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JMU ANNOUNCES 2008 FOOTBALL SIGNINGS
2/6/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va., Feb. 7, 2008 – James Madison University football coach Mickey Matthews has announced that 14 players have signed JMU football scholarship offers during the NCAA's 2008 football signing period.
The Dukes' recruiting list includes eight players from Virginia, four from Maryland, one from North Carolina and one from Pennsylvania.
Of the 14, two currently are enrolled at JMU. One of those was a spring 2007 high school graduate who did not enroll in college for the 2007 fall semester, and the other played at the prep school level during the 2007 season. Three others who played during the 2007 season in a prep school program and nine current scholastic seniors are among the other signees.
"We said that last year's recruiting class was the best that we've had, and I don't think there's any question that we topped it this year," Matthews said of JMU's signees. "Because of our facilities, we continue to improve our talent level. We recruited very well, and our percentage was very high on the players we offered scholarships and who we signed.
"The No. 1 thing we needed to do was sign a quarterback, and I think Justin Thorpe is a guy who is going to be great player," Matthews said. "The No. 2 thing we needed to do was get linebackers. We signed three linebackers who really help that position."
Thorpe played scholastically at the Richmond area's Varina High School. Among the players the JMU staff projects as potential linebackers are Courtland High School's Aaron Harper, who also could be used as a running back, Fork Union Military Academy's Josh Johnson and Jamie Veney, and Northwest (Md.) High School's Chase Williams.
The Fork Union signess are among four from the school signing with the Dukes, joining lineman Lue Akuak and defensive back Taveion Cuffee. Akuak enrolled for JMU's spring semester as did Landover, Md., running back Corwin Acker, a 2007 high school graduate, who did not enter college for the 2007 fall semester.
Other JMU signees include Stephens City tight end Brian Barlow, Mooresville, N.C., long snapper/tight end Chris Beaver, Linville offensive lineman Aaron Reed, Baltimore running back Lee Reynolds, Philadelphia offensive lineman Earl Watford, and Danville offensive lineman Richard Williams.
JMU is coming off an 8-4 season during which the Dukes competed in the NCAA playoffs for the third time during the last four seasons. JMU is 37-13 during the last four seasons, including winning a national championship in 2004, during that period.
The Dukes, who expect to return 16 starters from last season, will begin their spring practice period March 27 and play their spring game April 19.
JMU will open its 11-game 2008 schedule Aug. 30 at Football Championship Subdivision Duke. Four teams that played in last season's NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and three other teams that won six or more games a year ago also included on the schedule for the upcoming season.
JMU's 2008 Football Signees
Acker, Corwin – Fr. – RB – 5-10 – 199 – Landover, Md. – James Hubert Blake
Akuak, Lue – Fr. – DL/OL – 6-3 – 270 – Fort Belvoir, Va. – Hayfield/Fork Union
Barlow, Brian – Fr. – TE – 6-4 – 215 – Stephens City, Va. – Sherando
Beaver, Chris – Fr. – LS/TE – Mooresville, N.C. – Mooresville
Cuffee, Taveion – Fr. – DB – 5-11 – 180 – Virginia Beach, Va. – First Colonial/Fork Union
Harper, Aaron – Fr. – RB/LB – 6-2 – 228 – Fredericksburg, Va. – Courtland
Johnson, Josh – Fr. – LB – 6-2 – 220 – Forestville, Md – St. Johns/Fork Union
Reed, Aaron – Fr. – OL – 6-5 – 310 – Linville, Va. – Broadway
Reynolds, Lee – Fr.- RB – 5-10 – 190 – Baltimore, Md. – Baltimore Poly Tech
Thorpe, Justin – Fr. – QB – 6-2 – 208 – Richmond, Va. – Varina
Veney, Jamie – Fr. – LB – 6-3 – 215 – Kilmarnock, Va. – Lancaster/Fork Union
Watford, Earl – Fr. – OL – 6-5 – 275 – Philadelphia, Pa. – Simon Gratz
Williams, Chase – Fr. – LB – 5-11 – 215 – Gaithersburg, Md. – Northwest
Williams, Richard – Fr. – OL – 6-3 – 290 – Danville, Va. – George Washington
Corwin Acker
Freshman – RB – 5-10 – 199 – Landover, Md. – James Hubert Blake
Enrolled at JMU for the 2008 spring semester after being a spring 2007 high school graduate... ran for 1,258 yards and 13 touchdowns and compiled 2,107 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns in 2006 as a scholastic senior... first-team all-area by the Montgomery Sentinel, second-team all-area by the Montgomery Gazette and Washington Post all-area honorable mention... in 2005 ran for 1,081 yards and 11 touchdowns and compiled 1,573 all-purpose yards... team most valuable player and an all-county selection.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "After watching Corwin's film and evaluating him at our summer camp, I never thought we could sign him. He has tremendous natural ability in all areas and has excellent cutting ability and can accelerate."
Lue Akuak
Freshman – DL/OL – 6-3 – 270 – Fort Belvoir, Va. – Hayfield/Fork Union
Enrolled at JMU for the spring 2008 semester after playing in 2007 at Fork Union Military Academy... played scholastically at Hayfield High School.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "His best football is ahead of him. This guy has big, strong legs. He is really impressing our staff with his work ethic. Our offensive staff can't wait to watch him play this spring."
Brian Barlow
Freshman – TE – 6-4 – 215 – Stephens City, Va. – Sherando
First-team all-district, all-region and all-state tight end and first-team all-district and all-region defensive end as a senior on a Division 4 state runner-up team as a senior... had 29 receptions for 601 yards and six touchdowns and 85 tackles, including 8.5 sacks... as a junior had 20 receptions for 246 yards and two touchdowns and 49 tackles, including four sacks... listed among the state's top 100 2007 seniors by VirginiaPreps.com.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "We witnessed his athletic skills at our summer camp. He is a major college prospect at tight end or defensive end. Brian is a great student with a great future ahead of him."
Chris Beaver
Freshman – LS/TE – 6-2 – 235 – Mooresville, N.C. - Mooresville
Team captain and an all-county selection as a tight end as a senior... had 14 receptions for 181 yards... baseball standout who has received all-conference recognition.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "Chris came to our summer camp and his deep snaps were timed faster than anyone we presently had on our roster. He is a big kid who has the capability to be a four-year starter for us and could also help at other positions."
Taveion Cuffee
Freshman – DB – 5-11 – 180 – Virginia Beach, Va. – First Colonial/Fork Union
Played in 2007 at Fork Union Military Academy and previously at First Colonial High School... in 2006 as a scholastic senior was first-team all-district, all-region and all-state... had 54 tackles and three interceptions... played scholastically with 2007 JMU signee Pat Williams.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "We've been recruiting Taveion for two years. He was a high school teammate of our own Pat Williams. Taveion has excellent cover skills and good ball skills. He has superior hips and has all the characteristics of a great corner."
Aaron Harper
Freshman – RB/LB – 6-2 – 228 – Fredericksburg, Va. – Courtland
First-team all-area, all-district, all-region and all-state at defensive end as a scholastic senior... three-year starter and a team most valuable player... member of four district title teams... credited with 65 tackles, seven stops for loss, two caused fumbles, four quarterback sacks and eight quarterback hurries as a senior... ran for 690 yards and eight touchdowns... averaged 8.4 yards per rushing attempt... listed among the state's top 100 2007 seniors by VirginiaPreps.com.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "Aaron played high school running back at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds. We will look at him at running back, linebacker or maybe defensive end. He is a tremendous prospect at all these positions. He is another excellent student who was heavily recruited by top academic institutions."
Josh Johnson
Freshman – LB – 6-2 – 220 – Forestville, Md. – St. Johns/Fork Union
Played in 2007 as a quarterback at Fork Union Military Academy and previously at St. Johns (Md.) Prep... as a scholastic senior completed 125 of 218 passes (57.3 percent) for 1,943 yards... was first-team all-conference and second-team all-state.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "Josh played quarterback at Fork Union. We believe he can make the transition to linebacker. He has great size and ability and all the earmarks of a major college defensive player. Josh could get a look at safety, but we need help at linebacker, so he will probably start there."
Aaron Reed
Freshman – OL – 6-5 – 310 – Linville, Va. – Broadway
First-team all-district and all-region and second-team all-state in 2007 as a Broadway senior... listed among the state's top 100 2007 seniors by VirginiaPreps.com.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "Our staff thought he was the best offensive lineman prospect at our summer camp. He has excellent flexibility in his hips for good change of direction. We will look at him at tackle early in his career."
Lee Reynolds
Freshman – RB – 5-10 – 190 – Baltimore, Md. – Baltimore Poly Tech
All-metro and all-state as a senior... led his team in scoring and rushing and was No. 5 in the state in scoring... all-city and honorable mention all-state as a junior... team's rookie of the year and leading scorer as a sophomore.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "He is arguably the fastest kid in Maryland. At our summer camp he ran in high 4.3s. Lee is also a great student. There is no doubt he could become a tremendous threat."
Justin Thorpe
Freshman – QB – 6-2 – 208 – Richmond, Va. – Varina
Team most valuable player and first-team all-district, all-metro and all-region as a senior... area and Richmond Touchdown Club offensive player of the year... listed among the state's top 100 2007 seniors by VirginiaPreps.com.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "He was our No. 1 quarterback target from the time he attended our summer camp. He has a great arm and ran in the high 4.5s in the 40. We are thrilled to sign him."
Jamie Veney
Freshman – LB – 6-3 – 215 – Kilmarnock, Va. – Lancaster/Fork Union
Played in 2007 at Fork Union Military Academy and previously at Lancaster High School... first-team all-district, all-region and all-state as a scholastic senior... ran 123 times for 986 yards and had 20 receptions.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "We love this guy! He has superior physical size for a linebacker. He's been timed in the 4.4s in the 40. Jamie is a physically tough guy. We are fortunate he wanted to stay home; he turned down numerous BCS offers."
Earl Watford
Freshman – OT – 6-5 – 275 – Philadelphia, Pa. – Simon Gratz
First-team all-city selection as a Simon Gratz senior.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "When we watched his tape and saw the way he runs and his ability to change direction – and when we found out he is 6-foot-5, 265 pounds – as one can imagine, everyone got excited. He's another solid student. The sky is the limit for this guy."
Chase Williams
Freshman – LB – 5-11 – 215 – Gaithersburg, Md. – Northwest
As a scholastic senior was first-team all-county and second-team all-area by the Montgomery Sentinel, Montgomery Gazette and Washington Post... ran 107 times for 588 yards and seven touchdowns and had 64 tackles, including seven for loss and two quarterback sacks, four pass deflections, an interception and five forced fumbles... all-county and honorable mention all-area as a junior.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "When we watched Chase at our summer camp, it was easy to recognize his overall athleticism in all phases. On film, Chase is always around the ball and is continuously making tackles. In addition, he is a great student who will excel in the classroom at JMU."
Richard Williams
Freshman – OL – 6-3 – 290 – Danville, Va. – George Washington
First-team all-district, all-region and all-state at George Washington High School... team captain... listed among the state's top 100 2007 seniors by VirginiaPreps.com.
Coach Matthews' Comment: "Richard had an excellent shotgun snap at our summer camp. He has excellent lateral movement. With Scott Lemn being a senior, we needed a center and we feel very strongly about Richard."
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