Hampton University hosted a Big Man/Lineman Camp on Saturday along with their 7 on 7 event. The big guys competed at combine activities, including weight room work, before facing off against each other in one-on-one work and instruction in the afternoon. Many local linemen shined, but Kecoughtan, Western Branch and Dinwiddie had the strongest showings.
In April, when we wrote about the hiring of Coach Willie Gillus as the new head coach of the Southampton Indians, we mentioned how the players were “hyped” about his arrival. Now it seems this excitement is spreading through the young men in the area and into neighboring schools. This is important for Coach Gillus as he intends to rebuild Indian football and have a winning first season there.
It was great to see running back Marshawn Williams for the first time in a Phoebus uniform at Saturday’s Hampton University “Battle on the Bay” 7 on 7. There are certainly some Hampton Crabber fans that would disagree with that, but Williams had a fantastic debut in his own backyard. The Hampton/Phoebus rivalry will be hot once again this fall, but in the meantime, recruiting and camps fill the headlines. We talked with Williams at the event, and he had nothing but great things to say about the Hokies.
Ocean Lakes High School is getting known for their college ready talent. On Monday, yet another talented Dolphin picked up a scholarship offer. Defensive end Masaddiq Walton is on the board!
If the Ohio Bobcats have their way, Lafayette running back Jahlil Green could be wearing green in 2014. The Bay Rivers District running back who piled up over 1500 yards in 2012 is prepping for a big senior season by having a big camp season. He’s fresh off of a JMU offer, and now he’s added an Ohio offer to his growing list.
Salem wide receiver Trevon Hill (SO WR 6-4 220) is still early in the process, but he’s developing so quickly, that he’s becoming hard to ignore. The rising junior has grown from lanky wide out to hybrid tight end/defensive end in a short time. He’s looking more and more like a college ready prospect, and that’s what has college coaches interested.
Green Run speedster Anthony Scott has a recruitment that’s taking shape. After a Spring Evaluation period that was a little quiet, Scott is now picking up offers. He grabbed an early offer a year ago from West Virginia, but it’s been quiet since then. Scott is a 5-10 180 pound running back and defensive back who runs a 4.4 forty. Schools have been doing a lot of talking. Now they’re offering.
Three teams from the 804 battled this past weekend at Hampton University’s Battle by the Bay 7v7 Tournament. The Dinwiddie Generals, Hermitage Panthers, and John Marshall Justices battled teams from the 757, Roanoke, and Maryland in a 7 vs. 7 football tournament. All teams were required to play a five game regular season in order to determine seeding in the single elimination playoffs.
Lafayette running back Jahlil Green has been a busy guy. He capped off his week with JMU’s Satellite Camp at Christopher Newport University and added an offer from the Dukes after the camp. His performance was phenomenal, confirming that he’s a player that belongs in Division I.
“If you can’t get the kids to Harrisonburg this week, you might as well bring Harrisonburg to them,” should be the motto of JMU Dukes Head Coach Mickey Matthews. For several years now, the JMU Dukes Football Program has taken the show on the road, hitting different regions of the state with a satellite one-day camp, including two stops in The 757 each year. This year, the JMU staff will set up shop at CNU on Sunday and at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex on Monday.