HAMPTON — There isn’t an obvious Football Bowl Subdivision recruit at Phoebus High at the moment, a la All-Tidewater selections Jordan Bass (Pittsburgh), Michael McMullin (JMU), Anthony Reddick (Maryland) and Taysean Stevenson (Old Dominion) the past two seasons.
Just because there’s no big-time prospect among the rising seniors doesn’t mean the three-time defending state champion Phantoms aren’t deep in potential collegians. Thirty assistant college coaches were interested enough to flock to the Hampton Soccer Complex last week for the Phantoms’ annual “College Day” workout.
“They have a good number of kids who have good grades and can play, some at Division II or lower,” said former William & Mary defensive coordinator Matt McLeod, currently an assistant coach at Christopher Newport.
Two-way all-state lineman Markus Hopson, whose offer from East Carolina made him the first of this year’s group sought by FBS, put it this way: “We have a lot of cats who are dawgs. Coach (Jeremy) Blunt says there’s a (state championship) four-peat on the way.
“We’re underrecruited, but we showed eyes today.”
University of Virginia assistant coach Chris Slade said being able to employ those eyes in person is valuable because it’s more difficult to get true measurements, see how a player really moves or how he takes to instruction by watching film.
“Live evaluation is priceless,” W&M assistant Darryl Blackstock added.
While each position group did its own drills, the scouts were most attentive when the Phantoms ran plays or conducted a 7-on-7, activities that featured the players in transition.
“These guys want to see their bending and their twitch in space,” Blunt said. “Anything with a low center of gravity, and having to redirect, that shows their ability to get their hips in a nice football position and then transition to the next step.
“I think (linebacker) Nijay Gay and (safety) Trent Mitchell made a case for themselves today,” Blunt said of players under the radar screen helped by the workouts.
Gay and Mitchell are among a number of talented rising seniors — along with running back Davion Roberts, linemen Nathaniel Anthony and Jayden Hill, and linebackers Brenden Thompson and Kaleb Tillery — Blunt thinks have the ability to play in college. He said they might have been overlooked to this point for their size or speed, and hopes College Day increased their stock.
Tillery, for instance, was one of the most productive Phantoms last year with 108 often-bruising tackles, but at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, he is small for a linebacker.
“This (workout) was important, but the main thing I wanted to show them were my character and leadership skills,” he said. “We all appreciate them staying and watching us.”
At 6-2, 285, Hopson is more FCS- than FBS-sized for a lineman. He, too, wanted to display his toughness.
“I want them to understand that although I’m a small guy, small guys can do big things,” he said. “I’m aggressive and I’m fast (with a 4.9-second 40-yard dash).”
Jefferson, a safety and receiver who has an offer from Charlotte, probably made the biggest impact among the upperclassmen. Hampton University, just one day after naming Trent Boykin as its new (interim) head coach, offered him a scholarship while at the workout.
Old Dominion also expressed interest while there.
“I think I showed during the 7-on-7 that I like to get to the ball,” Jefferson said. “Wide receiver was my first love, but safety is what I think I can do best in college.
“It was amazing (to get the offer from Hampton). I felt like I did something today and this (workout) was worth it.”
Perhaps the No. 1 player on the assistant coaches’ wish list is quarterback Maurikus Banks. In only his third start, Banks, a 6-foot, 165-pound freshman, completed 11 of 17 passes for 165 yards in the Class 4 state championship game.
That included an 86-yard touchdown completion to Keyontae Gray with one second remaining to give the Phantoms a 21-14 victory over Salem for the state championship. With talent and poise uncommon for a freshman, he likely will draw many more FBS assistants to future College Days.
“They’re all looking at him,” Blunt said of the 30 assistants on hand.
Phoebus will open at Highland Springs on Sept. 6
Phoebus will enter the season with 35 consecutive victories to go with its three straight state titles. The Phantoms will put the win streak on the line when they open the season Sept. 6 at Highland Springs.
The Springers have won five state championships in reaching the finals seven of the past 10 years. The move is typical of Blunt, who has scheduled area powerhouse Oscar Smith as the Phantoms’ non-district game the past three seasons.
“We want to be battle-tested to withstand anything that comes our way during the season,” he said.
Marty O’Brien, mjobrien@dailypress.com
