WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Feb. 2,
2011) - Fresh off the school's fourth conference
crown and a top-10 national finish, William and Mary Head Football Coach Jimmye
Laycock announced the College's signing of 15 players to National Letters of
Intent this afternoon.
"This
is a versatile class, with nine of the 15 players coming in at skill positions,"
stated Laycock. "We addressed a broad
range of need areas for the program. I
am very pleased with the outstanding work the staff did to put this class
together, and I expect it has the potential to make a significant impact in the
years to come."
The
incoming class is comprised of players from eight states along the east coast
from Florida to New Jersey. In addition to five signees from Virginia, the
class also includes players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania (3), Maryland,
Florida, Georgia (2), Tennessee and North Carolina. The group consists of three
defensive linemen, three offensive linemen, three quarterbacks, two wide receivers,
two defensive backs and a linebacker.
Tailback
Keith McBride, a transfer from the Naval Academy, comes to campus with
four-years of eligibility remaining.
The
Tribe will come into 2011 season looking to defend its CAA Championship with a
total of 15 players (eight on offense/seven on defense) returning with starting
experience, including seven returning all-conference performers. W&M will look to continue to build on the
momentum of the last two seasons, which have seen it enter the NCAA
Championship field.
The Tribe's annual Green and Gold Spring Game will be held on April 16 in Zable
Stadium. W&M will open its season at
Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia on Sept. 3.
Name
|
Video |
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Wt. |
Hometown/High School |
Mikal
Abdul-Saboor
|
View |
QB |
5-10 |
214 |
Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta H.S. |
| Christian Brumbaugh |
View |
QB |
6-2 |
191 |
McDonald, Pa./South Fayette H.S. |
| Jasper Coleman |
View |
DL |
6-3 |
271 |
Richmond, Va./James River H.S. |
| Nick Easter |
View |
OL |
6-3 |
286 |
Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge H.S. |
| Zack Fetters |
View |
QB/ATH |
6-2 |
195 |
Montgomery Village, Md./Gaithersburg H.S. |
| Braxton Hicks |
View |
DE |
6-3 |
215 |
Charlotte, N.C./Phillip O'Berry Academy |
| DeAndre Houston-Carson |
View |
DB |
6-0 |
171 |
Woodford, Va./Massaponax H.S. |
| Anthony Johnson |
View |
WR |
6-1 |
167 |
Fredericksburg, Va./Mountain View H.S. |
| Andrew Jones |
View |
OL |
6-1 |
270 |
Naples, Fla./Naples H.S. |
| Keith McBride |
View |
RB |
5-11 |
210 |
Collierville, Tenn./Memphis University School (Navy) |
| Tre McBride |
View |
WR |
6-0 |
184 |
McDonough, Ga./Ola H.S. |
| Lou Petrocelli |
View |
OL |
6-3 |
305 |
Norwood, N.J./Old Tappan H.S. |
| Luke Rhodes |
View |
LB |
6-2 |
225 |
Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area H.S. |
| Jared Templeton |
View |
DL |
6-3 |
284 |
Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone Area H.S. |
| Jared Velasquez |
View |
DB |
6-0 |
195 |
Fairfax, Va./Robinson H.S. |
A biographical sketch of each
student-athlete follows:
Mikal Abdul-Saboor
Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta
High School
Quarterback
5-10, 214
Head Coach: Jason Dukes
Video Highlights
Prep: Earned first-team all-region honors in 2010 ... A
dual-threat quarterback who was selected as his team's offensive MVP in 2008
... Honorable mention all-state among 5A players ... Had 1,052 rushing yards
and 16 TDs and passed for an additional 2,100 yards and 19TDs as a senior ... His
3,152 total yards and 35 combined TDs set school records ... Also a three-year lettermen
of the basketball team and was honored as the team's MVP in 2008 ... Earned a
letter on the track team as a sprinter ... Personal
Son of Mikal and Andrea Abdul Saboor ... A four-time scholar-athlete award winner
at Alpharetta High School.
Christian Brumbaugh
McDonald, Pa./South Fayette
High School
Quarterback
6-2, 191
Head Coach: Joe Rossi
Video Highlights
Prep: Finished his career as the
Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League's (WPIAL) all-time passing
leader with 7,164 career yards ... Also threw 72 touchdown passes during his career
... Led South Fayette to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons as a junior
and a senior and was selected to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous All 22 Team
both seasons ... Set the WPIAL single-season records for passing yards
(3,726) and touchdown passes (52) as a senior en route to leading his team to
the WPIAL AA Championship at Heinz Field, home of the Steelers ... Set a PIAA
playoff record with six touchdown passes in a playoff game ... WPIAAL AA Player
of the Year (2010) ... Honored as the Washington
(Pa.) Observer Reporter High
School Player of the Year in 2010 ... Two-time all-state selection (2009-10) ...
Two-time first-team All-Century Conference selection and league MVP (2009-10) ...
Selected team captain as both a junior and a senior ... Led team to 27-2 combined
record last two years in program ... Completed 237-of-367 attempts for 3,762
yards, with 52 TDs and just eight interceptions as a senior ... Also was a starting
forward on the South Fayette High basketball squad that won PIAA State
Championship (2009) ... Personal: Son
of Randy and Maria Brumbaugh ... Member of Teen Institute, National Honor
Society and Highest Honor Roll ... Served as FBLA Secretary.
Jasper Coleman
Richmond, Va./James River High
School
Defensive Lineman
6-3, 271
Head Coach: Greg DeFrancesco
Video Highlights
Prep: Two-year letterwinner for
coach Greg DeFrancesco at James River High School ... Earned first-team all-district honors as a senior ... Garnered
honorable mention all-region distinction in 2010 ... Member of the 2010
James River track and field team...Was the 2010 Dominion District shot put
champion in indoor track ... Won the district discuss title in outdoor track ... Rated
as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com ... Personal:
Son of Casper Coleman Sr. and Yolanda Coleman.
Nick Easter
Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge High
School
Offensive Lineman
6-3, 286
Head Coach: Bill Brown
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year starting offensive
lineman for head coach Bill Brown at Colonial Forge High
School ... Earned all-district and all-region honors as a senior ... Also
garnered all-area distinction from the Free
Lance Star in 2010 ... Chosen to the all-district and all-region teams
as a junior ... Served as a team captain ... Personal: Son of Jeff and Susan Easter.
Zack Fetters
Montgomery Village,
Md./Gaithersburg High School
Quarterback/Athlete
6'2, 195
Head Coach: Kreg Kephart
Video Highlights
Prep: Named the Maryland Old Spice High School Football
Player of the Year in 2010 ... 2010 Washington
Post and Gazette Newspaper's Player of the Year... Selected to the 2010 Washington Post All-Metropolitan First
Team as a safety ... Earned first-team all-state honors as a senior ... Earned all-conference
and all-county honors as a senior... Led team to Maryland 4A West Region title ...
As a senior at Gaithersburg High School, he threw for more than 2,000 yards and
rushed for more than 600 yards ... Accounted for 41 touchdowns as a senior ... Also
recorded 10 interceptions while playing safety in 2010 ... Selected to the 2010
Maryland Crab Bowl All Star Game ... Standout performer in track and field ... Was
the 2010 Maryland 4A State indoor high jump champion ... Also the starting center
fielder on the GHS baseball team... Personal:
Son of Denise Huttenlocker and Mike Fetters ... Member of the Spanish Honors
Society... Member of Brothers, which is a local youth mentoring program ... Both
parents attended William & Mary.
Braxton Hicks
Charlotte, N.C./Phillip
O'Berry Academy
Defensive End
6'3, 215
Head Coach: Andrew Howard
Video Highlights
Prep: Earned all-conference honors
in 2010 and 2009 ... Was an All-Mecklenburg County selection in 2010 ... Elected as
a team captain for his senior year ... Recorded 19 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks
and three forced fumbles in 2010 ... A four-year letterwinner in basketball ... Also
a two-year letterwinner in track ...
Personal: Son of Cynthia and James Hicks ... Member of the National Society
for High School Scholars ... Member of the Spanish Honor Society.
DeAndre Houston-Carson
Woodford, Va./Massaponax High
School
Defensive Back
6-1, 171
Head Coach: Eric Ludden
Video Highlights
Prep: Chosen to the All-Commonwealth
District First Team as a defensive back and a running back in 2010 ... 2010 All-Northwest
Region defensive back... Garnered all-area accolades from the Free Lance-Star as a senior...2010
Massaponax High School Football Offensive Player of the Year ... Rushed for 1,000
yards during senior season ... Personal:
Son of Sonny and Christina Carson.
Anthony Johnson
Fredericksburg, Va./Mountain
View High School
Wide Receiver
6-1, 167
Head Coach: Lou Sorrentino
Video Highlights
Prep: Earned first-team
All-Commonwealth District honors as a senior ... 2010 second-team all-region
selection...2010 Free Lance-Star
all-area first-team selection ... Totaled more than 600 yards receiving to go
along with 10 touchdown receptions as a senior ... Finished his career with 2,660
yards receiving and 27 touchdowns ... Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals
... Personal: Son of Willie and
Regina Johnson ... Will reunite with
former Mountain View teammate Jordan King, who is currently a member of the
Tribe football team.
Andrew Jones
Naples, Fla./Naples High
School
Offensive Lineman
6-1, 270
Head Coach: Bill Kramer
Video Highlights
Prep: Selected to the Naples Daily News All-Area Team in 2009
and 2010 ... FACA District 16 First-Team selection in 2009 and 2010 ... Chosen
to the All-Collier County Athletic Conference Team in 2009 and 2010 ... A
two-year letterwinner on the track team as a thrower ... Personal: Son of Paul and Susan Jones.
Keith McBride
Collierville, Tenn./Memphis
University School (Navy)
Running Back
6-0, 210
Head Coach: Bobby Alston
Video Highlights
At Navy: Redshirted ... Prep: A
2010 graduate of Memphis University School, McBride earned letters in football
(three) and track & field (three) ... His high school football team posted
a combined 26-0 record over his final two seasons, winning state titles ... A
two-time all-county running back, he served as the team captain his senior year
... Track team won the state title in 2009 ... claimed the 200 meter crown at
the state championship with a time of 21.9 ... Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com ... Personal: Full
name is Keith Bernard McBride II ... Son of Keith and Geraldine McBride.
Tre McBride
McDonough, Ga./Ola High School
Wide Receiver
6-0, 184
Head Coach: John Kovzel
Video Highlights
Prep: Three-year varsity starter for
head coach John Kovzel at Ola High School ... A talented playmaker with
great ball skills, he recorded more than 1,500 all-purpose yards as a senior
... Finished the 2010 season averaging 9.8 yards per carry and more than 25
yards per reception with 10 touchdowns ... Garnered all-region accolades in
2010 for the second consecutive year ... Selected All-Southern Crescent
... Named to the Southern Crescent Top 12 Most Wanted Football Recruits
... Earned the Mustang Scholar-Athlete Award and was chosen as the OHS
Offensive Player of the Year ... Totaled 1,000 all-purpose yards with seven
touchdowns as a junior ... Averaged more than 8.5 yards per carry and more than
20 yards per reception ... Garnered all-region honors in 2009 ... Selected as
the 2009 OHS Athlete of the Year ... Following his junior year, he posted an
outstanding performance at the National Underclassman Combine (NUC) and Rivals
combine in Atlanta where he earned MVP honors for wide receivers ... Also
lettered in basketball and track ... Team's leading scorer during the
Georgia State basketball playoffs ... An outstanding student, he ranked in
the top 5 percent of his senior class ... A Georgia Merit Scholarship winner
and a Distinguished Honor Roll Student ... First chair trumpet player for
the OHS concert band ... Personal: Son
of Douglas and Pamela McBride.
Lou Petrocelli
Norwood, N.J./Old Tappan High
School
Offensive Lineman
6'3, 305
Head Coach: Bryan Dunn
Video Highlights
Prep:. Helped Old Tappan High to an
appearance in the New Jersey North 1 Group 3 State Title Game ... 2010 All-Bergen
County First Team ... Two-time first-team NBIAL ... 2010 All-Group 3 Second Team ...
NUC Offensive Lineman MVP ... NUC Ultimate 100 Camp East Offensive Lineman MVP ... Member
of the track and field team and throws the shot put and discuss ... Personal: Son of Laura and Jimmy
Petrocelli.
Luke Rhodes
Hollidaysburg,
Pa./Hollidaysburg Area High School
Linebacker
6-2, 225
Head Coach: John Barton
Video Highlights
Prep: Chosen to the Pennsylvania
Sports Writers Class 3A All-State Second Team in 2010 ... 2010 WPIAL All-Keystone
Conference selection ... Second-team all-state honoree as a junior ... All Mountain
Athletic Conference selection as a junior ... Named to the All-Mountain Athletic
Conference as sophomore ... Also four-year letterman of the Hollidaysburg Area
High School basketball team ... Personal:
Son of Doug and Margaret Rhodes ... Father, Doug Rhodes played football at
Navy ... Cousin, Justin Gildea currently plays football at Temple.
Jared Templeton
Tyron, Pa./Tyrone Area High
School
Defensive Lineman
6-3, 284
Head Coach: John Franco
Video Highlights
Prep: Four-year letterwinner for head coach John Franco at
Tyrone Area High School ... An all-state selection as a defensive lineman in 2010
...Was a member of the Altoona Mirror
All-Area Team and chosen as the 2010 All-Area Player of the Year
... Garnered Mountain League Nittany Division first-team honors as a
defensive and offensive lineman in 2010 ... Helped his team post a 12-1
record and advance to the District 5&6 championship as a senior ... As a
junior, he earned second-team all-state honors as a defensive lineman ... All-Conference
selection as an offensive and defensive lineman during his junior year ...
Standout place-kicker who earned second-team all-conference honors as a senior ...Three
year letterwinner for the TAHS basketball team ... Second-team all-conference
basketball selection during his junior season ... Two year letterwinner on the TAHS
baseball team as a pitcher... Personal:
Son of Todd and Judy Templeton.
Jared Velasquez
Fairfax, Va./Robinson High
School
Defensive Back
6-0, 195
Head Coach: Mark Bendorf
Video Highlights
Prep: Four-year letterwinner for
head coach Mark Bendorf at Robinson High School ... Honored as the Concorde
District Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... Garnered
first-team all-district honors as a defensive back, running back and kick
returner in 2010 ... Chosen as the 2010 Northern Region Defensive Player of
the Year ... Earned first-team all-region distinction as a running back and
a defensive back ... Named to the All-Met First-Team as a defensive back
... Also earned first-team all-state honors as a defensive back in 2010
... Won the Rams Booster Award ... A 2011 Fairfax Football Hall of Fame
recipient ... Named to the first-team all-district team as a defensive back,
running back and kick returner as a junior ... Earned second-team all-region
distinction as a defensive back and utility player in 2009, while garnering
honorable mention accolades as a running back and kick returner ... Chosen
as RHS Rookie of the Year as a sophomore ... Ranked as the 76th best safety
prospect by ESPN.com Scouts ... Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com ...
Four-year letterwinner on the baseball team as a centerfielder ... Earned
first-team all-district honors as a junior ... Personal: Son of Jorge and Tammy Velasquez ... Grandfather, John
T. Rudd, is a member of the LA College Hall of Fame and played for the New York
Giants ... Uncle, John R. Rudd, played basketball at McNeese State and for
the New York Knicks.
