by Andy Hilton, recruit757
Kellam WR Chris Garner (Photo: Andy Hilton/recruit757)
Garner had a coming out party of sorts at the Virginia Beach Junior Rank Camp last May. With his height, Garner can out jump and out reach most defenders.
Zaller is a smaller lineman, but he had a determination to play college football. Jimmy managed to snare a spot at Division III Bridgewater while Garner will walk on at William and Mary.
Kellam coach Chris DeWitt gave us the scoop on both players and their commitments to play college ball.
“Chris’ commitment was a long process,” the coach commented. “He had a few official visits, and he just recently had his official visit to William and Mary. The day after that visit, he came by my classroom and told me that he was going to go to William and Mary.”
Chris is a great fit for W&M academically and he hit it off with Offensive Line Coach Bob Solderitch, who recruited Chris throughout the process. Garner had an early offer from Norfolk State and had interest from Navy, East Carolina and Stanford, among others.
“He wanted to go to an academic school,” said Coach DeWitt. “The deeper we got into it, the more football became an important part of what he was looking for.”
Currently Chris is more of a possession-type receiver. He’ll either bulk up and become a tight end, or he’ll have to develop more speed, and that’s tough to do. 6-6 wide receivers are tough to come by, and that’s what William and Mary treasured in Chris as a football player.
“He needs to be able to stretch the field for them. With a little more time away from basketball, and with more time in the weight room, Chris will be a little bit stronger in the hips and he might develop a little more explosiveness,” the coach explained.
Jimmy Zaller knew from the start that he wanted to play college football at a smaller school. Coach DeWitt did everything he could to help his lineman get there.
“Jimmy came to me right before the end of the season and told me that he’d really like to go to Bridgewater,” said DeWitt. “A lot of schools talked with him. He’s a solid football player. He’s always in the weight room. Jimmy’s going to do well wherever he goes. Bridgewater came in and talked with him and it all came together for him.”
Bridgewater secondary coach Peter Raeford recruited Zaller to the Shenandoah Valley school.
There are still other Knights looking to make commitments. Cornerback Jalen Nellum is closing in on a commitment to Christopher Newport. Linebacker Laurent Pinchinat is also considering CNU and Howard, while safety Kyle Porter is looking hard at the University of Virginia-Wise.
- Andy Hilton
