Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 25, 1994 TAG: 9401250032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
All-state and All-Timesland defensive lineman John Huffman from Northside made an oral commitment Monday to Appalachian State, and Virginia Tech and Virginia each added football recruits.
The Hokies received commitments from defensive lineman Todd Washington, younger brother of Tech offensive lineman T.J. Washington, and defensive end Todd Volitis from Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown, Pa.
"I felt some of the other schools were squeezing me - offering me a scholarship and then not wanting to wait for me to take my visits," said Volitis, who received the Maxwell Club Award as the top player in eastern Pennsylvania. "Virginia Tech was one that didn't pressure me."
Volitis, who said he picked Tech over West Virginia, was rated the No. 21 prospect in Pennsylvania by SuperPrep Magazine. Washington, who picked Tech over UVa, was selected as one of the top 25 prospects in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News.
"Todd is his own man but, deep down, I think he wanted to play with his brother," said Tony Washington, the players' father and coach at Nandua High School on the Eastern shore.
Virginia landed one of their prime targets when nose guard Maurice "Mo" Anderson from Fork Union Military Academy picked UVa over North Carolina State. Anderson, a 6-foot-4, 248-pounder, helped Nottoway to the Division III state championship in 1992.
Virginia also received commitments from 6-3, 185-pound Adrian Burnim, a wide receiver and defensive back from Jordan High School in Durham, N.C., and 6-4, 255-pound Faraji Mason from Loyola High in Baltimore.
Mason, projected as a defensive lineman by UVa, was a two-time all-city selection. Burnim is the third player from North Carolina to commit to UVa - all ranked among the state's top 30 prospects by SuperPrep.
Huffman is the fifth All-Timesland player to go Division I-A, joining Alleghany tight end Todd Wheatley (Virginia Tech), Pulaski County lineman Randy Dunnigan (West Virginia), Martinsville linebacker Chris Frith (Virginia Tech) and Magna Vista defensive back Rodney Redd (N.C. State).
Redd and West Springfield quarterback Matt Shannon, who committed to Richmond, bring to 17 the number of players off the Roanoke Times & World-News Top 25 who have made commitments. Of the eight uncommitted players, four are in the top five.
Huffman, who elected not to take a scheduled visit to Marshall, received most of his accolades on defense but is more likely to play offense at Appalachian.
"We used him at tackle," Northside coach Jim Huffman said, "but a lot of [recruiters] have watched him on film and theorized that he would be a good center because he has such a good base."
by CNB