Niceville's Finch signs with Oklahoma (PHOTO GALLERY)

NICEVILLE — Just moments before stepping inside a crammed auditorium, Niceville’s Roy Finch — a player regarded as one of the country’s best and one of three Florida prospects to be named a PARADE All-American — was busy battling back his own nerves.

“It’s starting to sink in,” Finch said inside the Niceville main office. “It’s starting to get to me a little. My heart’s beating fast, my hands are perspiring.”

To see a gallery of photos from the signing ceremony click here.

It was one of the few times over the course of his two-year stay at Niceville that Finch’s nerves appeared on the verge of getting the best of him. On Wednesday — otherwise known around the country as National Signing Day — Finch fulfilled a verbal commitment made to the University of Oklahoma last July by signing his name to scholarship papers with the Sooners’ program.

Finch, a two-time Daily News big school Player of the Year, amassed 2,966 rushing yards and 3,772 total yards and 55 touchdowns in two years with Niceville. Last season alone, Finch ran for 1,670 yards and 25 touchdowns in guiding the Eagles to a 13-1 record, a No. 1 ranking and a berth in the Class 4A state championship game in Orlando.

For Niceville coach John Hicks, Wednesday’s ceremony was unique in its own sense.

“We’ve had a lot of athletes come up here and sign, but I don’t know if we’ve had many — there’s been a few — that the student body liked, respected and appreciated and I think that’s because (Finch) is humble, unselfish,” Hicks said. “He’s excited. This has been a process. He arrived on the scene here at Niceville a couple of years ago and he knew that he was coming into a good program. Niceville, I think, has been known throughout the state as a good football program, but Roy has kind of given us national recognition.”

Finch burst upon the local scene as a junior after transferring to Niceville from Oklahoma. During that junior campaign, Finch established himself as one of the state’s most promising young talents, rushing for 1,296 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Scholarship offers began to pour in and last July, Finch decided to end his recruitment early and verbally committed to Oklahoma. The Sooners have played for the national championship four times since the 2000 season, winning their seventh title in 2000.

Following a senior season in which Finch managed to raise his already gaudy status as a college prospect, more offers came and despite several strong pushes late from other programs Finch remained true to his verbal pledge.

“The late push kind of played tricks on your mind a little bit,” Finch admitted. “You’re vulnerable, but at the same time I had to fall back and be firm with my decision.

“ … You know it’s one of the biggest days of your life. I just prayed about it to make sure it was the right decision and it was. I woke up and I felt good about it.”