ODU adds Heritage High defender to fall commitments

Old Dominion landed a fall commitment from a fifth recruit, this one from Nate Barnes, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end from Heritage High in Newport News.

Barnes, who has played only two years of organized football, did enough in that short period of time to draw mild interest from Marshall, Notre Dame and Georgia, and serious interest from Norfolk State, Navy and Richmond.

"He was actually a volleyball, soccer and basketball guy," Heritage football coach Jason Robinson said. "His upside is pretty good. Once he zones in on football and settles down with that, I think he's going to be a special player."

Barnes joins Hampton High tailback Tron Martinez as Peninsula District players who have committed to ODU in the past two days.

Others to commit this fall include defensive end Edmon McClam from Louisburg Junior College and high school offensive linemen Danzel Manley from Greenbelt, Md., and Alex Bell from Milford, Del.

The junior college signing period begins Dec. 17, while high school players can't sign national letters of intent until Feb. 4.