No signings

Friday, Feb. 5, 2010

There were also no John Hancocks applied to college letters of intent in Calvert County on National Signing Day, making Charles County the only area within Southern Maryland that featured any hoopla on the highly anticipated holiday of sorts for high school senior recruits.

Seven Charles football players from Westlake, North Point and McDonough officially declared their intentions with college programs ranging from the NCAA Division I and II ranks. There are at least a handful more of Charles products that could be signing with colleges in the near future.

Calvert also promises to have at least eight signings to come, according to its football coaches.

For now, it appears that Leonardtown dual-sport standout Mark Bohanan is the only St. Mary's senior who could be extending his football career to the college level.

The Raiders lineman –– also the SMAC's top-ranked heavyweight wrestler –– has accepted a partial academic scholarship to Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore. Should Bohanan play football there, there is no athletic scholarship involved given Salisbury is a Division III college program.

Thus, without a football ride of any sort, Bohanan did not participate in the pomp and circumstance of inking his name to a letter of intent on National Signing Day.

"It's not set in stone that I'm playing football for Salisbury," said Bohanan, who would most likely be a defensive lineman there. "I've been in touch with the coach, and he said he wants me to play. But he's not positive about me playing there until their spring ball goes down and he sees what positions they have need in and if they actually do, in fact, need me.

"I'm really hopeful to play, because I enjoy playing football and I've been working hard to play over there."

Bohanan reiterated that only the possibility exists he could don a Salisbury uniform, as nothing is a given at this point.

"Mark will do a fantastic job for Salisbury," Leonardtown head coach Anthony Pratley said. "I am sure that he will make a big impact. He is a hard-working kid, that is extremely coachable and willing to go the extra mile to succeed. Mark is a great athlete for his size. He was the anchor of both the offensive and defensive lines for two seasons at Leonardtown."

The Raiders football frontman added, "His skills as a wrestler are just as impressive, but the most important factor of all is that he is a student-athlete and has tremendous character. He will excel at both academics and athletics at Salisbury, and I am very proud of him. He certainly has a bright future ahead."

Bohanan hopes to parlay his SMAC favorite status on the wrestling mat into placing at the regional and state tournaments in the upcoming postseason.

Westlake's Josh Alexander and Julian Blair signed for the highest-profile colleges of University of Connecticut and New Mexico, respectively, among the Charles players taking part in the festivities of National Signing Day.

Because Charles County schools were closed Wednesday due to snow, Alexander –– recruited at outside linebacker –– performed his signing at home. Blair, however, still went to Westlake with his parents to ink his name to a letter of intent to play defensive back at the next level.

Their Westlake teammates, Courtney Jarvis and Sean Garland, also signed. Jarvis will play defensive back for Lehigh of the Division I-AA ranks (now called Football Championship Subdivision), while defensive end Garland received a partial ride to Division II Bowie State.

National Signing Day also saw North Point defensive tackle Nico Washington make it official for Division I-AA Norfolk State in Virginia, while McDonough receivers DeVante Stamps and Javarrus King will continue their teammate and best-friend status at Division II Concord in West Virginia.

"I think that signing day is misleading," Pratley said. "Several of our players chose to forgo football opportunities for other scholarship possibilities or military service. I am extremely proud of our kids and the accomplishments that they make off the field."

"I really don't think it's a talent issue," he continued, for why Leonardtown nor St. Mary's had any players involved with National Signing Day. "I think it is an issue of perspective. Our program is excelling in the areas that we emphasize."

Soccer also takes part in National Signing Day. North Point forward Michelle Grozinsky signed with Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Westlake forward Amelia Tarlton would have also soaked in the day. But instead of taking an athletic scholarship with Division I Marist College, she chose to accept the school's academic offer. Tarlton will officially play for Marist's women's soccer team as a recruited walk-on given the scholarship route she is taking.

In football, Lackey running back/linebacker Herman Bowman will obtain preferential status in playing for Division I-AA Towson University after he received a full academic ride through a grant from the state. Bowman did not sign a letter of intent with Towson.

dcogle@somdnews.com