JMU Duke Dog
December 14th, 2005, 09:56 AM
Looks like JMU beat out Delaware for this QB recruit...
Dukes Nab Jersey QB
Keith McPherson was heavily recruited in Division I-AA.
By Mike Barber
The No. 1 need for James Madison’s 2006 football recruiting class was a quarterback. Coach Mickey Matthews can cross that off his holiday shopping list.
Ocean Township (N.J.) High School’s Keith McPherson, the Dukes’ top recruiting target this offseason, committed to JMU Tuesday night after a visit from Matthews and offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, McPherson said.
"It fits for me," McPherson, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound 17-year-old said Tuesday, just minutes after the two coaches left his central New Jersey home. "… I loved the stadium, loved the campus. It felt like a good fit."
McPherson said he had eight to 10 scholarship offers – the first coming from Hofstra – and was heavily recruited by most of the Atlantic 10. He also drew interest from Division I-A programs Maryland, Temple and Vanderbilt.
In the end, his decision came down to a pair of I-AA schools, JMU and Delaware. He unofficially visited both schools in the summer. Last weekend, McPherson and his mother took an official visit to JMU.
"This was my first one and last one," McPherson said of the visit to Harrisonburg. "I saw it in the summer and thought, ‘There’s no beating this place.’"
McPherson, who cancelled a scheduled official visit to Delaware next month to commit to Madison, led Ocean to the NJSIAA Group III championship, passing for two touchdowns and rushing for 139 yards in a 41-20 win over Nottingham.
For the year, he said he passed for about 500 yards while rushing for 600. He accounted for 18 touchdowns -- seven passing and 11 rushing -- despite missing two games early in the year with an injury.
McPherson said JMU’s 2004 Division I-AA national championship – along with the school’s impressive facilities – were key factors in his decision.
"That was big," McPherson said of the Dukes’ 13-2 title year. "I’m not even going to lie, I didn’t know much about them till they won. They were 7-4 this year and all the games they lost were close."
McPherson said he expects to most likely redshirt his first year with the Dukes, when incumbent starter Justin Rascati is a senior.
Rascati’s current backup, Rodney Landers, will be a redshirt sophomore next season.
"Whether I redshirt or not, I plan to be in the system -- having a crash-course year, make sure I have a good academic year, just settle in there," McPherson said.
Two L.C. Bird High School (Richmond) players, Eric McBride and Kevin Grayson, also orally committed to JMU over the weekend, a source said. Grayson, a 6-3, 200-pound wide receiver, and McBride, a 6-1, 205-pound linebacker, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
That brings to four the number of commitments JMU has received this recruiting season.
Offensive and defensive lineman Theo Sherman, a 6-4, 250-pounder out of Chatham High School, was the first commitment.
Matthews is not permitted under NCAA rules to publicly comment on players until he receives their signed letters of intent.
JMU has 15-20 scholarships to offer.
Dukes Nab Jersey QB
Keith McPherson was heavily recruited in Division I-AA.
By Mike Barber
The No. 1 need for James Madison’s 2006 football recruiting class was a quarterback. Coach Mickey Matthews can cross that off his holiday shopping list.
Ocean Township (N.J.) High School’s Keith McPherson, the Dukes’ top recruiting target this offseason, committed to JMU Tuesday night after a visit from Matthews and offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, McPherson said.
"It fits for me," McPherson, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound 17-year-old said Tuesday, just minutes after the two coaches left his central New Jersey home. "… I loved the stadium, loved the campus. It felt like a good fit."
McPherson said he had eight to 10 scholarship offers – the first coming from Hofstra – and was heavily recruited by most of the Atlantic 10. He also drew interest from Division I-A programs Maryland, Temple and Vanderbilt.
In the end, his decision came down to a pair of I-AA schools, JMU and Delaware. He unofficially visited both schools in the summer. Last weekend, McPherson and his mother took an official visit to JMU.
"This was my first one and last one," McPherson said of the visit to Harrisonburg. "I saw it in the summer and thought, ‘There’s no beating this place.’"
McPherson, who cancelled a scheduled official visit to Delaware next month to commit to Madison, led Ocean to the NJSIAA Group III championship, passing for two touchdowns and rushing for 139 yards in a 41-20 win over Nottingham.
For the year, he said he passed for about 500 yards while rushing for 600. He accounted for 18 touchdowns -- seven passing and 11 rushing -- despite missing two games early in the year with an injury.
McPherson said JMU’s 2004 Division I-AA national championship – along with the school’s impressive facilities – were key factors in his decision.
"That was big," McPherson said of the Dukes’ 13-2 title year. "I’m not even going to lie, I didn’t know much about them till they won. They were 7-4 this year and all the games they lost were close."
McPherson said he expects to most likely redshirt his first year with the Dukes, when incumbent starter Justin Rascati is a senior.
Rascati’s current backup, Rodney Landers, will be a redshirt sophomore next season.
"Whether I redshirt or not, I plan to be in the system -- having a crash-course year, make sure I have a good academic year, just settle in there," McPherson said.
Two L.C. Bird High School (Richmond) players, Eric McBride and Kevin Grayson, also orally committed to JMU over the weekend, a source said. Grayson, a 6-3, 200-pound wide receiver, and McBride, a 6-1, 205-pound linebacker, could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
That brings to four the number of commitments JMU has received this recruiting season.
Offensive and defensive lineman Theo Sherman, a 6-4, 250-pounder out of Chatham High School, was the first commitment.
Matthews is not permitted under NCAA rules to publicly comment on players until he receives their signed letters of intent.
JMU has 15-20 scholarships to offer.