The Virginian-Pilot
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A year ago, Great Bridge star running back Adriell Mayes couldn’t wait to be part of National Signing Day.
He envisioned sitting at a table in the school’s gym or library with media, coaches, teammates, family and friends waiting for him to announce where he would play.
But despite a history-making senior season, Mayes will sit out today’s ceremonies. He’ll instead spend the day working out.
Mayes fell short academically, failing to meet the NCAA’s minimum GPA or SAT score.
Mayes won’t be the area’s only high-profile high school football player not to sign today. Academics, lack of credits and indecision sidelined the others.
Had he done what he was supposed to in the classroom, Mayes said, he would be among the more than 50 players from South Hampton Roads who will sign today with a Division I or II school. Now, he’s considering prep school, perhaps Fork Union Military Academy.
“I was kind of excited about it,” he said of Signing Day, “but now I’m not going to participate in it. It’s frustrating.”
His message to athletes – work as hard in the classroom as you do on the field.
As a senior, Mayes, 5 feet 10 and 205 pounds, rushed for 1,927 yards – which ranks No. 3 in single-season rushing yards in South Hampton Roads history.
“You have to stay focused and not fall behind in your work,” he said, “or it will come back on you.”
Lake Taylor’s Mike Tyson, last season’s Eastern District Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, won’t sign because he needs more core classes. He’s been in high school only three years.
Titans coach Hank Sawyer said Tyson, who was recruited at wide receiver and defensive back, started school late but, because he’s 18, will be too old to participate next season.
“He’s too old by three days under Virginia High School League rules,” Sawyer said.
The plan is for Tyson, who holds a 2.8 GPA, to enroll at Hargrave Military or Fork Union to graduate. He had interest from Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Penn State, Boston College, Miami and N.C. State.
“I just told them that I won’t be going directly to a university,” Tyson said, referring to college coaches. “It’s hard that I can’t sign because I looked forward to it, but at the same time it’s still for the best.”
Two other players on The Pilot’s list of the top 25 seniors in the Class of 2012 also aren’t expected to sign today.
Norcom running back Chavelle Atkins, like Mayes, failed to qualify academically.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne quarterback Brian Morgan remains undecided. Morgan, who scored 1,200 on the SAT and has a 3.7 GPA, is looking at Christopher Newport. He also has several Division II offers and a partial offer from William and Mary.
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
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Recruits not all committed yet
The playerslike Brian Morgan 3.7GPA 1200 SATs 2parts preferred walk on JMU Partial W&M CNU
Tyler Compton 4.2 GPA 1600 SATs Davidson,ODU,CAMPBELL, W&M
These young men worked hard in the class room and on the field ,no excuse for the other kids not qualify !
Princess Anne is ranked 122 in the nation so the classes are tougher across the board for everyone higher expectations !
Last year Princess Anne lost a kid to ocean Lakes in football/wrestling(scott was recruiting again ) the kid as a sophmere was flunking out ,goes to Ocean Lakes and he is making As (amazing )Just last week chris scott recruited another kid from Princess Anne ! He does not learn from when he recruited a kid from FC
What Does This Say
What does this say about coaches who work the students' bodies and seem to care little about their academic performance? At the High School level this could be avoided.
Speaks volumes.
The failure of some of the area's most talented football players to meet academic standards which could propel them to further greatness in college or professional football speaks volumes about their lack of awareness of the consequences of lack of effort in the classroom.
Tyson
I know that Mike Tyson has been working hard to get his grades in order, but trying to finish high school in three years is tough. His situation is not like the other two who failed to get the grades. Tyson has a 2.8 GPA and will attend a prep school to get that fourth year of high school out the way. It is amazing how Andre Dawkins, Vernon Macklin, etc did the same thing in high school and no one was upset. Kids reclassify all the time look at the kid at Cape Henry!!
It is Different
I know Andre Dawkins reclassified to get an extra year to polish his skills. Most students who go from public to private school reclassify when they transfer. Not absolute sure on Vernon. Mike Tyson is different from the Mayes and Atkins (Norcom RB). They were in high school for four years as opposed to three. Tyson had his difficulties in either elementary or middle school. The other two were in high school for the past four years and failed to qualify.
Mayes and Atkins could've
Mayes and Atkins could've struggled in elementary and/or middle school as well.