THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 6, 1996 TAG: 9609060688
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 87 lines
They've never made the playoffs - or even played on a winning team - since coming to Norview.
One made All-Tidewater last year - as a punter. The other was ignored.
So how did James Whitley and David Martin become the most hotly recruited teammates in the state this fall?
A combination of videotape, strong performances at a local spring scouting combine and above average academics earned them a look from some of the top college programs in the country. The rest was sheer talent.
Whitley (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) has been rated as the top high school cornerback in the nation and the best player in the state by the National Recruiting Advisor, a trade publication based in Austin, Texas.
The Sporting News, using information provided by the National Recruiting Advisor, listed Whitley among its 25 high school players to watch in its college football preview issue.
Martin (6-5, 210) is listed as the 10th best wide receiver in the nation by the National Recruiting Advisor.
That's heady stuff for two guys who've barely been recognized in their own backyard.
Both made All-Eastern District last fall, Whitley as a defensive back and punter, Martin as a wide receiver. But the district's major awards went to Granby's Anthony King (offense) and Booker T. Washington's Chester Jones (defense).
Whitley also was the punter on the All-Tidewater team.
So what happened between the end of last season and June when Whitley and Martin exploded onto the national scene like two solar flares?
They both received a boost from the combine in May that showcases athletic ability. That's also when many recruiters watched the personal highlight tapes put together by Norview coach David Heath and inspected the players' academic transcripts.
``. . . Perhaps no player in the country's stock rose more than Whitley's during the May evaluation process,'' wrote The Sporting News.
A week at Notre Dame's football camp - where Martin was timed in the 40 at 4.53 seconds - contributed to the bull market.
``Notre Dame pushed David over the top,'' Heath said.
Whitley, who also plays quarterback, passed for 1,142 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall. Martin caught 23 passes for 413 yards and six TDs. That combination will be broken up in college, as Whitley is being recruited as a defensive back. But there is a chance they will remain teammates.
Whitley plans official recruiting visits to Michigan, Penn State and Tennessee and is considering a return trip to Notre Dame. Martin has planned only one official visit, to Tennessee. But he is also interested in Penn State and Notre Dame.
Despite the similarity of their lists there has been little talk between the players about college and even less about a package deal.
``He's too quiet for me,'' Whitley says of Martin. ``He doesn't say anything.''
Martin was compelled to speak recently, if only to quell a hot rumor that had him ready to commit to Notre Dame.
``Most of my family seems to think I'm going there,'' he said. ``But I haven't made up my mind.''
Notre Dame's selling points, Martin said, are it's unmatched tradition, excellent practice facilities and ``good people.'' A strong academic environment is important to both players, who reportedly carry 3.0 grade point averages.
``The first thing I want to know about a program,'' Whitley said, ``is what is the graduation rate for football players? If I get hurt will they take care of me? Can I come back and get my education?''
Recruiting always has included an element of gambling with academic performance serving as a wildcard. Each year several potential Division I-A players in South Hampton Roads fail to qualify, watering down that year's recruiting class.
Only two area players signed with I-A schools in 1993. Three players signed with I-A schools in 1994 and one, Western Branch's Dre Bly, signed in 1995.
The situation turned around last year when seven players signed with I-A schools, including Norview's Dwayne Potts with West Virginia.
This year's senior class has the potential to match that number, with five players already receiving scholarship offers.
In addition to Whitley and Martin, Indian River's James Boyd, Western Branch's Darren Walton and Norcom's Michael Ponds have received scholarship offers. Boyd pretty much has his pick of any program in the country, while Maryland has targeted Walton and Ponds. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
JIM WALKER/The Virginian-Pilot
Norview's David Martin, left, James Whitley are among the nation's
top high school players, says one recruiting service. by CNB