Joe Imel/Daily NewsTrent Steelman puts on an Army ballcap Wednesday after signing his papers to attend the United States Military Academy Prep School and play football. His parents Bob (left) and Trish sit next to him during the signing ceremony at Bowling Green High School.

Patience is paying off for Trent Steelman.

After watching three of his high school teammates sign NCAA Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) letters of intent this year, the Bowling Green senior finally got the chance to have them attend his signing day ceremony.

Steelman, the starting quarterback on the Purples’ last three state runner-up teams, inked to play football Wednesday at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Steelman will spend his first season at the school’s preparatory academy (the Army program’s version of a redshirt) on the West Point campus before officially joining the team in 2009.

“I’m actually going to the prep school next year, and after I get done with the prep school I’ll be attending West Point,” said Steelman, who said the year at the prep school will not affect his four-year eligibility at Army. “It’s like their version of a redshirt, so when I get there, we’ll be playing a 12-game schedule against some Division II schools and NAIA schools and also the Navy prep team.

“And it’s kind of like a redshirt, so I’ll get a chance to get bigger, stronger and faster – and when I get up there I’ll be running the triple-option just like the old days.”

The official signing was a huge relief to Steelman, who had offers to walk on at various FBS schools – including Western Kentucky and Kansas – but decided to wait and see if he could get a full ride somewhere instead.

“When I continued to get recruited, I never thought I’d end up at Army – but I got to know a lot about it with the tradition and everything and I think it’s a wonderful school,” Steelman said. “It’s indescribable, the pressure on me and my family with everybody asking me where I was going to go – I just had no answer.

“And when this finally came across, I just couldn’t think of anything but to take it.”

At 6-foot 1, 178 pounds, Steelman had the rare opportunity to start in three Kentucky High School Athletic Association state championship games, coming up just short in each of the three chances.

His three years under center at Bowling Green marked one of the more successful periods in the school’s football history – the Purples finished 39-6 with Steelman as a starter.

He is also the fourth Purples senior this year to accept an FBS offer, with D.L. Moore heading to South Carolina, Ryan Wallace to Colorado and Jared Carpenter signing with Northwestern.

Now that all the worry and wait is over, Steelman said he’s extremely excited to get back to work.

“I think it’s a lot of pressure and stress off of me and I can finally settle down and get back into the routine of what it takes to be a great football player,” Steelman said. “I wanted to play Division I football, because I thought I had the athletic ability and the mindset to play at that level and when this came across I had to take it.”