True to its name, Sunday’s Blue Chip Challenge is loaded with stud athletes already. Virginia is full of high school football talent, and this weekend, the locals will defend their turf against an invading crew of Central Region and Northern Virginia athletes.
Indian River lineman Tyler Fain is seeing his recruitment really take off. The rising senior picked up two new scholarship offers last week, and there’s promise of more on the way. College coaches like what they see in the big man. He’s finding more admirers as the weeks go by.
($$) It should be no surprise that lineman Ricky Walker continues to pick up scholarship offers. After all, Ricky’s easily one of the top 5 best players in the region for the 2014 class, and linemen are always a need for college coaches looking for talent. The 757 is best known for skill guys, blessed with speed and agility. Walker happens to be a big man with good agility, who can get it done with his strength, hands, and feet.
Western Branch rising senior Daiquan Lawrence has gone from quiet playmaker to sought after prospect, almost overnight. He’s been a defensive back for the Bruins for two seasons, and he’s now looking at committing to an ACC school coming into his senior season.
Hank Sawyer’s building a heckuva program in Norfolk. The Titans won the Division 5 State Championship last year, and what do they get for it? They move down to Division 4. Watch out. The Titans are reloaded for another title run.
Earlier this week, former Greenbrier Christian star T.J. Reynard surprised everyone, including possibly himself, by committing to play football with the University of Wisconsin. He’s a Class of 2012 kid who went far away from home to go to the next level. Very soon, he’ll be playing on one of the biggest stages in college football.
The Bay Rivers District may officially be no more, but as a group the teams that comprised the Bay Rivers District certainly seem to be turning a corner. Last year, Parker Osterloh of Warhill committed to Virginia Tech and Jesse Santiago of Grafton committed to William and Mary. That’s the continuation of a solid trend that has the schools sending players to top level schools almost every year now.
Considering that we spend much of our time talking about high school football players and their quests for college scholarships, you might be surprised to hear of a passing league built for sixth through eighth graders. Realize that those guys are the high school guys of tomorrow. If the 757 is going to keep rising, with more and more talent every year, we have to expose our young men to new concepts and give them the experience that they’ll draw from once they reach the high school ranks.
($$) It’s been a busy Spring Evaluation period for the Ocean Lakes Dolphins. College coaches have been roaming the halls, checking transcripts, and sizing up the vast amount of talent that takes the field on Friday nights in the fall. If all is well academically, it’s easy to assume that at least 25 players on the current roster will be playing college ball at some level in the next few years. Here’s a recap of who’s who on the recruiting radar for the rising juniors and sophomores.
($$) It’s been a busy Spring Evaluation period for the Ocean Lakes Dolphins. College coaches have been roaming the halls, checking transcripts, and sizing up the vast amount of talent that takes the field on Friday nights in the fall. If all is well academically, it’s easy to assume that at least 25 players on the current roster will be playing college ball at some level in the next few years. Here’s a recap of who’s who on the recruiting radar for the rising seniors.