2009.01.30
Tech, UVa among kicker's choices
All-Tidewater place-kicker Drew Jarrett from Cox High School in Virginia Beach said Friday that he has narrowed his college choices to Virginia Tech, James Madison and Virginia.
Of the three, only Division I-AA James Madison has offered a scholarship -- a full scholarship, according to Jarrett.
"It [means] a lot," Jarrett said. "Of course, I want to play Single-A ball. So, that's the only thing that weighs that down a little bit, I guess, but it's a really great program."
Jarrett took an official visit to Virginia last week but will not go to Tech officially.
"I've been there a ton of times," he said. "Never on an official [visit]. I've gone up there for a few games and stayed there with friends. It's a really nice school. I liked it a lot.
"I actually grew up a Tech fan. It would be weird for me to commit to UVa -- not that I wouldn't. UVa's an awesome school. I had a really good time on my visit when I was there.
"I don't know. It's weird growing up a Tech fan and looking at UVa but they're all really great schools. I'm basically choosing a school that has the best academic reputation along with a really good football program at which I would have a chance to play early on. All three have that.
"I'm looking at going to a school as a recruited walk-on and basically earning a scholarship. Hopefully, I'll only have to pay for a semester."
If Jarrett already is conceding that he will be a recruited walk-on, that would seem to work against JMU. He said he is leaning to a school and it sounds like Virginia, given his assessment of the kicking situations at Tech and UVa.
"That's definitely a big thing," he said. "Tech's got about eight kickers. They're loaded. That wouldn't make me not go there but it still weighs heavily in the fact that I'd have less chance of playing."
Tech will sign place-kicker Cody Journell and has told Washington, D.C., All-Metro place-kicker Andrew Lloyd that he can walk on.
"I've kicked with both Andrew Lloyd and Cody Journell," Jarrett said. "They're both really good kickers. The scholarship guy is the only thing that worries me, not that I couldn't beat him out, but he has money and those guys kind of have the benefit of the doubt.
"At the same time, I have enough confidence in myself and in [Frank] Beamer that he would play the best player, whether he had a scholarship or not, so I'm not ready to turn them down yet."
Virginia's kickers last year were ex-soccer All-American Yannick Reyering, redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein and walk-on true freshman Robert Randolph. Hinkebein, the only scholarship kicker of the three, handled kickoffs exclusively and those for only part of the season.
Reyering was recognized among the seniors at last week's UVa football banquet, although he has a year of eligibility remaining. He was only marginally successful before suffering an injury that opened the door for Randolph. He was 3-for-4, with all of his makes inside 40 yards, and Reyering was 6-for-11.
Tech fifth-year senior Dustin Keys was 23-of-29. The Hokies had five other walk-on kickers, all of them underclassmen, headed by true freshman kickoff specialist Justin Myer.






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1-31-09, Saturday, Charlottesville
Al Groh's judgement
in deciding who to choose to be a recruited
punting or kicking walk-on has never been
very good, has it? Does anyone remember how
that's gone since he's been here? I could
be wrong. Never have seen Drew Jarrett play.
Anyone here seen him play in person?
Go Hoos! Let's shock Duke!
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Comment by Nelson — January 31, 2009 @ 3:51 am
Connor Hughes went to UVa under a similar arrangement and was kicking before the end of his true freshman year.
Comment by Doug Doughty — February 2, 2009 @ 6:48 pm