GULF SHORES, Alabama — Gulf Shores senior midfielder/striker Ian Meadows signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Huntingdon College on Thursday morning.

A Birmingham News All-State honorable mention as a junior, Meadows said Huntingdon players and coaches made him feel at home from the beginning.

"The team was nice, all of them were accepting and wanted to hang out and talk," Meadows said. "They are really moving forward with athletics, especially soccer. The coach (Timmy McCormack) is proactive and he wants to win. That's what I like. He is a 2008 graduate of Huntingdon, and he is trying to move the program forward. He is ready to win, and I like that."

Meadows scored 15 goals and had 10 assists for Gulf Shores as a junior. The Dolphins reached the second round of the Class 5A playoffs last spring. He has scored 27 goals as a member of the Perdido Bay Futbol Club, where he helped lead the team to a state runner-up finish two seasons ago, and has traveled the country going to soccer camps and meeting with college coaches to help improve his game.

On Thursday he said he began playing soccer as early as he could remember.

"I love the camaraderie, being with my friends," Meadows said about his love for the game.

"Other than that, I love scoring a goal. There's no better feeling than scoring a goal or winning a game."

Tatum Saltz has coached Meadows for three seasons at Gulf Shores.

"His leadership qualities are the main thing with him," Saltz said. "On basic merit alone he deserves this. I have helped a lot of kids write leadership essays and wrote a lot of recommendation letters, but he got this all on his own.

"As far as on the field, he plays our central midfield position as well as a striker. He moves the ball well. He's like our quarterback. He sends it out to the sides when he needs to. He does exactly what I ask every time, when a lot of others might not do so."

Meadows will join former Gulf Shores player Turner Adcock at Huntingdon.

"He has been a top notch leader for me, and I am going to really miss him," Saltz said.

The Dolphins will visit 5A Section 1 foe St. Paul's tonight at 7 p.m.