sorry, i don't have a link. got it from caazone. seems like Mickey likes tall D-ends (who doesn't?), we'll see if that's where he ends up playing. i would assume so, but who really knows for sure at this point.
----------------

JMU Beats ACC Schools For D-End Posted 2009-02-02

By Mike Barber

HARRISONBURG - Just two days before players are allowed to start signing letters of intent, James Madison has landed one of its most sought-after football recruits: Fairfax senior defensive end Jordan Stanton.

Stanton verbally committed to JMU after spurning offers from a pair of ACC schools, Boston College and Maryland, his coach said Monday.

"We talked this morning and then he notified all the schools in contention," Robinson High School coach Mark Bendorf said. "He took an official at Boston College this weekend and he decided not to visit Maryland. He said he wanted to make his commitment."

The Eagles and Terrapins extended scholarship offers at the end of January. Still, Stanton chose the Division I-AA Dukes, passing on a chance to play I-A football.

"It's unusual. It's very unusual," Bendorf said. "I'm going to give JMU some credit here. They offered him in July. And really, they didn't have a whole lot to go on other than what they saw as an upside."

Bendorf said Stanton didn't play organized football until his junior year, but impressed college recruiters with his improvement and his showing at summer camps at Virginia and Virginia Tech. That was when JMU first offered him a scholarship.

The 6-foot-4, 242-pounder runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds.

"He was real green when he came to us," Bendorf said. "He's made tremendous strides. I wish I had another year with him."

Stanton, who could not be reached for comment Monday, had 83 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and one blocked punt for Robinson, which went 5-5. He was named second-team All-Group AAA by the Associated Press.

JMU also added a commitment from Chantilly's Jordan Anderson, a 6-1, 200-pound running back from Westfield High School.

Like Stanton, Bendorf said, Anderson had a big senior year to get on college's radars.

"His junior year was at Annandale and he had a solid year," said Bendorf, whose team faced Anderson this year in district play. "Then he went to Westfield and had a breakout year. He had a very good year here and he was one of the better backs in this area."

JMU now has received oral commitments from 13 recruits: Anderson, Stanton, wide receiver Leavander Jones of Atlantic City (N.J.) High School, tight end/defensive end Sean O'Neill of River Dell High in Oradell, N.J., quarterback Dae'Quan Scott of R.E. Lee High [jmufan999's opinion: he will be a stud in a few years], running back Daniel Allen of Stone Bridge High in Ashburn, linebacker Adrian Cavanaugh of Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, quarterback Jakari Jackson of Tuscarora High in Frederick, Md., tight end Matt Krout of Riverbend High in Fredericksburg, wide receiver Renard Robinson of Baltimore's Mt. St. Joseph, tight end Jonathan Sharp of Fork Union Military Academy, linebacker Stephon Robertson of Thomas A. Edison High in Alexandria and linebacker Tyler Snow of William Byrd High in Vinton.

Madison also has added a pair of I-A transfers: Army defensive end Nick Emmons and Marshall cornerback Ryan Smith. Emmons, Smith and Sharp are all enrolled at JMU this semester and will take part in spring practice.

JMU coach Mickey Matthews said Monday the Dukes plan to add about 20 new players - both high school seniors and transfers - this recruiting period.

National signing day is Wednesday.