MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A big 2013 season for University High has seen several of those players make commitments to play at the next level. Last month, both Tony Richardson (DE/TE) and Jack Armstrong (WR/DB) made pledges for VMI (Richardson) and William & Mary (Armstrong).
With national signing day Wednesday, the two are set to begin the next step of their football careers.
“The (recruiting process) was pretty busy,” Richardson said. “I had a lot of coaches from everywhere – a lot of schools instate and VMI was always in contact. It was up to me to make the best decision for me, trying to become more successful as a man later on.
And as all the different coaches continued to come through, it was VMI that ultimately gave him the best opportunity.
“I really liked VMI a lot from what I heard from the coaches, the visits I got at school and the opportunities that they told me were there on the football field and in the classroom,” he said. “I went for a visit and fell in love with the campus. The coaches and teammates were all really cool and made me feel like I was already a part of the team. I just love the atmosphere down there.”
VMI this past season went 2-10 out of the Big South Conference. As for his role with the program initially?
“They want me to play outside linebacker there, which is a little bit of a hybrid defensive end,” he said. “Most of the time, I will be a little bit up on the line of scrimmage playing the run – occasionally I will have to drop back in coverage. Some third-down packages they will have me rush the quarterback.”
Richardson picked VMI over other offers and interest from University of Charleston, Concord, late interest from Ohio University, along with looks from Harvard and Princeton.
Armstrong, meanwhile, has accepted an invited walk-on offer with William & Mary. The receiver/defensive back also returned four punts/kicks for touchdowns this past season, making his overall athleticism intriguing.
“Versatility is something that coaches were looking for and it helped me get recruited and get on the field faster,” Armstrong said. “This year I had some success with returning punts and kicks.”
The recruiting process was a bit of a grind as well, going back to camps in the summer.
“I’m not going to lie, it was extremely frustrating at times,” he said. “Trying to play football at the next level out of West Virginia is never an easy thing to do for anybody – you’re always questioned because of who you’re playing against every week. But I just kept at it.
“I went to 10 camps this summer all over the east coast just trying to get my name out there,” Armstrong said. “I made sure I did everything I could, so I would have no regrets at the end of the recruiting process.”
William & Mary finished the year with a 7-5 record out of the Colonial Athletic Association. Armstrong, meanwhile, will redshirt his freshman season at the next level.
“They’re going to bring me in as a receiver to start things off,” he said. “I’ve told them I will do anything to get on the field, whether that’s playing safety or corner. They will switch me if the opportunity presents itself, receiver is my natural position, so I’m happy to be starting out there.”
Armstrong made 47 receptions for 615 yards and eight touchdowns on the year – he’ll be going to William & Mary with fellow in-state QB recruit Isaiah Kinder from Greenbrier East.
“He was actually my roommate on my official visit,” Armstrong said. “I got to know him a little bit – he’s a great kid, played against him this past year. He’s a good athlete with a strong arm. I’m really excited to have another West Virginia kid going down there with me.”
Also from University, kicker/punter Billy Kinney will be walking-on at WVU, while lineman Clint Arbaugh is set to attend Shepherd University.