ODU Monarchs sign half-brother of Titans' Kearse

Defensive end Shantea Green, half-brother of NFL standout Jevon "The Freak" Kearse, has signed to play football at Old Dominion this fall.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Green had 98 tackles, 13 sacks, forced five fumbles and had an interception this past season for the Northland College Pioneers, a junior college team in Minnesota. He'll have two years of eligibility with the Monarchs.

Green originally is from Ft. Myers, Fla., where he played at Lehigh High. He finished there in 2003, but passed on interest from Wisconsin and Florida and elected to remain home to help raise his young daughter.

Kearse, an 11-year NFL veteran defensive end with the Tennessee Titans, has been called "The Freak" because of his incredible wing span and freakish speed for a player his size.

"Yes, people make comparisons," Green said. "I don't mind it so much."

Green, who's been clocked running the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, got back into the game two years ago after more than a three-year hiatus.

He selected ODU after receiving interest from North Dakota, Louisville and Florida Atlantic.

"I just want to be a part of something new and different," he said. "ODU's coaches showed me how I'd be a part of their zone blitz schemes and rover schemes in pass coverage. That stuff is made for me."

ODU coach Bobby Wilder said he intends to use Green at ODU's "stud" position. In ODU's defensive scheme, the stud is a cross between an outside linebacker and a defensive end.

The Monarchs will open preseason camp in August and begin their first season of play as a Football Championship Subdivision member when they host Chowan at 6 p.m. on Sept. 5.