Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Northwest and Seneca Valley High Schools have announced the college destinations of several of their recent football-playing graduates.
Seneca Valley will send two members of its 2008 state semifinalist team to Division I-A programs. Free safety Xavier Hughes will attend Ohio University on scholarship, while cornerback Joe Rankin will attend the University of Louisville (Ky.) as a preferred walk-on.
At the Division I-AA level, strong safety Keon Hester (Howard University) will play on scholarship, while linebackers Thomas Best (Delaware State) and Ryan Phillips (Towson University) will compete as walk-ons.
A third linebacker, Kenton Powell, has a scholarship waiting for him at the University of Massachussetts after a year at Hyde Prep.
Quarterback George Lerch (Chowan University), offensive lineman Cody Walko (Shepherd University), and receivers Mark Henderson and King Yassara (East Stroudsburg University) earned Division II scholarships. Defensive lineman Mongar Pratt is a preferred walk-on at West Virginia State University.
Six members of Northwest's Class of 2009 will play in college, headlined by University of Maryland scholarship linebacker Marcus Whitfield.
Free safety Aaron Greene (Ohio Dominican University) and athlete Ashton Foster (Benedict, S.C. College) earned scholarships at the Division II level.
Defensive lineman Drew Cheripko spurned Division I scholarship offers from Eastern Michigan, Towson and Old Dominion Universities, according to former head coach Andrew Fields, in favor of a year at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy and another recruiting go-round next year.
Offensive lineman Brandon Myers will walk on at Division I-AA Texas Southern University. Wide receiver Marcel Bright will compete at the Division III level, at Wesley (Del.) College.
In addition, 2008 Northwest graduate Joseph Boateng, a wide receiver and defensive back, has also made a college decision. Boateng signed a full scholarship offer from Division I-AA The Citadel (S.C.)