Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 1, 1994 TAG: 9402010090
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The approach of the national signing day brought commitments Monday from two of the state's most prominent football prospects.
Virginia received a commitment from former All-Group AAA quarterback Shannon Taylor from Patrick Henry in Roanoke, and Group AAA player of the year Ken Oxendine from Thomas Dale in Chester announced for Virginia Tech.
"I've been a Virginia fan since Richard Morgan [from Salem] played basketball there," said Taylor, a close friend of Cavaliers' basketball signee and former Patrick Henry teammate Curtis Staples.
UVa and Tech are two of the schools waiting on Jefferson Forest defensive back Anthony Poindexter, who has called a news conference for 2:30 p.m. today. It was widely believed Monday that Poindexter, the Group AA player of the year, would sign with UVa.
"There's one he feels a little more strongly about but he wants to sleep on it," said Jefferson Forest coach Bob Christmas, who added that Poindexter has eliminated Tennessee from a list of finalists that includes Tech and North Carolina.
Tech and UVa are the schools that remain in contention for All-Group AAA quarterback Tony Morrison from Indian River High in Chesapeake. Indian River coach Bob Parker said Monday he thought Tech had an edge.
Oxendine was one of three players to commit to Tech over the weekend, joining 6-foot-4 1/2, 297-pound Dwight Vick, a first-team All-Group AAA offensive tackle from Hampton High School, and running back Cordell Smith (6-0, 195) from DeMatha High in Hyattsville, Md.
Smith, a first-team All-Washington Metro selection, is a national-caliber athlete who rushed for 1,200 yards this past season. Smith finished third nationally in the decathlon in his age group and has bests of 10.7 for 100 meters, 6-5 in the high jump and 23 feet in the triple jump.
Six of Tech's 17 commitments have come from players rated in the top 25 in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News. Oxendine was rated one of the state's top five prospects.
Oxendine, who had never been to Blacksburg before December, was swayed by the Hokies' turnaround from a 2-8-1 record in 1993 to a 9-3 mark this year.
"In my opinion, they weren't in the picture early on," Thomas Dale coach Vic Williams said. "It was a combination of the kind of season they had, the offense, the good line, the [Independence] bowl. Plus, a lot of kids from Thomas Dale go to school up there."
Oxendine, who made first-team All-Group AAA as a linebacker and second-team as a running back, rushed for 3,256 yards and 36 touchdowns this past season and drew comparisons to former UVa running back Terry Kirby.
"That was one thing [of concern] about Virginia," said Oxendine, who received a call from Kirby last week. "If I went there, everybody would have compared me to Terry Kirby. I can make my own name at Virginia Tech."
The addition of Taylor gives UVa five commitments from players on the top 25. The Cavaliers have 15 commitments, the latest from 6-4, 284-pound offensive lineman Darren Garland from Tampa, Fla., and 6-4, 248-pound nose guard Maurice "Mo" Anderson from Fork Union.
Garland is UVa's second commitment from Tampa Jesuit High, joining teammate Kirk Willett. Garland took visits to Southern California, Kent State, Holy Cross and Texas-El Paso.
"His first two visits were supposed to be to Southern Cal and Michigan State," said coach Dominick Ciao. "I think that scared off a lot of people."
It is unclear how many of Virginia's recruits will sign Wednesday, the first day that prospects may sign binding letters-of-intent. Taylor, who has not met NCAA scholarship requirements, said he will wait until he qualifies.
"I feel I'm making progress," said Taylor, who says he is between 600 and the required 700 on the Scholastic Assessment Test. "Fork Union is an option; I'm not denying that. But I'm getting help in the classroom. I'm doing the home test. I'm very confident."
Taylor, a first-team All-Group AAA selection as a junior, led the Timesland area in passing this year with 1,288 yards and also rushed for 652 yards. He had two touchdown runs of more than 70 yards.
Taylor was escorted around by UVa quarterback Symmion Willis, whose place he hopes to take in two years. The Cavaliers are recruiting one other quarterback, Aaron Brooks from Ferguson High in Newport News.
Brooks, a Roanoke Times & World-News Top 5 prospect, will announce his decision this weekend from among UVa, Maryland, Clemson and Missouri.
Keywords:
INFOLINE
by CNB