ODU signees flash their potential at all-star game

By Amber Kuehn

HAMPTON

The East roster in Friday night's Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star football game was loaded with talent: Virginia Tech signees, Norfolk State signees, Old Dominion 2009 recruits.

The West prevailed 7-0; receiver Derrick McCoy caught a 17-yard pass from Cedric Mitchell halfway through the second quarter for the lone touchdown. McCoy was one of five players in the game headed to Virginia Tech in the fall.

The final score tied the second lowest-scoring game since the event started 36 years ago.

For ODU fans, Friday night's game offered a glimpse of what's to come in 2009.

Gloucester quarterback Tommy Reamon Jr. and Phoebus receiver Reid Evans played for the East and are signed to play for the Monarchs. Reamon, who was also recruited by Buffalo, East Carolina, Missouri and South Florida, said he wanted to play on ODU's first football team in 69 years.

"I chose ODU over some big schools and people used to wonder why," said Reamon, who threw for 2,441 yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons at Gloucester. "It just boiled down to the whole experience. Fifty years from now, people are going to look back and remember us - and that's going to mean a lot."

Reamon entered the game halfway through the first quarter and again late in the third. Although he struggled with some passes, he was quick on his feet. On 3rd-and-16, he avoided being brought down and picked up 17 yards on a quarterback keeper. Reamon picked up rushing yards on seven different occasions - including two key first downs - proving worthy of his ranking as one of the top 25 dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation.

Evans, who caught 68 passes for 1,135 yards this past season to set a school record at Phoebus, had a few touches during the game. Virginia Tech-bound quarterback Ju-Ju Clayton connected with Evans on the first play to pick up 40 yards.

Both players said it was strange knowing the all-star game would be their last competition for awhile.

"Guys, when they redshirt, their team is still playing games," Reamon said. "We're going to be sitting around all year, just practicing and stuff. But in '09, we're going to be ready to go."

Evans views the break as a chance to lift weights to become bigger and work on increasing his speed. But the all-star game was all about having fun and meeting new people, as well as building chemistry with future teammates.

"When you play teams in your district, you're playing against the enemy," he said. "All the good players you play against - and then the next thing you know they put all of you together... it's crazy. I know it's a blessing to be in this game."

Although he would have liked to have been on the winning side, Reamon said the plaque he received for participating is going to be in good company.

"We have plaques from teams Aaron Brooks and Michael and Marcus Vick led hanging on our wall," said Reamon, whose father coached all three quarterbacks. "Now I can finally put mine up there."