Norfolk, Va. - Old Dominion University head football coach Bobby Wilder announced today (Wednesday, Feb. 6) the signing of 21 student-athletes to binding National Letters of Intent, marking the Monarchs' initial recruiting class as they prepare to begin play in 2009. ODU's class, along with other walk-ons who will be added at a later date, will redshirt during the 2008 campaign. The Monarchs will participate in preseason camp and practices in the fall of '08, however they will not face any outside competition.
The Monarch's recruiting class consists of players from four different states and the District of Columbia, with 10 of them coming from the local Hampton Roads area. Broken down by position, the class includes two (2) quarterbacks, one (1) running back, four (4) wide receivers, four (3) offensive linemen, three (3) defensive linemen, two (2) linebackers, five (5) defensive backs and one (1) placekicker/punter.
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N.L.I. Signees (21)
Chris Burnette DL 6-4 260 <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Randallstown, Md. Gilman School Biff Poggi
Three-year starter... an all-state selection in 2007... named first team All-Met by the Baltimore Sun as a senior after making the second team as a junior... 78 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Michael Colbert LB 6-1 205 Fayetteville, N.C. E.E. Smith Haney Catchings
First team all-conference... led all Cumberland County Schools with 144 tackles (66 solo) as a senior, averaging 14.4 tackles per game... added two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Vondre Combs LB 6-0 215 Newport News, Va. Warwick Stan Sexton
Four-year varsity letterman... totaled 105 tackles and nine tackles for loss as a senior in 2006 after registering 90 tackles and one interception in his junior campaign... Peninsula District honorable mention.
Bobby Cooper QB 6-3 200 Davidsonville, Md. South River Steve Erxleben
Passed for more than 3,100 yards and 28 touchdowns during his career... also added eight rushing touchdowns... named to the Baltimore Touchdown Club's Super 22.
T.J. Cowart, Jr. DB 5-9 180 Virginia Beach, Va. Ocean Lakes Jim Prince
Second team All-Beach District at running back and cornerback as a senior... named second team All-Tidewater by the Virginian Pilot... picked off three passes against Bayside quarterback and Florida State signee E.J. Manuel... 4.4 40-yard dash and 39 inch vertical jump.
Carlos Davis, Jr. WR 5-10 170 Ft. Washington, Md. Friendly George Early
Helped lead Friendly to the 2006 Maryland 3A state championship with a 13-0 record... hauled in 30 receptions for 600 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior... 4.4 40-yard dash... also ran track & field.
Reid Evans WR 5-10 175 Hampton, Va. Phoebus Bill Dee
Hauled in 67 passes for 1,135 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, becoming the first Phantom in school history to have 1,000 yards receiving... named second team all-state as a wide receiver and first team all-state as a defensive back by the Virginia High School Coaches Association... VirginiaPreps all-state as a defensive back... all-district and all-region... helped guide Phoebus to the 2006 Division 5 state championship and back-to-back regional titles... finished his career with 107 receptions for 2,027 yards (18.9 yds/c) and 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions defensively.
Drew Hareza K/P 6-0 205 McDonald, Pa. South Fayette Joe Rossi
Made 23 of-23 extra points and 8-of-13 field goals in 2007, with a long field goal of 45 yards... 30 of his 39 kickoffs were touchbacks... selected to play in the 2008 PSFCA East-West All-Star Game... three-time all-state honorable mention and all-conference selection as a kicker... was also a two-time all-conference punter.
DeAnthony Jones DB 6-0 185 Hyattsville, Md. C.H. Flowers Michael Mayo
Also played quarterback at C.H. Flowers... all-state honorable mention... named first team all-county as a senior after making the second team in his junior year... selected to play in the Ralph Paden Prince George's County All-Star Game... ran the fastest 55-meter hurdle time at the 2007 Maryland State Championships with a 7.67 during his preliminary heat.
Nick Mayers, Jr. WR 5-7 160 Virginia Beach, Va. Landstown Steve Canter
First team all-district and second team all-region... totaled 484 yards receiving, 748 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns as a senior... moved to quarterback in the fifth game of the season due to an injury to the starter... multi-talented player who can play wide receiver or running back.
Bryan Morrison OL 6-2 260 Ashburn, Va. Broad Run Mike Burnett
Helped lead Broad Run to a district championship in 2007... named to the 2007 AA All-State Team by VirginiaPreps.com... rated as a top 100 player in the state of Virginia by the Roanoke Times... first team all-region and all-district as a senior... second team all-district as a junior... three-year starter.
Ricky Nichols DB 5-11 175 Norfolk, Va. Maury Dealton Cotton
First player to verbally commit to Old Dominion... registered 65 tackles, seven interceptions and eight pass breakups as a senior... 40 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups in his junior campaign... an all-district performer.
Tommy Reamon, Jr. QB 6-2 195 Newport News, Va. Gloucester Tommy Reamon, Sr.
A national recruit as a quarterback... rated as the 15th dual threat quarterback in the country by Tom Lemming... a three-star recruit by Rivals.com... threw for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for over 500 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior... All-Peninsula District honorable mention.
Erik Saylor DL 6-2 265 Ijamsville, Md. Urbana Joe Polce
Registered 71 tackles, seven sacks and four pass breakups as a senior... first team all-conference on offense and defense... first team all-area on defense (Frederick Post)... first team All-Gazette on defense (Frederick County Gazette)... first team All-Met (Washington Post) on offense... second team all-state on offense... Baltimore Touchdown Club Super 22 as an offensive lineman... helped the Hawks reach the Maryland 3A semifinals in 2006.
Devon Simmons DB 6-2 180 Newport News, Va. Denbigh Tracy Harrod
Second team All-Peninsula District... recorded 105 tackles (36 solo), nine pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior after totaling 49 tackles, four interceptions and eight pass breakups during his junior campaign... posted the fastest 40-yard dash at the Peninsula Combine in May 2007 with a 4.44.
Andrew Turner DL 6-3 230 Virginia Beach, Va. Kellam Chris DeWitt
First team all-district as a tight end, second team as a defensive lineman... second team all-region at tight end... named to the All-Gridiron Team as a tight end... had 10 receptions for 115 yards and graded out at 90% on offense, while totaling 60 tackles in defense.
Charles Walls OL 6-2 280 Virginia Beach, Va. Tallwood Thad Harold
Second team All-Beach District in 2006 and 2007 as an offensive lineman... was also a second team all-district selection on defense in 2007... recorded 23 pancake blocks in seven games as a senior and 32 during his junior year.
Joacim Wigfall RB 5-10 210 Newport News, Va. Woodside Danny Dodson
Set a school record with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons... ran for 1,467 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior earning all- district honors and also being named a Daily Press All-Star... all-district as a kick returner as a senior... registered 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns in his junior campaign when he was first team all-district as a running back and kick returner... second team all-district as a sophomore after running for more than 1,000 yards and 13 scores.
Craig Wilkins DB 6-0 200 Washington, D.C. H.D. Woodson Greg Fuller
Totaled 103 tackles, eight interceptions, 21 breakups, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked punts as a senior, earning all-conference honors... a member of the Warriors' two DCIAA indoor track & field championship teams.
Desmond Williams WR 5-11 190 Windsor, N.C. Bertie Antonio Hoggard
Played quarterback at Bertie HS... as a senior threw for 2,100 yards and ran for 1,500 yards, totaling 38 touchdowns, including a punt return... Northeastern Coastal League Player of the Year... Offensive Player of the Year two consecutive seasons.
Joseph Wills OL 6-3 265 Waldorf, Md. Westlake Dom Zaccarelli
All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference... on defense totaled 49 tackles, nine sacks, 10 tackles for loss, a safety and a forced fumble.