Mr. Smith headed for Norfolk?

   Driving back from Harrisonburg Sunday night, where'd I'd seen Old Dominion's Lady Monarchs play surprisingly well in throttling James Madison 67-58, Deep Creek senior Preston Smith gave me a ring on my cell phone.

   Smith was part of a gaggle of players who on Sunday committed to sign with Old Dominion's football team. I'm not sure what qualifies as a gaggle, but today four qualifies for me.

   Smith is about 6-foot-3 and weighs about 245 pounds and is about to become a Monarch. He says he'll sign scholarship papers on Feb. 3 ... if Virginia Tech doesn't entice him to be a Hokie.

   This is the rub of Division I-AA football, presently known as the Football Championship Subdivision. ODU has beaten out the JMUs and Norfolk States of the world to get Smith to this point: He shook hands with ODU coach Bobby Wilder Sunday, looked Wilder in the eye and said, "Coach, I'm coming here if the Virginia Tech thing doesn't work out."

   And that's a position the Monarchs have to be comfortable with. It parallels what top high school baseball players do. They sign with a college, then await the draft. And if the Houston Astros call their name in the first round, they thank the college for their time and go pro.

   Smith is going to make a visit to Blacksburg the weekend of Jan. 29. He could be a late loss to this recruiting class, but that's the ocean in which Camp Wilder swims these days.

   They aren't so much beating out The Citadel or Valparaiso for players. They are beating out legitimate FCS teams and in some cases Football Bowl Subdivision teams for players.

   But there's a rub to this: Sometimes they lose these players late in the game. Then again, sometimes they get these players late in the game.

   Stephen Lawe, an offensive lineman at Maury in Norfolk (and for those who don't know, ODU's campus is in Maury's school zone), says it's down to Virginia and Old Dominion. Lawe recently eliminated Memphis from the mix.

   Lawe will visit Virginia the weekend of Jan. 29 and make a decision quickly.

   Can't leave the blog this morning without throwing this out there: Mike Justice, a 6-7, 279-pound offensive tackle from West Springfield was in the gaggle that committed Sunday. Lawe is 6-5 and 285. What if in future years the ODU quarterbacks have Lawe and Justice protecting them?

   Here's a list of players who have joined the program since the end of the season:

   Dominique Blackman, 6-4, 240, Soph., QB (Carson High, Los Angeles, Calif./Los Angeles Harbor College): He could red-shirt if the Monarchs feel it's in everybody's best interest. But after passing for 3,711 yards and 35 TDs against nine interceptions this past fall, how does a guy like that sit? Look for him to compete with Thomas DeMarco for the quarterback slot.

   Ronnie Cameron, 6-3, 295, Jr., DT (Holy Trinity, Hicksville, N.Y./Hofstra): The fire sale at Hofstra after the program was cancelled turned up this gem.

   Deron Mayo, 5-11, 214, Sr., DE (Kecoughtan High, Hampton, Va./Hofstra): Older brother Jerod Mayo was NFL defensive rookie of the year for New England Patriots last season. Also a Hofstra fire-sale special.

   Angus Harper, 5-11, 202, Fr., RB (Edison High, Alexandria, Va.): Spurned interest from Pitt and Boston College because the Monarchs told him he could play running back at ODU while others wanted him as a safety. He ran 210 times for 1,396 yards and 19 TDs as a senior. Harper graduated early and has already enrolled at ODU. 

   Dominik Davenport, 6-1, 264, R-Fr., DT (Phoebus High, Hampton, Va./West Virginia): A transfer from West Virginia, Davenport didn't fit the mold with the Mountaineers' 3-4 defensive alignment. Hopes are that ODU's 50 defensive set will suit him better.

   Jarod Brown, 5-11, 200, R-Fr., PK (Grafton High, Va./West Virginia): Kicked a 57-yard field goal in high school. Enrolled at ODU this month.

   Kenny McAdow, 5-10, 220, R-Fr.,LB (Broad Run High, Ashburn, Va./Northeastern): Left Northeastern in fall after program was discontinued. Enrolled at ODU.

   Here's a list of players committed to signing on Feb. 3:      

   Trevon Butler, 6-1, 171, WR (Wise High, Upper Marlboro, Md.): Played on a state championship. Has 4.5 speed, maybe better.

   Charles Owens, 6-1, 310, DT (Wise High, Upper Marlboro, Md.): ODU received commitments from Butler and his teammate Owens before the Wise Pumas turned into such a hot commodity. Wise went 12-2.

   Dominique Guinn-Bailey, 6-4, 225, DE (Churchland High, Portsmouth, Va): He runs a 4.6 in the 40, which is crazy-good speed for his size. And he's got a motor that just keeps chugging.

   Paul Morant, 6-0, 180, FS (Phoebus High, Hampton, Va.): Ever heard of the Phoebus Phantoms? They win state titles. Lots of them. 

   Aaron Evans, 5-8, 170, DB (Woodside High, Newport News, Va.): Evans was the Peninsula District's first-team QB this season as he rushed, and passed, for over 1,000 yards. And he's going to play cover corner at ODU.

   Eriq Lewis, 6-0, 175, DB (Coolidge High, Washington, D.C.): The Monarchs dipped into the well two years ago and landed Craig Wilkins, who is now a captain on the team and holds down the strong safety slot.

   Darryl Brown, 6-0, 210, LB (First Colonial High, Virginia Beach, Va.): Monarchs thicken the pot at linebacker with a fast one.

   Colby Goodwyn, 5-8, 190, RB (Phoebus High, Hampton, Va.): Ran for 1,869 yards and 31 TDs for unbeaten state champs. Enough said.

   Michael Justice, 6-7, 279, OT (West Springfield High, Fairfax, Va.): Can't coach size. You recruit size.

   Preston Smith, 6-3, 240, TE (Deep Creek High, Chesapeake, Va.): This guy has a fast-racing motor and the chance to perform at multiple positions for the Monarchs. Can play DE or OG as well.

   Larry Pinkard, 5-11, 170, WR (Ballou High, Washington, D.C.): Popped up on the mild-interest lists of a lot of schools. ODU goes back to the D.C. well again.

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