Ian Haislip Video Added To recruit757 on Facebook
Since Ian Haislip was one of about forty high school juniors that attended Junior Day at UVA this past weekend, it seems appropriate to show off some of his highlights from 2009.
On the Facebook Fan Page for recruit757 you can see a good 1:18 video highlight reel from Tabb’s game against York last September. Both offenses were hot that game, but Haislip did get in a few good plays including a sack of York QB Ben Edwards. Haislip also had a highlight reel catch for a touchdown. It was a diving grab in the end zone that has to be seen to be appreciated.
Haislip is just now coming on the radar for most schools, but he’s received early interest from ACC schools including UVA, Virginia Tech and NC State.
More video will be posted on Facebook and the new recruit757.com will be launching soon. Surf on over to Facebook and become a fan of recruit757, check out the videos posted there and whet your appetite for the action to come. Thanks for checking out recruit757!
Corey Patrick Video Added To Facebook
Corey Patrick (Photo: Jason Norman)
Since we had some Corey Patrick (RB – Tabb) coverage earlier this week, it’s very appropriate to post a video highlight package of Corey from the 2009 season. Go to the Recruit757 fan page on Facebook and check it out. Corey rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow loss to Ben Edwards and York High School back in September.
While you’re visiting the Recruit757 fan page on Facebook, please sign up as a fan. Blog updates are always posted on the Facebook fan page and at Recruit757 on Twitter.
If you have any news to share or just want to comment, feel free to respond on the Facebook page or e-mail at andy@recruit757.com.
Enjoy the weekend!
Tabb’s Corey Patrick to Choose Between Sports
Corey Patrick (Photo: Rob Ostermaier)
Tabb senior Corey Patrick (RB 5-9 175) looked like a shoe-in for Division I football. He has sub 4.5 speed, good moves and a good head for the game. Patrick has recieved interest from a number of schools including Virginia Tech, Illinois, Bowling Green and JMU. There was lots of window shopping in his recruitment.
The Bay Rivers District produces good ball players. This year’s Bay Rivers players have signed with Army, Norfolk State, Richmond, VMI and William and Mary. There’s only one Division I FBS school in the group of district signees. Many talented players in the district didn’t sign at all. There’s an image problem in the Bay Rivers. Maybe it starts with the coaches or maybe the media. Wherever the problem lies, the end result is obvious. The Bay Rivers District doesn’t send a proportionate number of players on to scholarships in football.
Corey Patrick is one of many Bay Rivers District players that’s still looking to make a commitment. For him, it may now come down to two options. James Madison might have an opening at running back since they dismissed sophomore RB Corwin Acker last week. According to Corey’s Dad, Ben Patrick, JMU has looked at Corey and has expressed interest in him, now the Dukes just have figure out how to fit Patrick into the program. The offer from JMU hasn’t come yet, but now there’s an opening.
Another option for Corey is baseball. Corey had a shoulder injury that affected his baseball season in 2009. That won’t be the case this year. Ben Patrick says that Ohio State has expressed strong interest in Corey as an outfielder for the Buckeyes.
“He went the Ohio State Winter Hitting Camp, and they were impressed with what he could do. They’re now planning to come down soon and see him in a few games. They want to see how he hits.”
Corey is a pitcher and centerfielder for the Tabb Tigers. His hitting and outfield play may be his ticket to Big 10 baseball. There’s only one catch: baseball gives out partial scholarships and he’d get a full ride to play football if he’s offered. That complicates the decision once there’s a choice to make.
Baseball at Ohio State? Football at JMU? …or could there be another offer on the horizon? It’s getting late for football offers, but Corey Patrick’s recruitment options may finally be opening up.
Smithfield’s Boden Fuller Commits to Army
Boden Fuller (Photo: Rivals)
West Point will add another Cadet from the Hampton Roads region. Service Academy appointments are tough to come by. Phoebus’ Micah Blakely accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Now Smithfield High School defensive end Boden Fuller is headed to the United States Military Academy at West Point in the fall.
It’s a big step for Fuller. Then again, Fuller is a big guy.
Boden Fuller (6-2 250) is a load at defensive end. With his commitment to West Point, Fuller becomes the first Bay Rivers District player in the 2010 class to commit to a Division I FBS school. Fuller also considered Air Force, Richmond and James Madison.
Fuller’s teammates Jaquon Goodman (DB 6-2 195) and Montrell Johnson (RB 5-9 170) also have college options. It’s rumored that Goodman may end up with an offer to attend Marshall, while Johnson is likely to take a Division II offer from Virginia State.
If those offers come through, Smithfield may end up as the most productive program in the Bay Rivers District by getting three seniors off to college scholarships. We’ll keep an eye on them.
Lafayette Big Man Marcotte Picks VMI
Lafayette High School offensive lineman Andrew Marcotte (6-8 320) has picked a school. Marcotte has known for many years that his future was in football. Now he gets to play for the Keydets.
VMI’s switch to a more pass oriented pro-style offense was a deciding factor. Marcotte did a lot of run blocking in the Rams’ Wing-T offense. Now he’ll do a lot of pass blocking for the Keydets. His 6-8 build and long arms should benefit him greatly in pass protection. Marcotte was voted first team All-Bay Rivers District and second team All-Region I at offensive tackle for his senior season.
It’s not only the offensive scheme that Marcotte likes, he likes the idea of military discipline too. “I do a lot better with structure. It’s a lot easier to get done what you need to get done when there are fewer distractions”, Marcotte told the Daily Press’ Marty O’Brien.
See more about Marcotte’s decision to attend VMI on Marty O’Brien’s blog: http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/bayriversblog/2010/02/lafayette_lineman_andrew_marco.html
AA All-State Team – Why No Bay Rivers Love?
The AA All-State Football Team was announced last week by the AP. Congratulations to the four local kids that were recognized as Second Team All-State for Group AA.
#11 Lorenzo Taliaferro vs. Greensville in the Region I Semifinal (Photo by Rob Ostermaier)
Lorenzo Taliaferro of Bruton High School was a two-way player that led his team to their first ever appearance in a State Title game. Taliaferro was second team at Running Back and gained 1678 yards and 21 touchdowns in the 2009 season. The 6-1 205 Taliaferro also excelled as a linebacker.
The Bay Rivers District placed three players on the Defensive Second Team: Sam Preas (Jamestown DL 5-11 255), Rohn Springfield (Smithfield LB 5-9 200) and Andrew Watt (York LB 6-0 195). Congrats to all four players on their awards. There were several other players that deserved recognition, but didn’t get it.
Before I go on a rant about the lack of local representation, let me clarify who qualifies and how the team is picked.
In the Hampton Roads area there are numerous high schools with attendance figures between 1500 and 2500. Currently Division 6 schools have 1650-3000 students and Division 5 schools have 700-1900 students. Division 5 and Division 6 are grouped together as AAA. The population density of the seven cities in Hampton Roads gives you few schools that fall below that range. You have to go to the far western parts of the region to find smaller schools. In Virginia, schools are ranked in Divisions from 1 to 6.
Division 3 and Division 4 are grouped together as AA. In the Hampton Roads area, there are only 11 schools that fit in that grouping. All are in the Bay Rivers District. Here’s how the math breaks out. For Group AA, we have 11 teams in the 757 and there are 91 total in the state. For Group AAA, we have 39 teams in the 757 and there are 126 total in the state. From sheer numbers, 12% of the All-State team should be 757 in Group AA whereas 31% of the All-State team should be from the 757 in Group AAA.
That’s not where the story ends. The state has four regions and each region has teams in Group A, Group AA and Group AAA. The Hampton Roads area has the largest number of teams in Group AAA. The 757 doesn’t get that benefit in Group AA. The only local newspaper that covers group AA with any consistency is the Daily Press. Most of the Bay Rivers schools are in their territory. When it comes to state representation for Group AA, the regions voice is small.
#34 Montrell Johnson of Smithfield vs. Poquoson (Photo by Diane Cebula)
So Bay Rivers players aren’t going to get the same amount of attention that the kids from Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Roanoke get. Who got left out? Let’s start with Montrell Johnson, the Smithfield Senior who rushed for 1,320 yards in and 22 touchdowns in the regular season. Johnson also lead his team to an 8-2 record and a co-championship in the Bay Rivers.
Ben Edwards is also a glaring omission. The York QB/DB/P/KR led his team throughout the season. He committed to Richmond before the season started, suffered an ankle injury mid-season and cracked his collarbone later in the season, yet still lead his team to a thrilling victory over Tabb for the second season in a row, and his team finished with a 7-3 record and a playoff appearance.
Corey Patrick of Tabb is another superb offensive threat that deserved to be recognized. His team fell just short of a playoff berth, but Patrick contributed greatly to his team’s efforts with 1,494 yards rushing and 17 TDs on the season.
AAA Football gets a lot of attention here in the 757, but there’s also some great football being played outside the cities in areas like Smithfield, York County and Williamsburg. Plan to go to a Bay Rivers game next season. The small town environment is refreshing and the football is definitely good.