Football recruiting: Whaley, Dunn, Davis among undecided

The high school football season is over in South Hampton Roads, but a host of the area’s star players are still undecided about their college plans.

Many are headed for official college recruiting visits with National Signing Day about two months away.

Among the top players who have not yet committed are Salem’s Kevin Whaley and Ocean Lakes’ Marcus Davis and Randall Dunn. That trio of Beach District stars all visited Connecticut on Dec. 1.

Davis’ assessment: “It was cold.”

Whaley, a 5-11, 175-pound running back and the all-time leading rusher in South Hampton Roads, said he doesn’t have any other visits planned at this point, but he’s likely to take one more before the holidays and then others in January.

“I’m still kind of open,” said Whaley, whose offers include Connecticut, Penn State, Maryland and Marshall.

Davis, meanwhile, was scheduled to visit Penn State this past weekend, and has a trip to Virginia Tech on Dec. 19. Dunn is slated to join Davis for the visit to Blacksburg.

Both Ocean Lakes players also plan to visit North Carolina after the New Year, and Dunn, a wide receiver, is contemplating a trip to Penn State.

Davis, 6-5 and 225 pounds, expected to spend this season at wide receiver, but was moved to quarterback after an injury to starter Dan Pitts in preseason and accounted for nearly 2,700 yards of total offense. Suitors for Davis, who said most schools view him as a quarterback, include Florida, Virginia Tech and Penn State.

Dunn, a 6-3, 215-pounder who had played only five games prior to this season, could be the biggest catch. This past season, he had 35 receptions for 809 yards and 13 touchdowns. His offers include Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Others still mulling college offers include Bayside receiver/defensive back Marquel Thomas, Great Bridge quarterback Casey Turner, Western Branch running back Hykeem Brodie and Deep Creek’s Devin Arrington.

Thomas finished second in South Hampton Roads in receiving with 47 receptions for 919 yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season.

Turner finished his career as the most prolific passer in South Hampton Roads history. Turner has offers from Liberty and Ohio University. But he recently said Hawaii, Purdue and North Carolina have also expressed interest.

Brodie, who rushed for 1,281 yards and 14 TDs this season, said he doesn’t have any offers right now but expects that to change over the next couple of weeks.

Some other players to watch include, Kellam running back Javon Boddie, Maury lineman Travis Branche, Salem defensive back Tyheem Lawton, Lake Taylor defensive back Lenny Paiva and Ocean Lakes defensive back T.J. Cowart.

Among the players from the Class of 2008 who  already have committed: Maury lineman Vinston Painter (Virginia Tech), Bayside quarterback E.J. Manuel (Florida State), Oscar Smith receivers Todd Harrelson (North Carolina) and Kerry Boykins (Maryland), Norview lineman Klinton Ruff (Virginia), Landstown’s Xavier Boyce (Virginia Tech), First Colonial running back Tony Gregory (Virginia Tech) and Salem lineman Lyndell Gibson (Virginia Tech).