by Jay Parchman, recruit757
JMU Signee Rhakeem Stallings (Photo: Andy Hilton/recruit757)
Old Dominion’s return to the gridiron in 2009 after a 60+ year absence might have made JMU’s recruiting suffer. The reasoning behind that school of thought was that the Dukes’ pipeline to 757 players would decline, perhaps rapidly. Not so fast….
Though JMU may not quite ink the volume from the region that they acquired five years ago, their quality has not suffered at all. They’re attracting quality players from Southeastern Virginia and nationwide. The Sports Network has rated the Dukes’ 2012 class as best at the FCS level.
Included in the 14-man signing class are three local players.
Kwe’Shon Williams was the key player in perhaps the most dramatic turnaround in 2011. The Norview Pilots went through a coaching change during the season of 2010 leading to a winless campaign. The Pilots rebounded last fall and Williams earned Second Team All-Eastern District on defense. Williams had three interceptions and two fumbles forced on the defensive side of the ball.
His achievement was no less of an impact an offense from the Quarterback position. He was a natural at quarterback in Greg Gibson’s option offense and he rushed for 376 yards along with four touchdowns. From the air, he added 1,171 yards and 16 TDs with a scorching 65% completion rate. Williams projects to play cornerback in Harrisonburg, but with his athletic ability, he’ll provide much flexibility for the JMU coaching staff.
A Peninsula talent heading to Northern Virginia is the Bay Rivers District’s Defensive Player of the Year, Dylan Stallings. At 6-4, Stallings was a two-way starter who had numerous scholarship offers including FBS member Marshall University. Among his defensive statistics were 12 sacks, 32 stops for loss and more than 70 tackles despite often facing double team efforts.
On the offensive side, Stallings caught 22 passes and four TDs from the Tight End position.
The Dukes landed another 757 talent with multiple FBS offers in Rhakeem Stallings of the Division 6 state Champions, Oscar F. Smith High School.
Due to his output as a Junior with 78 tackles including 12 sacks, Stallings entertained pre-season offers from Ball State, Florida Atlantic, Massachusetts, and Western Michigan as well as hometown ODU.
He followed with an even higher tackle amount of 105 for 2011 including five forced fumbles and ten sacks.
The JMU/ODU game has been placed on the schedule to be the season ending rivalry for the two schools. When dozens of locals line up on each side of the ball each Autumn, familiarity will only add to the intensity of the rivalry.
- Jay Parchman
