A closer look at area football signees

National Signing Day is here, and the Fredericksburg area is well represented by football players signing with Division I schools.

Here is a closer look at the local players set to sign their names to letters of intent today.

JONATHAN BURTON

Position: Offensive tackle

Height: 6-7

Weight: 301

High school: Courtland and Fork Union Military Academy

College choice: Syracuse (Division I FBS)

The decision: After a standout career at Courtland, Burton needed a year to improve academically. He had no scholarship offers after an All-Area senior season with the Cougars. He spent last semester at Fork Union Military Academy and the Orange became the first program to offer him a scholarship. Burton was immediately sold on Syracuse. New coach Scott Shafer still wanted Burton after former head coach Doug Marrone departed for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. Burton enrolled at Syracuse last month.

High school career: Burton was one of the largest players the Fredericksburg-area has ever seen when he played for the Cougars. He earned all-Battlefield District and all-Region I honors as a junior and senior. He steadily improved throughout his career, and made more progress at Fork Union.

Quotable: “He’s a big, tall, physical kid,” Fork Union head coach John Shuman said. “He played very well at our right tackle spot. He was especially good as a downfield blocker.”

– Taft Coghill Jr.

JOEY FOSTER

Position: Cornerback

Height: 5-10

Weight: 170

High school: Massaponax

College choice: Harvard (Division I FCS)

The decision: Harvard was Foster’s No. 1 choice dating back to last summer, but he had to wait for his official acceptance into the Ivy League school. The Crimson doesn’t provide athletic scholarships, but Foster will have a healthy dose of his tuition covered with academic scholarship money.

High school highlights: One of the fastest players in the area, Foster was a big play threat at running back, cornerback and in the return game. He finished his career with 951 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground and also had 32 career receptions for 711 yards and five scores. He scored nine touchdowns as a senior, including eight on the ground.

Quotable: “Great people come in and out of that school,” Foster said of Harvard. “I love Boston. I love the city. That’s one thing. And obviously the education there is tops in the nation. … It kind of hit me the other day [I was going to play football at Harvard] when I was driving in the car. I was smiling the whole way home.”

– Nathan Warters

ALEX FIGUEROA

Position: Outside linebacker

Height:6-4

Weight: 226

High school: Brooke Point

College choice: Miami (Division I FBS)

The decision: Figueroa was considered a major college recruit early in his career at Brooke Point, but admittedly didn’t work hard in the classroom. He signed a national letter of intent with Division II Shepherd (W.Va.) last March, but changed his mind after he made a late comeback academically and his grades improved enough to qualify for a Division I scholarship. He planned to attend Fork Union to improve test scores, but backed out after he suffered a shoulder injury in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game in July. This past fall, Figueroa enrolled in SAT preparatory classes. Miami offered him a scholarship in December and he committed on the spot during an official visit. He enrolled in classes at Miami last month and has already started training with the Hurricanes.

High school career: Figueroa was a two-time Free Lance-Star All-Area performer on defense, but also served as a big target for the Black-Hawks’ offense as a wide receiver. He was best known as one of the hardest hitting and active defenders in the Commonwealth District. He earned Washington Post All-Met honors as a senior. Prior to his senior season, he was nominated for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was named the West team’s Most Valuable Player on defense at the VHSCA all-star game.

Quotable: “I know the fundamentals and everything, but I’m at my best when I let my instincts take over and I make plays,” Figueroa said. “So I’m going to try to bring that here. I’m also going to try to get a good education. I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity I have. It’s not just about football. It’s about being in school as well.”

–Taft Coghill Jr.

DAESEAN HAMILTON

Position: Wide receiver

Height:6-0

Weight: 182

High school: Mountain View

College choice: Penn State (Division I FBS)

The decision: Hamilton took his time on the recruiting trail. Many assumed he would pick Virginia Tech because of Mountain View’s affiliations with the school. But despite the Wildcats’ principal and athletic director being Virginia Tech alums and the school adopting the Hokies’ colors, Hamilton wasn’t influenced. He sorted through 12 Division I offers, and in December, he chose the last of the schools that requested his services.

High school career: Hamilton was one of the most prolific receivers in Fredericksburg-area history. His outstanding hands and body control helped him make numerous highlight-reel catches. He also possesses the strength to break tackles and the speed to escape for big plays. He suffered a broken collarbone at the end of the 2012 regular season but should be ready for fall practice at Penn State. He amassed 137 catches for 2,217 yards and 21 touchdowns the past two seasons.

Quotable: “I know Penn State is big on throwing in their pro-style offense,” Hamilton said. “I want to come in there and make a mark as a freshman. By the time I’m a junior I want to make a name for myself and put Penn State even bigger on the map.”

– Taft Coghill Jr.

CONNOR HILLAND

Position: Offensive guard

Height: 6-5

Weight: 295

High school: Brooke Point

College choice: William & Mary (Division I FCS)

The decision: Hilland, who committed in August, had scholarship offers from the Tribe, Richmond and Liberty and walk-on offers from Virginia and Maryland, but he said he couldn’t see himself playing anywhere but William & Mary.

High school highlights: Great pass protector who craves contact in the run game. Has quick feet and continues to get stronger as he prepares for the next level. Earned first-team all-Commonwealth District and all-Northwest Region honors in his senior season, during which he helped lead the Black-Hawks to their eighth straight playoff berth.

Quotable: “The coaching staff made me feel very welcome, and the education I would receive at William & Mary is unbelievable,” Hilland said. “The football program has been very good in years past, and I expect that in the future.”

– Nathan Warters

CHRIS HOLMES

Position: Safety

Height: 6-2

Weight: 187

High school: Chancellor

College choice: Duke (Division I FBS)

The decision: Holmes had 11 scholarship offers when he orally committed to N.C. State in July. He backed out of his commitment when the Wolfpack fired head coach Tom O’Brien at the end of a 7-5 season. Duke began recruiting Holmes after O’Brien’s dismissal and he committed to the Blue Devils on an official visit in late December.

High school career: Holmes was a first-team all-Battlefield District selection at wide receiver this past season, but he projects as a safety at the college level. He was a second-team all-district selection at defensive back in 2012, but has the prototypical size and speed for the safety position. He also has outstanding leaping ability. He was the district player of the year in basketball in 2011-12. He was also a standout sprinter and jumper for Chancellor’s track and field team.

Quotable: “We always looked for Chris to make the big play,” Chancellor head coach Bob Oliver said. “I think Duke can count on him to be a consistent player. As a safety, he has the ability to read defenses and know where the ball is going from his time playing receiver. He’s a student of the game, and I think he’ll put himself in position to make plays.”

–Taft Coghill Jr.

BRANDON RAVENEL

Position: Wide receiver

Height: 6-0

Weight: 170

High School: North Stafford

College choice: JMU (Division I FCS)

The decision: Ravenel fell in love with JMU the first time he stepped foot inside its football stadium as a high school freshman. He remained true to the Dukes, even as bigger schools like Boston College and West Virginia offered him scholarships. And he remained loyal to JMU after it went through a coaching staff shakeup in December.

High school highlights: Dangerous wide receiver and kick returner. He was a first-team all-state and all-region return man and finished his high school career with 133 receptions for 2,114 yards and 31 touchdowns. His 11 touchdown receptions in 2012 tied an area high.

Quotable: “I tell you, I’m going to work my tail off so I can [play right away],” Ravenel said. “I’ve never sat the bench and I don’t want to start to. I’m going to work my hardest to try and play, but if they have plans for me later in my college career and want to redshirt me then I’ll be fine with that.”

– Nathan Warters

AARON SANDERS

Position: Wide receiver

Height: 6-1

Weight: 180

High school: Brooke Point

College choice: VMI (Division I FCS)

The decision: Sanders committed to VMI during his official visit to the Lexington, Va., school in late January.

High school highlights: A two-way standout for the Black-Hawks, Sanders impacted games from his wide receiver and defensive back positions. He finished his career with 73 receptions for 1,228 yards and 15 touchdowns. One of Sanders’ best performances came in the 2012 regular-season finale against Mountain View when he scored four touchdowns — three receiving and one on a 59-yard interception return — to lead Brooke Point to a victory that clinched its eighth consecutive playoff berth.

Quotable: “I think they’re getting an under the radar, big home run for VMI. I think the world of Aaron Sanders, not only as a person but as a player,” Brooke Point coach Jeff Berry said. “He is very versatile. He’s a guy that if they miss on him in one area, if he doesn’t turn out to be the player they thought at one position, he can play two or three other ones. He is a phenomenal, versatile athlete. He’s one of the most important pieces of the team that I’ve ever coached, especially for somebody who didn’t get a lot of recognition publicly.”

– Nathan Warters

ANTHONY SHEGOG

Position: Strong safety

Height: 6-2

Weight: 205

High school: North Stafford

College choice: Virginia Tech (Division I FBS)

The decision: Shegog made quick work of the recruiting process, deciding on the Hokies back in March. He also had a scholarship offer from Virginia and no doubt would have been a hot commodity after a stellar season for the Wolverines.

High school highlights: Shegog scored 16 touchdowns, including two on defense and two on punt returns, racked up 1,111 total yards of offense, recorded 63 tackles, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, two interceptions and also blocked three extra point kicks en route to being named The Free Lance-Star’s All-Area player of the year in 2012. He was named first-team all-Commonwealth District, all-Northwest Region and all-state by the VHSCA.

Quotable: “To me, he’s the prototypical Tech defensive player, an athletic kid that’s long and rangy,” North Stafford football coach Joe Mangano said. “He may play safety and as he gets bigger, who knows, he may eventually be like [an outside] linebacker on defense.”

– Nathan Warters

DYQUAN STEWART

Position: Safety

Height: 5-10

Weight: 180

High school: Mountain View and Fork Union Military Academy

College choice: Ohio (Division I FBS)

The decision: Stewart orally committed to Temple before his senior season at Mountain View. He didn’t sign a national letter of intent with the Owls because he required a semester at Fork Union to improve academically. After Owls coach Steve Addazio was hired by Boston College, Stewart said there was no reason for him to go to Temple. Ohio began recruiting Stewart in November and he committed to the Bobcats the following month.

High school career: Stewart was a first-team all-Commonwealth District and All-Area selection as a senior at Mountain View. He was a versatile defender for the Wildcats as he played linebacker and safety. He recorded three interceptions for Fork Union last season. He enrolled in classes at Ohio last month and has started training with his teammates.

Quotable: “I feel like I’m going to be a good striker because they don’t have that many good hitters, tacklers on the team,” Stewart said. “So I feel like I can bring a punch to the defense. So far I love every bit of it. Workouts are great. The team is great. I love my teammates and the coaches are good, too. I think I’m going to have a good year here.”

–Taft Coghill Jr.

TROY WASHINGTON

Position: Outside linebacker

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

High school: Colonial Forge

College choice: Navy (Division I FBS)

The decision: Washington attended camps at Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech, but left without scholarship offers. He was also recruited by Richmond and William & Mary, but believed he was a backup option for those programs. He was offered a scholarship to play for perennial FCS power Montana, but turned it down because the school wasn’t a good fit for him. He was thrilled when the Midshipmen offered him an opportunity to play for them. He said it’s the perfect fit for him on and off the field. He was impressed by Navy’s schedule, which included contests against Notre Dame and Penn State in 2012. He said it was an added bonus that Navy is set to join the Big East in 2015.

High school career: Washington has been a key contributor for the Eagles the past three seasons. He was a first-team all-Commonwealth District and all-Northwest Region selection in 2012. He was second-team All-Area. He helped lead Colonial Forge to the Northwest Region, Division 6 championship game last season. Washington said he’s not a typical outside linebacker because of his coverage skills.

Quotable: “I know I’m a Division I player because I’ve gone against Division I players my whole career and done well,” Washington said. “I’ve had to cover DaeSean Hamilton, Brandon Ravenel and Tyus White. And in practice I had to cover [North Carolina cornerback and former teammate] Tim Scott. So I know what it takes and I believe I’m prepared.”

–Taft Coghill Jr.

TYUS WHITE

Position: Wide receiver

Height: 5-9

Weight: 160

High school: Brooke Point

College choice: North Carolina Central (Division I FCS)

The decision: Despite having one of the most prolific careers in VHSL history, White had to wait until the 11th hour to receive his only Division I scholarship offer. Several D-I schools showed interest, but NCCU was the first to offer him a scholarship Sunday during White’s official visit. White needed little time to accept.

High school highlights: White is in the top five of the VHSL’s record book in career receptions (198), career yards (3,048) and career touchdowns (41). He scored 24 touchdowns during his junior season and led the area with 77 catches for 1,270 yards last season while tying for the area lead with 11 touchdowns.

Quotable: “I’ll do whatever they want me to. If they want me to return kicks, I’m up for that,” White said. “They said they would put me at slot [receiver] and I have a really good chance of starting if I just put the work in. I’m going to put the work in, so you’ll be seeing me on Saturdays starting for them.”

– Nathan Warters

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