Archive: August 2008
New TV Deal to Impact Recruiting in the SEC?
Nobody knows college football like Tony Barnhart, soon to be retiring from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, though he'll still work for CBS. I find it interesting that he thinks the SEC's $2+ billion TV contract with ESPN will be huge in recruiting for the league as it brands games "the SEC...
By Josh Barr | August 28, 2008; 12:51 PM ET | Comments (4)
Woody Hired at USF; Will Make Sure DirecTV Is On
I'm sure there won't be too much reaction on this one. Done deal. 30k a year. Terrelle Woody is now on the staff at South Florida. He'll be the Bulls' video and conditioning assistant. While Woody has been in Tampa since midsummer, working camp and running open gym for South...
By Josh Barr | August 27, 2008; 2:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
I-AA On the Rise? Franklin Helps Terps
Some good stuff in today's Post. Here's a story on the rise of I-AA football after Appalachian State's victory over Michigan. There's a section on whether the victory impacted recruiting for college football's second-tier schools. Some coaches say yes; Mike Farrell says no. Interesting debate. There's no question that locally...
By Josh Barr | August 26, 2008; 9:23 AM ET | Comments (4)
Woody and USF: A Match Made in the Employment Line?
Meant to post this one sooner. Can't wait to see the reaction. Former Maryland/Virginia Tech recruit Gus Gilchrist is at South Florida and could it be because the Bulls are about to hire his personal trainer? At a time when the school is slashing jobs in academia and elsewhere, Terrelle...
By Josh Barr | August 25, 2008; 10:26 PM ET | Comments (2)
Could QB Choice Hurt Terps' Chances to Recruit?
That's what one reader thinks. Here's his email to me: bq. Hey Josh, I am a big time recruiting follower of college football and I tell you that the Fridge picking Stefy Jordan over Chris Turner is going to be used by the competing colleges against Maryland. As you know,...
By Josh Barr | August 25, 2008; 12:14 PM ET | Comments (5)
One All-Met to Play, One to Sit at N.C. State
Former Big Boss Man Jon DeNunzio passes along these tidbits from North Carolina State, where last year's All-Met quarterback Mike Glennon will redshirt and 2006 All-Met kicker Josh Czajkowski will start as a redshirt freshman....
By Josh Barr | August 21, 2008; 10:26 AM ET | Comments (3)
Arundel Receiver Says Go Orange
In the midst of a staff meeting, colleague B.J. Koubaroulis sends this text message: Arundel wide receiver Alec Lemon has committed to play for Syracuse. Lemon was one of the top receivers last season in the Wildcats' pass-happy offense with nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 13 touchdown catches as Arundel...
By Josh Barr | August 19, 2008; 3:40 PM ET | Comments (4)
Rough Times for Local College Coaches
While recruiting is slow, it was a tough weekend for local college coaches, with their rivals picking up plenty of fodder to use against them. First came this Forbes listing of the nation's most overpaid coaches that includes Maryland's Ralph Friedgen and Virginia's Al Groh. (Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer was...
By Josh Barr | August 18, 2008; 3:11 PM ET | Comments (3)
McNamara Corner Commits, Terps in on Top Junior
Caught up with Bishop McNamara Coach Bryce Bevill and he reports that cornerback Darrin Carmichael recently committed to play for Richmond. Carmichael, who is 6 feet and 175 pounds, also had a scholarship offer from Towson, Bevill said. Also, junior wide receiver Brandon Coleman, who is 6-6, already has an...
By Josh Barr | August 18, 2008; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (0)
Local Player Is A-10 Bound
Potomac School center Brian Freeman has committed to play for Fordham. He also had scholarship offers from Delaware and Northeastern and was getting plenty of other interest. Fordham assistant "Travis Lyons from DeMatha [a 1994 All-Met] had been involved all along," Potomac School Coach Sean Whalen said. "I think it's...
By Josh Barr | August 14, 2008; 5:52 PM ET | Comments (0)
In a Surprise, Taylor to Baylor
Put this one in the surprising files. Kicked off the team at Penn State, former All-Met lineman Phil Taylor has enrolled at Baylor, according to his high school coach, Gwynn Park's Danny Hayes. "I guess he likes Texas," Hayes said. "I had a long talk with [Penn State assistant] Larry...
By Josh Barr | August 14, 2008; 4:13 PM ET | Comments (4)
More from Spurlock Picking U-Va. over G'town
Just got off the line with Tristan Spurlock, who reports he's "doing real good" after accepting a scholarship offer from Virginia last night. "I think everybody pretty much knows it came down to them and Georgetown for my last two," Spurlock said. "Both of them are close enough to home....
By Josh Barr | August 14, 2008; 1:59 PM ET | Comments (2)
Spotlight on Oakton Linebacker
This week's Recruiting Spotlight features Oakton's Jack Tyler, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker who enters his senior season with 193 career tackles and three interceptions. Following his junior year, when he recorded 113 tackles at inside linebacker and spent time at fullback, Tyler is expected to draw heavy recruiting interest this...
By Josh Barr | August 14, 2008; 9:40 AM ET | Comments (0)
Talented Guard Chooses U-Va
Oops. Tried to post this last night after getting confirmation, but for some reason it didn't publish: Tristan Spurlock, who played last season at Montrose Christian, has committed to play for Virginia. It is not much of a surprise. The Cavaliers have long been after Spurlock. It is unclear where...
By Josh Barr | August 13, 2008; 11:08 PM ET | Comments (1)
Local Forward Makes Choice
Colleague Matt Stanmyre passes along this news: Stonewall Jackson rising senior forward Samantha Jordan has orally committed to Lafayette. That gives the Raiders two Division I-bound players after rising junior guard Kyani White orally committed to Virginia Tech earlier this summer....
By Josh Barr | August 13, 2008; 11:18 AM ET | Comments (2)
North Carolina QB Recruit on the Rise
Not much news on the recruiting front and college and high school teams hit the practice field for preseason practice and less time is devoted to the wooing of players. But this certaintly is interesting. West Springfield quarterback Bryn Renner was one of the players on the rise this summer...
By Josh Barr | August 12, 2008; 1:18 PM ET | Comments (1)
Star Lineman Down to Five, Including Terps
St. John's second-team All-Met lineman Pete White has narrowed his college choices to Maryland, Tennessee, Florida, Miami and, interestingly, Oregon. How did the Ducks get in the mix? "I really like their offensive line coach," White said between practices one day last week. "I like their offense." Oregon offensive line...
By Josh Barr | August 11, 2008; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (6)
Hofstra Nets Local Guard
Brian Wiley, coach of the D.C. Heat AAU team, emails with the news that Riverdale Baptist rising senior Candace Bond has committed to play for Hofstra, reaching her decision after a recent unofficial campus visit....
By Josh Barr | August 11, 2008; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (0)
N.C. State Doing Well in the District
Colleague Alan Goldenbach files this report to start off the week: H.D. Woodson is setting up a nice little girls' basketball colony at N.C. State. Former All-Met Tia Bell will be a sophomore there this year, while rising senior center Jeniece Johnson committed last fall. Now, the Wolfpack have also...
By Josh Barr | August 11, 2008; 9:19 AM ET | Comments (1)
Rankings, Schmrankings
Wanted to post this earlier in the week. ESPNU came out with its list of the nation's 150 top prospects. All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins of Good Counsel checks in at No. 9. Lackey cornerback Darrell Givens, who has committed to Penn State, is the next local, at No. 59. The...
By Josh Barr | August 8, 2008; 11:29 AM ET | Comments (2)
Spotlight on Quince Orchard Standout
This week's Recruiting Spotlight is on Quince Orchard defensive end Jason Ankrah. Despite having only played three years, the 6-4, 245-pound rising senior holds plenty of scholarship offers, with Maryland among those schools on his list....
By Josh Barr | August 7, 2008; 3:17 PM ET | Comments (3)
Back to Business; Linebacker Picks Maryland
Sorry folks, had a password issue the past few days. Been meaning to post many things. Let's start with Maryland landing Eleanor Roosevelt linebacker Isaiah Ross earlier this week. "For him, defensively, in the position he plays, with [assistant coach Al] Seamonson and those guys, they've done a great job...
By Josh Barr | August 7, 2008; 2:48 PM ET | Comments (2)
Nation's Top Recruit Heading to Baylor?
Interesting item here from longtime hoops follower Gregg Doyel: Will Baylor (Baylor?) land the nation's top high school player after hiring his AAU coach? Former Clemson forward Dwon Clifton has been hired onto Baylor's staff, possibly paving the way for Raleigh, N.C., guard John Wall to head to Waco....
By Josh Barr | August 5, 2008; 11:12 AM ET | Comments (1)
Out at Wake, Caparelli Goes to Texas
Colleague Preston Williams delivers this one: Former All-Met running back Lucas Caparelli, kicked out of Wake Forest for a threatening Facebook message, has signed with I-AA Texas Southern. Texas Southern had 10 Washington-area players on its roster last season. "Hopefully, he'll make the best of this opportunity," Bendorf said. "It...
By Josh Barr | August 5, 2008; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (2)
Duke Lands All-Purpose Player
Insider Super Correspondent B.J. Koubaroulis files this report: Whitman's Anthony Young-Wiseman has orally committed to play football at Duke. Young-Wiseman, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound versatile defensive back, wide receiver and quarterback, helped Whitman to a 6-5 record last season and his 4.6 40-yard dash speed and standout highlight reel earned him...
By Josh Barr | August 5, 2008; 9:42 AM ET | Comments (1)
Site-Wide Blog Outage: Starting Today at Noon
A quick FYI from washingtonpost.com management: This blog, and all blogs on the site, will undergo an upgrade from noon ET Tuesday till about 3 pm ET Wednesday. You may see a limited number of posts on some blogs in that time frame, but you will not be able to...
By Jon DeNunzio | August 5, 2008; 8:35 AM ET | Comments (0)
Gary Williams On the Hot Seat?
Interesting discussion on rivals.com this morning: Is Gary Williams on the coaching hot seat this season? Of note (for this posting) comes this comment from the writer who says Williams should be on the hot seat: The bulk of the blame has to go to Williams. He's not getting the...
By Josh Barr | August 4, 2008; 12:07 PM ET | Comments (8)
Hokies Land a Pair of Twins
Virginia Tech landed twin brothers Tariq and Tyrell Evans of Marlboro County, S.C. They will enroll midyear in 2009, helping the Hokies ease the burden of scholarship restrictions that leaves them with far less than the NCAA maximum of 25 incoming scholarship recruits per year....
By Josh Barr | August 4, 2008; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (0)
Maryland, Heyward-Bey Start Practice Today
As Maryland gets set to start football practice today, no one is more ready to shine than former Baltimore-area speedster Darrius Heyward-Bey. He had 51 catches for 786 yards last season and has the potential to be a star....
By Josh Barr | August 4, 2008; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (0)
Big Money Spent on Recruiting
Wow. It is simply amazing how much money college athletic programs spend recruiting players. This terrific report in the Chronicle of Higher Education notes that no university with a major football program saw a bigger percentage boost than Maryland, which spent more than $900,000 on recruiting in 2007. The Terps,...
By Josh Barr | August 1, 2008; 11:08 AM ET | Comments (0)
