Update on all of ODU's recruits thus far from Pilotonline:
■ 31 JANUARY 2013 | 11:50 AM
ODU gains a recruit and loses another
Old Dominon's football coaches both gained and lost a player on Friday.
Cam Boyd, a 5-foot-6, 190-pound running back from West Hills Community College in Calfornia, committed to ODU. However, Sharif Finch, a 6-4 linebacker from Henrico High in suburban Richmond, de-committed from ODU and will instead attend Temple, he told the Richmond-Times Dispatch.
ODU will host three uncommitted recruits this weekend and hopes to get more verbal commitments this week.
Demetri McGill, the 3-star defensive tackle from Ocean Lakes High in Virginia Beach, has said he will visit ODU this weekend.
Leon Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman from Bound Brook, N.J. and Wes Bullock, a 5-7 running back from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., are also visiting, according to recruiting sites.
Johnson has narrowed his choices to Temple and ODU. Bullock, rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com, has offers from Florida Atlantic, Ball State and Toledo. He had an early offer from Penn State that has since betwen withdrawn.
McGill is likely down to East Carolina, Temple and ODU. He also lists North Carolina among his finalists and visited Temple last weekend. ESPN reports that UNC has yet to offer him.
After playing just four seasons of football, ODU is moving up from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA. It plays as an FCS independent next season, then joins FBS and Conference USA in 2014.
The recruiting class is more far-flung than most for ODU. More than half of the 95 players on ODU’s roster last season were from Virginia. Only eight of ODU’s current recruits come from the Old Dominion. Coach Bobby Wilder said it was necessary to cast the recruiting nets wider in order to find more and better players.
There are six players from New Jersey, five from Texas, four from North Carolina, two each from California and New York and one apiece from Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Australia.
Below are short biographies of the 33 players, with highlight videos the players have placed online, as well as a look at recruits who will be on campus this weekend.
ODU is expected to gain commitments from several more players before national signing day on Feb. 6. We'll update this site as those commitments become known.
As for Finch, here's what Eric Kolenich from the Times-Dispatch reported on Friday. "He liked Old Dominion, and his name has shown up on lists of ODU verbal commitments. But Finch said that was a miscommunication. While he never verbaled to the Norfolk school, his father told ODU he thought Sharif would end up there."
I spoke to Finch in December, when we wrote a story saying that he had committed to ODU. I asked him if he had committed to ODU and he said yes. He told me about his experience in Norfolk May 17, when he made an unofficial visit to ODU. That was the day ODU announced it would join Conference USA.
"Coach Wilder stepped right out of the press conference and offered me," he said.
"I really liked the coaches and the vibe at the school. The winning tradition seemed like a good fit. I think they're going to be successful in Conference USA."
Here's a link to the story in which Finch committed to ODU.
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/4-more-c...numbers-25
Information on ODU's 33 new recruits, and others the Monarchs are hosting this weekend, follows below:
JUNIOR COLLEGE PLAYERS ALREADY ENROLLED AT ODU
D.J. Simon, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker. Houston native who played at Navarro College, a junior college in Texas. Rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com, Simon averaged 5.5 tackles a game and was an all-league choice as a freshman. Simon is the ninth Navarro player to sign with an FBS program. Navarro was 10-2 and won the Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship. As a senior at Klein Forest High School, Simon was being recruited by several Big 12 and SEC schools, but was sidelined by an injured knee, which is now healthy.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1204374/highlights/18310419
Gary Scruggs, a 6-foot-1, 260-pound defensive end from Glassboro, N.J., who played for ASA College in Brooklyn, where he was second-team all-conference. A ferocious tackler, he had 29 solo tackles, three sacks and two fumbles he recovered for touchdowns, including one he returned 90 yards.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/422974/highlights/26217373
Chris Smith, 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle, and a native of Santa Rosa, Ca., who played at Santa Rosa Junior College. He had 29 tackles and seven sacks last fall and was rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals. He will be a sophomore next season for ODU, where he will get a shot at playing right away.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/788022/highlights/8234380
Ely Anderson, 6-5, 285-pound offensive lineman from Windsor, Ca., who played with Smith at Santa Rosa. He rejected offers from Liberty, Weber State and North Dakota. An outstanding pass blocker who is expected to play right away for ODU.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/788823/highlights/33686388
Malik Gumbs, 6-1, 275-pound defensive tackle who played at Nassau Community College in New York. He had 36 tackles and eight sacks. A high energy player from Cliffwood, N.J. who was often double teamed this past season.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/893261/highlights/7918411
Kyle Bottoms, 6-4, 305-pound offensive lineman who played at Blinn College in Texas. A kinesiology major at Blinn, Bottoms transferred to ODU with a 3.3 grade point average. He turned down Sam Houston State, Western Illinois and Lamar. ODU returns four of five starters on the offensive line, but Bottoms is expected to push for playing time. Bottoms excels at pass blocking. He will be a redshirt junior in the fall.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2126486/highlights/24335375
Jevon Neal, 5-9, 190-pound cornerback who also played at Blinn College. An honor roll student from Austin, Tex., he also turned down Sam Houston State. He was honorable mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference as a sophomore.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2013750/highlights/28121374
JUNIOR COLLEGE PLAYER COMMITTED TO SIGN ON FEB. 6
Gerard Shillow, 6-3, 245, tight end from Navarro College. The Round Rock, Tex. native caught 28 passes for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns. A talented blocker who often played slot back in the spread offense for Navarro and was a wide receiver in high school. Signed with Louisiana Tech out of high school, rejecting offers from Texas-El Paso and Idaho, but did not quality academically. Rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals at Stony Point High School, where he caught 65 passes for 1,389 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1276946/highlights/21221373
Cam Boyd, a 5-foot-6, 190-pound running back who rushed for 1,350 yards and 18 touchdowns last season at West Hills Community College in California. Boyd was unrated by recruiting services, but was named Offensive Player of the Year in California’s Golden Gate Conference and was a first-team All-California junior college pick. Boyd said he turned down scholarships offers from Memphis and Middle Tennessee State to commit to ODU.Boyd played at Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Va., where he was an All-Northern Virginia choice. He's a Portsmouth native who moved to Woodbridge when he was 11. He was converted from wide receiver to running back his junior year of high school and could play either position at ODU. He's a gifted runner with surprising ability to break tackles, given his size. He also heaves a pretty nice looking halfback pass.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1139358/highlights/28143381
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS ALREADY ENROLLED AT ODU
Kanyia Anderson, 6-1, 215 defensive end from Chesapeake's Oscar Smith High who could be moved to linebacker. ESPN rates him a 3-star recruit and calls him one of the highest-rated players ODU has ever signed. ESPN rates him the 81st-best outside linebacker in America. Rivals rates him a 2-star recruit. Turned down offers from California and James Madison. ODU coaches said he would have had more offers had he not enrolled early at ODU.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1195002/highlights/8416376
T.J. Armstrong, 6-2, 222 linebacker from Clarion, Pa. Rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN, he made an early commitment to ODU over the summer, rejecting offers from Temple, Buffalo and UMass. ODU’s second-rated recruit, according to ESPN. An outstanding tackler who could play as a freshman. He had 102 tackles, including 48 solo, and 22 ½ tackles for a loss as a senior. He also had five sacks and two forced fumbles. Named the “Small School” Player of the Year in Western Pennsylvania, he led his team to a 12-1 record and an unbeaten regular season. He rushed for 838 yards on 151 carries and 14 touchdowns at running back.
Highlight video (from junior year):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKWGGHnF__A
Rob Thompson, 5-11, 170-pound cornerback from Hammonton, N.J., rated a 2-star recruit and the nation’s 112nd best cornerback by ESPN. Rivals rates him a 2-star recruit. Runs a 4.6 in the 40. Has great closing speed and leaping ability. Rejected offers from Iowa and Villanova. Will have the chance to play right away next season.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/217229/highlights/2694435
Scott Wiggins, a 6-3, 242-pound defensive end from Roselle, N.J., who played at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia last fall. Fork Union coach John Shuman said Wiggins led the team with nine sacks. Wiggins was unrated by rivals.com and ESPN but had offers from Central Michigan, Youngstown State and Appalachian State, Shuman said. Shuman says he has the potential to play right away at ODU.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/260428/highlights/7956549
HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS EXPECTED TO SIGN ON FEB. 6
Cullen Casey, 6-3, 280, defensive tackle from McQuaid Jesuit Catholic High School in Rochester, N.Y. Rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and the third-best in ODU’s recruiting class. Rivals rates him a 2-star. Is receiving late recruiting interest from Bowling Green and Buffalo, but so far remains committed to ODU. Is expected to play right away.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgJGQHprnE
Daquin Moore, 6-2, 186, wide receiver from Hampton High School. Committed to ODU early and has seen recent recruiting interest from BCS schools. Rejected offers from James Madison and Hampton. A two-way starter, he could play at safety or side receiver for the Monarchs, and could play as a freshman. Rated a 2-star recruit by ESPN. Unrated by Rivals.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgJGQHprnE
Melvin Vaughn, 6-2, 220, tight end, Oscar Smith High School. Expected to play either wide receiver or linebacker for ODU. Very talented player who has seen recent recruiting interest from BCS schools. Had 81 receptions for 1,609 yards and 20 touchdowns at Oscar Smith.Turned down Marshall, Hampton and UMass when he committed to ODU. Rated a 2-star recruit by ESPN. Unrated by Rivals.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1208251/highlights/37442395
Kevin Privott, 6-1, 182, wide receiver from Hertford County High School in Ahoskie, N.C. Will be given a chance to play right away. Played for his father in high school. Has breakway speed and moves. Rejected offers from Navy and UNC Charlotte. Rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1_UJuGmoQ
Anthony Bonett, 6-1, 190, wide receiver from Moorestown High in Moorestown, N.J. He ran for 530 yards on 74 carries and also ran for nine touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns and also averaged 12.73 yards on 11 punt returns. Excellent open field moves. Rated a 2-star recruit by ESPN, he rejected an offer from Syracuse, according to ESPN.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL3AOySiH4w
Shane McCarley, quarterback from Manvel High in suburban Houston, Tex., who is perhaps the steal of the recruiting class for ODU. Measured at 5-11, 170 pounds at the beginning of his senior year, he's now 6-feet, 205 pounds. Turned down several mid-level FBS programs, including Louisiana Tech, to commit to ODU. The Manvel offense is nearly identical to ODU’s spread attack and McCarley resembles Monarchs’ quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Runs the offense smartly, is elusive when he runs and accurate on short and medium passes. Completed 227 of 349 passes for 4,101 yards and 55 touchdowns. Named the offensive player of the year by the Houston Touchdown Club and Texas Player of the Year by Fox Sports. Rated a 2-star recruit by ESPN.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPQ6vV5gTNE
Sandy Chapman, 5-10, 151, cornerback and wide receiver at Southeast High in Raleigh, N.C. Rated a 2-star recruit by ESPN, he’s a hard-hitting cornerback with 4.78 speed in the 40 who could also play wide receiver at ODU. Returned kickoffs and punts for Southeastern High, alma mater of ODU freshman quarterback David Washington. The Monarchs got in early on Chapman before he had other offers. He has received recruiting interest from FBS schools recently.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs1wg4JWnTo
Gerard Johnson, 5-9, 174, quarterback from Meadowbrook High School just south of Richmond who has been recruited as an athlete. All-Metro as a junior and senior. He is rated a 2-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals as a cornerback. With great open field moves and breakaway speed, could be a wide receiver at ODU. Has an accurate arm that could be used on the halfback option. Rejected scholarship offers from James Madison, Delaware and Liberty. Has been an ODU fan since middle school.
Highlight video:
http://www.ncsasports.org/football-recru...rd-johnson
Jaiyen Franklin, 6-4, 270, offensive tackle from Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. ESPN rates him a 2-star recruit and the nation’s 169th-best offensive tackle. Committed to ODU in July. Helped lead Wise to a 14-0 record and Maryland state championship.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1108338/highlights/36488384
Davis Farmer, 6-6, 311 offensive tackle from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, S.C. Rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals; unrated by ESPN, but has good size and speed. He’s grown an inch and gained 12 pounds since he committed to ODU several months ago. Especially effective on run plays. Rejected offers from Liberty and Gardner Webb.
Highlight video:
http://www.ncsasports.org/college-recrui...vis-farmer
Rashaad Coward, 6-5, 264, defensive tackle from Sheepshead Bay High in Brooklyn. Stony Brook, Albany, Maine and Wagner offered him. An All-Brooklyn choice and named to the second unit of the Tri-State all-star team of players from the metro New York City area. Committed to ODU three weeks after being contacted by ODU assistant Michael Zyskowski on Facebook. Connecticut and Buffalo have made late recruiting pitches to him. So far, he's said no.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGrg7sjSEOA
Tyler Fisher, 6-4, 306, offensive tackle from Salisbury School in Salisbury, Conn. He’s a Richmond native and has been an ODU fan for several years. Unrated by recruiting services, he was also recruited by UMass before committing to ODU in August.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpcRxzUBgq8
Richie Staton, 6-1, 225, tight end from Phoebus High in Hampton who likely will play linebacker for the Monarchs. He was a 3-year starter at Kecoughtan before transferring to Phoebus. He scored touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns, where he excelled for the Phantons, as well as fumble and interception returns. He will join Pheobus alumni Paul Morant, Tyree Lee, Colby Goodwyn, Jonathan McLean and Caleb Taylor at ODU.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2103954/highlights/18926373
Aaron Young, 6-0, 187, cornerback from Archbishop Carroll Catholic High in Washington. Rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals, he rejected offers from Toledo, Colorado, Hawaii and Ohio. He had nine interceptions, 68 tackles and two fumble recoveries to earn All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference honors. He also tallied 721 rushing yards, 572 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns from the running back and slot receiver positions.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXH3uCBDH6k
Jude Brenya, 6-2, 226, defensive end from Highstown High in Highstown, N.J. He committed to ODU early after rejecting offers from Lehigh, UMass, James Madison, Colgate and Fordham. With a 3.65 grade-point average, he plans to major in criminal justice. Brenya is unrated by recruiting services, but has tremendous potential. He immigrated to the United States from Ghana when he was 12 and has only played three seasons of organized football.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/157530/highlights/33529376
Nick Carroll, 6-5, 232, defensive tackle from Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High in Raleigh, N.C. Played high school just steps away from North Carolina State’s Carter-Finley Stadium. Was recruited but not offered by the Wolfpack. Recruited by several Southern Conference and Colonial Athletic Association teams. Rivals rated him a 2-star recruit and he was a first-team all-conference pick.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/926104/highlights/27621378
Jake Walsh, punter, Melbourne, Australia. Walsh is being recruited to replace 4-time All-American Jonathan Plisco, ODU’s punter the last four seasons. Walsh, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, trained in the Prokick Australia program that prepares high school players to play Australian Rules football or to punt on American football teams. More than a dozen Australian’s are punting for American teams, including both Brad Wing and Jamie Keehn at Louisiana State University. Highlight videos show that he consistently punts more than 40 yards with good hang time.
Highlight video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVO8mxkjahI
Malik Moseley, 5-foot-11, 195, running back from Southern Guilford High in suburban Greensboro, N.C. He rushed 265 times for 2,405 and 35 touchdowns as a senior. A good student whose mother, a teacher in the Guilford County school system, died his junior year just before the playoffs. He moved in with his father and said the support of teammates and friends in high school helped get him through his difficult junior year. “Southern Guilford High School is a family,” he said. “That’s the same feeling I got at Old Dominion.” Also had offers from Appalachian State and North Carolina Central. Unrated by the major recruiting services.
Highlight video:
http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/lyOM-tj...oseley.htm
Eric Hampson, 6-foot 6, 315, offensive lineman from Pinellas Park High in Largo, Fla. just outside of St. Petersburg. A late bloomer who was under the recruiting radar. Rejected offers from Ohio and Elon. All-Pinellas County pick who played left tackle, the “Blind Side” position. Quick feet. He often pulled and led sweeps around the right end. Outstanding student whose online resume lists a 3.46 grade point average and 920 on the SAT.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1178561/highlights/15267386
Atavius Matthews, a 6-foot, 220-pound outside linebacker and running back from Phoebus High in Hampton, committed to ODU on Wednesday after de-committing from Norfolk State. Matthews likely would be a linebacker at ODU. He has a 3.2 grade point average and an 850 on the SAT. Matthews was considered an elite recruit until he tore a knee ligament just before his junior season. He successfully rehabilitated the knee, moved from running back to linebacker and had 93 tackles, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries as a senior last season at Phoebus. He was All-Peninsula District and second team All-Eastern Region.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1186035/highlights/18300382
COMMITTED TO WALK-ON WITHOUT A SCHOLARSHIP
John Gallagher, a 6-1, 210, placekicker, defensive tackle and offense guard from Caldwell, N.J., was rated the fifth-best kicker in New Jersey by the Newark Star-Ledger. He will walk on and compete for a scholarship after rejecting full scholarship offers from Georgia Southern and Albany and a partial scholarship offer from Maine. Jarod Brown, ODU's all-conference placekicker, will be a senior this fall. Gallagher will compete with Ricky Segers and Joseph Pulisic, freshman from suburban Richmond, to be ODU’s backup kicker this fall. Had a career-high 47 yard field goal and consistently booted kickoffs out of the end zone.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/891765/highlights/16353394
PLAYERS ODU IS RECRUITING
Wesley Bullock, a 5-7, 175-pound running back from Plant High School in Tampa. Rated a 2-star recruit by Rivals.com, he is unrated by ESPN, but has had six FBS offers, including an early offer from Penn State that eventually was withdrawn. Ball State, Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic and Toledo have offered him, reports ESPN. Good news for ODU: Recruiting servfices report that Bullock is leaning toward ODU. He had 1,280 offensive yards (889 rushing, 391 receiving) and 12 touchdowns. He finished the final four games of the regular season by rushing for more than 100 yards.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/180266/highlights/35523375
Leon Johnson, a 6-6, 320-pound offensive lineman from Bound Brook High School in Bound Brook, New Jersey, who has flown somewhat underneath the recruiting radar in spite of his huge size. Johnson is unrated by the recruiting services, but has narrowed his choices to Temple and ODU. He is slated to visit ODU this weekend. New Jersey sports writer Harry T. Frezza Jr. Tweeted this week that Johnson made a non-binding commitment to Temple. We'll see if that sticks through the weekend.
Highlight video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/908404/highlights/37431405
Demetri McGill, 6-3, 295, defensive tackle from Ocean Lakes High in Virginia Beach. He's rated a 3-star recruit by both Rivals and ESPN. He committed to Maryland several months ago, but the Terrapins pulled their offer a few weeks ago. "What they did was wrong," Ocean Lakes coach Chris Scott said, referring to Maryland coaches. "They tell him to not talk to any other schools. He decided not to, and to do it the right way with integrity and character." Maryland's withdrawal re-opened the door for ODU. McGill would be one of the highest-rated recruits of ODU's class of 2013. McGill had 112 tackles and 12 sacks to help the Dolphins reach the Group AAA Division 6 state championship game. He lists East Carolina, North Carolina and Temple as his other finalists. He visited Temple last weekend. ESPN reports that UNC has yet to offer McGill..
No highlight video available.