, becoming the first-ever Division I signee from his high school. A Navy recruiter said Gardner is the first player the academy has signed from Chattanooga in the past 20 years.

Why it matters

This is a significant milestone for Chatt Prep, a small high school in Chattanooga, as Gardner's Division I signing represents the first time the school has produced a player talented enough to earn a scholarship from a top college program. It highlights the potential for student-athletes at lesser-known schools to achieve success at the highest levels of their sport.

The details

Gardner had an outstanding senior season, accounting for over 2,200 total yards. His performance and recruitment by Navy demonstrate his exceptional athletic abilities and potential to excel at the collegiate level.

  • Marquis Gardner signed with Navy on National Signing Day 2026.

The players

Marquis Gardner

A running back at Chatt Prep High School who signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at the U.S. Naval Academy.

U.S. Naval Academy

A prestigious military academy and NCAA Division I athletics program that recruited and signed Marquis Gardner, the first player from Chattanooga to join their football team in 20 years.

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What’s next

Gardner will now begin preparing to join the Naval Academy's football program and balance his academic and athletic commitments as a student-athlete.

The takeaway

Marquis Gardner's historic signing with Navy demonstrates that talented student-athletes can emerge from lesser-known high school programs and earn opportunities at the highest levels of college sports, inspiring others to pursue their athletic dreams regardless of the size or reputation of their school.