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| DICK PRICE STADIUM CAMPUS - NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY |
NORFOLK, Virginia -- Pete Adrian believes this was one of the better years Virginia high schools have had developing Football Championship Subdivision talent.
The Norfolk State head coach is betting on it.
The Spartans' 2013 signing-day class of 18 players includes 17 from Virginia, including four from South Hampton Roads.
"We really wanted to hit it hard here first and go from there," Adrian said. "It happened to be one of the better years for the state, for our level, anyway. They're really good players."
Adrian said the majority of the players would be capable of competing for time immediately, especially on special teams. But he wasn't ready to anoint any of them game-changers.
"We've gotten bigger and more athletic with speed," Adrian said. "Seven or eight are going to be on special teams in Week 1. The only way they'll become players is to play. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who is ready to play; look at (Conley Smith) last year."
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2013 NSU Recruiting Class (html complete version)
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| HEAD COACH PETE ADRIAN NSU SPARTANS |
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown / Previous School | Highlights |
| Chris Alaniz | OL | 6-3 | 290 | Winchester, Va./James Wood HS | Click here |
| Jay Anderson | LB | 6-2 | 220 | Richmond, Va./L.C. Bird HS | |
| Marquis Brown | RB | 5-10 | 185 | Madison Heights, Va./Amherst Co. HS | Click here |
| James Church | WR | 6-1 | 200 | Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS | Click here |
| Shakeem Copeland | RB | 5-9 | 200 | Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field HS | Click here |
| Demetreus Ferebee | TE | 6-4 | 225 | Roanoke, Va./Northside HS | |
| Collin Frazer | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Woodbridge, Va./Alfred State CC | Click here |
| Harry Freeman | DB | 6-2 | 185 | Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS | |
| Donte Haynesworth | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover HS | Click here |
| Gabe Hollins | OL | 6-4 | 310 | Virginia Beach, Va./Cox HS | Click here |
| James Jones | DL | 6-4 | 295 | Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass HS | Click here |
| T.C. Livingston | LB | 6-3 | 190 | Suffolk, Va./King's Fork HS | Click here |
| Cameron Marouf | K/P | 5-10 | 180 | Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park HS | Click here |
| Jacob Mazgajewski | OL | 6-6 | 260 | Yorktown, Va./Grafton HS | Click here |
| Jonathan Okafor | LB | 6-3 | 215 | Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park HS | Click here |
| Leroy Parker | DB | 6-2 | 190 | Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS | |
| Jason Stewart | QB | 6-2 | 205 | Lorton, Va./Dodge City CC | Click here |
| Brandon Walker | DB | 6-3 | 200 | Richmond, Va./L.C. Bird HS | Click here |
PLAYER PROFILE
Chris Alaniz • OL • 6-3 • 290 Winchester, Va./James Wood HS High School: Was a two-time All-Northwest District, all-area and all-academic selection … played in the 2012 Chesapeake Bowl, an invitation-only all-star game pitting stars from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. against stars from New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware … three-year starter. Adrian on Alaniz: “Chris is a big, strong, mobile lineman. He plays with a good motor and is equally effective in pass protection and run blocking.”
Jay Anderson • LB • 6-2 • 220 Richmond, Va./L.C. Bird HS High School: A first-team All-State Group AAA pick by VirginiaPreps.com … first-team All-Metro selection by The Richmond Times Dispatch … was also named to the All-Dominion District and All-Central Region first teams … posted 86 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for the VHSL state Division 6 champions … forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles and broke up five passes … had three sacks in the state championship game. Adrian on Anderson: “Jay seems to be the perfect fit for our defensive at outside linebacker. He play standing up or with his hand down and we feel he will be a really good player for us.”
Marquis Brown • RB • 5-10 • 185 Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County HS
High School: First-team All-Seminole District and Lynchburg News & Advance All-Area ... also a second-team All-Region III selection … rushed 155 times for 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns … also caught one TD pass … had 20 runs of at least 20 yards and averaged over 8.0 yards per rush … ran one leg on Amherst's state Group AA indoor championship 4x400 relay team last year.
Adrian on Brown: “Marquis has great speed. He is a real break-away threat and has excellent quickness, as well.”
James Church • WR • 6-1 • 200
Virginia Beach, Va./Salem HS
High School: Named to the All-Beach District second team … caught 33 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns … also had offers from Hampton and VMI … ranked the No. 24 recruit in The Virginian-Pilot's top 50 rankings for South Hampton Roads.
Adrian on Church: “What really stands out about James is that his work ethic is second to none. He has great hands and catches everything thrown to him. We weren't necessarily looking to add a receiver to this class, but he was too good to pass up.”
Shakeem Copeland • RB • 5-9 • 200
Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field HS
High School: Rushed for 1,148 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … earned first-team All-Cardinal District honors … was fifth in the Northern Virginia area in rushing … also ran for 1,417 yards as a junior … earned MVP at the National Underclassmen Combine event in Richmond after his junior season.
Adrian on Copeland: “Shakeem is an outstanding back with good speed and vision, and he's a tough runner. He played most of his senior year with a pulled hamstring, but kept playing at both running back and outside linebacker. That shows that kind of toughness he has.”
Demetreus Ferebee • TE • 6-4 • 225
Roanoke, Va./Northside HS
High School: A first-team all-district and All-Region III selection on defense … also named to the all-state Group AA second team.
Adrian on Ferebee: “Demetreus could play outside linebacker for us down the road, but we feel he can push for time at tight end right away. He blocks and catches really well and should fit in well with what we want to do offensively.”
Collin Frazer • DB • 5-11 • 180
Woodbridge, Va./Alfred State CC (N.Y.)/Woodbridge HS
At Alfred State: First-team All-Region III selection as a defensive back and as a return specialist … led the team with three interceptions … added 50 tackles, seven pass break-ups, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery … on special teams, he accumulated 355 yards and two scores on punt returns (19.2 average) and 280 yards and one score on kick returns (23.3 average) … finished the season with five total touchdowns (three on special teams, one on defense and one receiving).
At Woodbridge HS: A 2009 second-team all-state Group AAA pick after amassing 83 total tackles for a 10-1 team … caught 24 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns, while also running the ball four times for 37 yards and going 4-for-4 passing for 46 yards and a pair of touchdowns on offense.
Adrian on Frazer: “Collin is an outstanding defensive back. He could play corner or safety for us because he has good cover skills and great makeup speed. He is also dangerous in the return game.”
Harry Freeman • DB/WR • 6-2 • 185
Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor HS
High School: A first-team All-Eastern District and second-team All-Eastern Region pick at wide receiver … caught 12 touchdown passes for the Titans, who won the state Group AAA Division 5 championship … amassed 26 catches for 575 yards (22.1 yards per catch) … also started at defensive back … son of NSU assistant track and field coach of the same name.
Adrian on Freeman: “Harry is a speed guy who can play either side of the ball. We'll look at him at safety first because of his great range. He may also help us in the return game.”
Donte Haynesworth • DB • 6-0 • 175
Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover HS
High School: Started at defensive back and receiver for the Hawks, who won the Central Region Division 5 championship and advanced to the state semifinals … named to the All-Capital District first team at both receiver and defensive back … also a second-team All-Metro and All-Central Region pick at receiver, Haynesworth caught 39 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns … recorded 52 tackles, six interceptions, eight pass breakups and one fumble recovery for a TD on defense … son of former NSU All-American DB Leroy Haynesworth.
Adrian on Haynesworth: “Donte has good cover skills and does a real nice job against the run. There were several other schools who really wanted him, so we feel fortunate that he chose to come to NSU.”
Gabe Hollins • OL • 6-4 • 310
Virginia Beach, Va./Cox HS
High School: A first-team All-Beach District and All-Tidewater selection by the Virginian-Pilot … also named to the All-Eastern Region second team by VirginiaPreps.com … started on both sides of the line in every game … helped Cox rush for nearly 2,000 yards in 10 games … ranked the No. 20 recruit in the Virginian-Pilot's top 50 rankings for South Hampton Roads.
Adrian on Hollins: “Gabe is a physical player who has a really good motor. I expect him to push for playing time right off the bat.”
James Jones • DL • 6-4 • 295
Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass HS
High School: First-team All-Seminole District selection … tallied 70 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles, three blocked kicks, two fumble recoveries and one interception … scored three defensive touchdowns … honorable mention all-region ... was second on the team in total tackles and was named the team's Defensive MVP.
Adrian on Jones: “We didn't have to add a defensive lineman in this class, but James really jumps off the film at you. He moves well and brings something to the party once he gets there.”
T.C. Livingston • LB • 6-3 • 190
Suffolk, Va./King's Fork HS
High School: First-team All-Southeastern District linebacker … also named to the All-Tidewater second team by The Virginian-Pilot … helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever berth in the Eastern Region playoffs.
Adrian on Livingston: “We really like T.C.'s athleticism and think he fits in well with our defensive scheme.”
Cameron Marouf • K/P • 5-10 • 180
Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park HS
High School: First-team All-Cardinal District punter as a senior … averaged 39 yards per punt … was 16-of-17 on extra point attempts and made three field goals.
Adrian on Marouf: “Cameron is well-rounded – he can punt, place-kick and kickoff very well. What I like about him is that he is calm under pressure and has only been kicking a couple of years. He has a bright future.”
Jacob Mazgajewski • OL • 6-6 • 260
Yorktown, Va./Grafton HS
High School: Received a two-star rating from the recruiting web site Scout.com … named to the All-Bay Rivers District second team on offense … started at both offensive tackle and defensive end.
Adrian on Mazgajewski: “Jacob could probably play either side of the ball for us. We think he will make an outstanding offensive tackle for us because he has long arms and is very athletic.”
Jonathan Okafor • LB • 6-3 • 215
Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park HS
High School: First-team All-Cardinal District after recording 19 sacks as a senior … tallied 26 total tackles for loss … also played tight end for Forest Park.
Adrian on Okafor: “Jonathan runs very well and fits into our “30” defense very well. He can rush the passer standing up or in a three-point stance.”
Leroy Parker • DB • 6-2 • 190
Miami, Fla./North Miami Beach HS
High School: A third-team All-Dade County pick by The Miami Herald … tallied 89 tackles and four interceptions on defense, two of which he returned for touchdowns … also caught 31 passes for 618 and eight touchdowns on offense … averaged 37 yards per kickoff return … a standout baseball player for the Chargers who has batted over .400 each of his first three seasons.
Adrian on Parker: “Leroy is an excellent athlete who could play safety or corner for us. He's the only out-of-state recruit we're taking right now with this class, because he is too good to pass up.”
Jason Stewart • QB • 6-2 • 205
Lorton, Va./Dodge City CC (Kan.)/Hayfield HS
Prior to NSU: Split time between quarterback and receiver in his one year at Dodge City … passed for 787 yards and three scores and also caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown … spent one post-graduate year at Hargrave Military Academy before enrolling at Dodge City … was an All-National District pick as a senior at Hayfield High, leading the Hawks to the North Region Division 5 championship game … has three years of eligibility remaining.
Adrian on Stewart: “Jason has a quick release, good feet and an excellent football mind. He has the arm to make all the throws, but also shows nice touch on his passes when it's needed.”
Brandon Walker • DB • 6-3 • 200
Richmond, Va./L.C. Bird HS
High School: A first-team All-Dominion District pick … also named to the district all-academic team … named to the Richmond Times Dispatch All-Metro and All-Central Region second teams … teamed with fellow NSU signee Jay Anderson to help L.C. Bird win the state Division 6 championship … had the game-clinching tackle on a fourth-and-1 play in the title game … tallied 92 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six interceptions and 10 pass deflections.
Adrian on Walker: “Brandon has good cover skills and rotates very well on defense. I expect for him to make a push for playing time right away.”
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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