Archive: November 2008
Terps Want Chroniger? Other DeMatha Updates
Now that another WCAC championship award is in the school trophy case, DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor has turned his attention toward getting scholarships for his players. Here's the quick report: * Maryland is interested in Tommy Chroniger at safety. Chroniger, the Stags' starting quarterback the past two seasons, started at...
By Josh Barr | November 26, 2008; 12:37 PM ET | Comments (0)
Linganore Juniors Getting Plenty of Attention
Linganore Coach Rick Conner has the letters proudly stapled to a bulletin board above his desk, written scholarship offers to junior offensive lineman Rob Havenstein and junior running back Zach Zwinak. And he's sure that more are soon to come -- for those two and others in the Lancers' talented...
By Josh Barr | November 25, 2008; 3:18 PM ET | Comments (1)
Austin Close to Making His Choice?
Nope. Dunbar-Baltimore star running back Tavon Austin will take all five of his official visits before making a college choice, Poets Coach Lawrence Smith said this afternoon at a luncheon for the coaches whose teams have advanced to the state semifinals. Austin, who is 5-9 and 170 pounds, holds Maryland's...
By Josh Barr | November 25, 2008; 1:44 PM ET | Comments (2)
Can You Recruit Character?
Tough to do. Especially with the move to recruit more "athletes" off their combine results and less for what they have done on the football field. That said, score one for Maryland and whoever lands Good Counsel All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins. In as tough a situation as they -- and...
By Josh Barr | November 24, 2008; 5:32 PM ET | Comments (1)
Wide Receiver Still Set on Syracuse, But Others Lurk
What a weekend. I'm sure the talk still centers around DeMatha's stunning WCAC title game victory over Good Counsel. But let's start today's recruiting talk with another player who had a big game this weekend: Arundel wide receiver Alec Lemon, who led the Wildcats back to the Maryland 4A semifinals....
By Josh Barr | November 24, 2008; 11:43 AM ET | Comments (1)
Woodbridge Star's Final 5 Includes Terps, WVU
From colleague Matt Stanmyre: Just talked to Woodbridge volunteer assistant coach Darren Hill, a mentor to Vikings running back De'Antwan Williams, one of the nation's most coveted recruits. Hill said Williams has narrowed his list of potential colleges to West Virginia, Alabama, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Rutgers. Hill added that Williams...
By Josh Barr | November 21, 2008; 9:07 PM ET | Comments (3)
Jenkins to Maryland?
That's what one reader emailed me asking about: Hi Josh, My name is Matt, and I'm a Maryland alum and football fan. Was reading up on your "Recruiting Insider" column - specifically about Jelani Jenkins, and I'm wondering what you think the chances are that the Terps will land that...
By Josh Barr | November 21, 2008; 3:26 PM ET | Comments (1)
Chroniger Looking ACC/Big East
Caught up with DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor earlier this week and while he is focused on tomorrow night's WCAC title game against Good Counsel, I managed to slip in a recruiting question or two. McGregor said that quarterback Tom Chroniger, who once committed to Eastern Michigan then decided to look...
By Josh Barr | November 21, 2008; 12:17 PM ET | Comments (1)
The Most Popular Color in Recruiting
Here's a terrific column about the most popular color in recruiting circles: gray, as in shades of gray and not black or white. Every time the NCAA makes a new rule, coaches simply find a way to work around it. Plenty of ink for D.C. Assault and its pipeline to...
By Josh Barr | November 20, 2008; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (0)
Another Voice in Favor of Turning Back the Clock
This is an often-discussed topic in this space, but I won't mind having one more person on my side. Paul Woody of the Richmond Times-Dispatch is on board with the notion that teenagers selecting their colleges is becoming way overhyped. He has an interesting idea about televising the announcements of...
By Josh Barr | November 19, 2008; 1:34 PM ET | Comments (0)
Stanford Makes Another Local Offer
Stanford continues to make a push in local recruiting circles, this time offering Good Counsel defensive end Troy Gloster a scholarship. It is the second scholarship offer for Gloster, a 6-0, 210-pound junior whose older brother Drew plays for Maryland. Gloster has 27 tackles and three sacks this season for...
By Josh Barr | November 19, 2008; 12:31 PM ET | Comments (0)
Jenkins' Decision Imminent?
Just stopped by Good Counsel to do some homework in advance of Saturday's WCAC title tilt with DeMatha. Talked to Good Counsel All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins about his college recruiting about to pick up, but he says that nothing is close to happening. Jenkins said that after Saturday's game, he...
By Josh Barr | November 18, 2008; 3:29 PM ET | Comments (2)
Ruffin-Pratt Chooses UNC
Colleague Preston Williams has the story in today's paper: T.C. Williams senior Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, the reigning All-Met girls' basketball player of the year, committed today to the University of North Carolina. The 6-foot guard, a first-team Parade all-American last season, chose the Tar Heels over Duke, Virginia and Rutgers, she...
By Josh Barr | November 18, 2008; 10:43 AM ET | Comments (0)
Next Year's Top QB Prospect?
Spent a few minutes during halftime of Wise's 14-6 victory over Eleanor Roosevelt chatting with Arundel Coach Chuck Markiewicz, who had a top-row seat scouting potential opponents. Markiewicz said that his quarterback, Billy Cosh, has gotten some interest from East Carolina, but that the recruiting process has yet to really...
By Josh Barr | November 17, 2008; 3:37 PM ET | Comments (0)
QB Gets First Scholarship Offer
It was a busy weekend of football as the playoffs got into full swing across the region, but let's start today's posts with Brooke Point quarterback Brian Hudson picking up his first scholarship offer, from Liberty University. Hudson had an impressive season, with 23 touchdown passes and just two interceptions...
By Josh Barr | November 17, 2008; 12:09 PM ET | Comments (0)
Going All Over to Get Noticed
Colleague Jeff Nelson turns his Recruiting Spotlight onto Tuscarora standout Dominic Clarke, who has accepted a scholarship offer to play cornerback for Ohio State. Attending a relatively new school in Frederick County, Clarke and his father, James, took the approach that they had to visit as many camps and combines...
By Josh Barr | November 13, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
From Walk-On to Walloper for Hokie LB
Plenty of stuff being written about former Oakton High linebacker Cody Grimm, whose only scholarship offer was to I-AA William & Mary. The son of former Redskins standout Russ Grimm learned in the film room from his father and has become one of Virginia Tech's hardest hitters. Let it be...
By Josh Barr | November 13, 2008; 10:50 AM ET | Comments (0)
Lots of Girls Put Ink to Paper, Williams Going to UNC
Lots of local girls basketball players signing LOI today, including five at Maryland 4A power Eleanor Roosevelt: Olivia Applewhite(Dayton), Ahjah Hall (Duquesne), Elashier Hall (Syracuse) and Nikia Gibbs, (St. Francis, Pa.). Another Raider, Alexis Malloy, is bound for Air Force. River Hill's Ryann Dannelly signed with Richmond. C.H. Flowers center...
By Josh Barr | November 12, 2008; 4:56 PM ET | Comments (1)
Who's Going to Sign?
Going through the files, here is a list of basketball players who have made verbal commitments. Not all of these players will sign letters-of-intent in the week-long signing period that began today. The Ivy League and service academies do not participate in the LOI program, while some players will not...
By Josh Barr | November 12, 2008; 11:53 AM ET | Comments (1)
Virginia About to Land a Big One
Man About Charlottesville Jeff White has some news this morning: Virginia is in the running for one of the nation's top unsigned basketball players. Renardo Sidney, a well-traveled, 6-10 forward from Los Angeles, is scheduled to visit Virginia this weekend. With the early signing period set to being tomorrow -...
By Josh Barr | November 11, 2008; 12:34 PM ET | Comments (4)
Virginia QB Recruit Recovering from Knee Injury
This was making the rumor mill a few weeks back. Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny, a Virginia recruit, missed the end of the season after having surgery to repair a torn knee ligament. Metheny's injury, a torn medial collateral ligament, is expected to heal in time for him to be able...
By Josh Barr | November 11, 2008; 11:52 AM ET | Comments (0)
Terps, Hokies Among Those Interested in Edison Linebacker
Colleague B.J. Koubaroulis files this report: Despite playing linebacker and running back for undefeated No. 11 Edison (11-0), senior Stephon Robertson has received offers from both James Madison and Delaware to play safety. Robertson, a 6-0, 190-pounder who runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, has earned a lot of late interest...
By Josh Barr | November 11, 2008; 9:39 AM ET | Comments (1)
Bo Knows Football?
Sure seems that way, that Bo Revill might be a little young to remember the "Bo Knows" Nike campaign. But the 6-foot-6 quarterback, a junior at Battlefield High in western Prince William County, is on the radar for several major programs despite being in just his first full season as...
By Josh Barr | November 10, 2008; 1:38 PM ET | Comments (0)
Felder Still Set for Penn State
Caught up with Oxon Hill interim coach Walter Cross on Saturday before the Clippers played Wise and he said that wide receiver Brandon Felder is progressing nicely as he recovers from surgery to repair torn knee ligaments. Felder committed to Penn State over the summer but was injured in a...
By Josh Barr | November 10, 2008; 11:32 AM ET | Comments (1)
GW Connection Pays Off for Local Forward
Have to say, when colleague Alan Goldenbach told me he had some news and an interesting story involving Florida Atlantic, I immediately conjured up images of crusty Howard Schnellenberger on the recruiting trail. Just not ready for basketball season, I guess, even though the early signign period is only a...
By Josh Barr | November 7, 2008; 9:53 AM ET | Comments (0)
Wow! Gilchrist Eligible in December at South Florida
Wow. Simply wow. Gus Gilcrhist somehow got a waiver to become eligible at midseason for South Florida. Have to say, I thought there was no chance this would happen for the well-traveled Gilchrist. The short story: In high school, Gilchrist transferred from Friendly to Progressive Christian for his senior year...
By Josh Barr | November 5, 2008; 5:33 PM ET | Comments (8)
Terps Get Boost; Shooter is Eligible
Maryland got a boost yesterday with the announcement that Jin Soo Kim has been cleared to play this season. The 6-8 swingman from South Korea via South Kent Prep in Connecticut graduated a year early from high school to enroll in college. He's considered a terrific shooter, though obviously there...
By Josh Barr | November 4, 2008; 10:40 AM ET | Comments (5)
Football Signing Period in December?
Former colleague Jon Solomon reports that the American Football Coaches Association wants to create an early signing period in December for high school players to sign college scholarship papers. Right now, the only signing period begins in February. Frankly, I don't see this accomplishing much, even if it passes, which...
By Josh Barr | November 3, 2008; 3:03 PM ET | Comments (0)
