Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 31, 1995 TAG: 9501310153
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: SPORTS EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Military-school connections proved profitable for Virginia and Virginia Tech on Monday, two days before the signing date for football recruits.
The Cavaliers landed their fourth and fifth recruits from Fork Union Military Academy, including former All-Group AAA quarterback Shannon Taylor, who committed to UVa last year as a senior at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke.
Hargrave Military Academy wide receiver Pedro Edison said he will sign Wednesday with Virginia Tech, which also received a commitment from 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker Jamel Smith from Columbia, S.C.
Smith, who had a team-high 136 tackles as a senior at Spring Valley High School, took visits to Western Carolina, The Citadel and Clemson and was scheduled to go to East Carolina. He committed to Tech rather than wait until the weekend on a Clemson offer.
``He's probably one of the best linebackers we've had come through here,'' said Spring Valley coach Jim Bonneville, who has two players at Georgia Tech and one each at Florida State and West Virginia.
Edison, a 6-4, 222-pounder, picked Tech over Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia Tech. He played wide receiver at Waynesboro High School and at Hargrave, but is projected as a tight end by the Hokies.
Edison, who also played tailback at Waynesboro, was Hargrave's second-leading receiver with 23 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Coach Joe Freeland said playing time was a critical factor in the choice of Tech, which has one returning tight end.
Tech has commitments from 13 players, including Hargrave's top two receivers, Angelo Harrison and Edison. Virginia has 24 commitments, including defensive lineman Maurice Anderson, who began classes last week and does not count against the NCAA's 25-scholarship limit.
UVa's latest commitment is from 6-4, 210 pound wide receiver Marcus Bullett, who played at Fort Defiance High School before moving to Fork Union.
``This is what makes you go to a prep school,'' Fork Union coach John Shuman said. ``The kid played fullback in high school; then he wanders in here, catches a few passes and becomes a prospect.''
Bullett, previously scheduled to visit Ball State, was not on Virginia's original list but became more attractive as the Cavaliers developed a need for skilled players.
Shuman said Taylor is close enough to the required score on the American College Test that he will sign Wednesday, which he didn't do last year. It was a foregone conclusion that UVa would get him when he canceled a trip to Virginia Tech.
``I thought that's [Virginia] where he was going all along,'' Shuman said. ``When he started talking about Virginia Tech, I grabbed him and said, `Hey, pal, let's do it. Why wait? Let's call Tech and commit right now.' But, I think he was just talking.''
A previously unreported Virginia recruit is Andre Karelis, a 6-1, 220-pound linebacker who completed high school in 1994 and is enrolled at Vanier College in Montreal, where he did not play this year.
Cuncho Brown, the nation's No.1-ranked tight end, visited Penn State this weekend and will announce Wednesday from among the Nittany Lions, UVa and North Carolina.
In other recruiting:
Handley High School announced that record-setting twins Brian and Michael Partlow have committed to William and Mary. Brian Partlow was named Group AA state player of the year after passing for 3,014 yards and 38 touchdowns. Michael Partlow had 96 receptions for 1,871 yards - second on the all-time national list.
VMI's first two known commitments are from teammates Cornell Lewis and Cardell Winfield from Matoaca High School outside Petersburg. Lewis, a defensive back, and Winfield, a linebacker, were rated among the top 100 prospects in Virginia by the Roanoke Times & World-News.
by CNB