Published on: Tuesday, February 09, 2010

By Brandy L. Simms

Twelve DeMatha seniors signed national letters-of-intent to play college football during a ceremony last week at the Hyattsville private school.

Among the signees were Arie Kouandjio, a highly touted 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman, who chose Alabama over various other major college programs including Miami and Notre Dame.

“Football and education was a big deal at DeMatha,” said Kouandjio who last month participated in the U.S. Army All-American game featuring the nation’s top high school players, “so I feel I’m going to be a step ahead of everybody else.”

Austin Bailey (Akron), Marcus Coker (Iowa), Michael Coley (California), Alex Copeland (Carnegie Mellon), Jacob Geiser (Delaware), Shane Johnson (Pittsburgh), Jeff Knox (Pittsburgh), Kyrrel Latimer (Virginia), Michael Meriwether (Indiana Univ. of Pa.), Daniel Tapscott (Gannon) and Lorenzo Waters (Rutgers) also signed a national letter-of-intent.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Waters was a three-star recruit who earned first-team all-state and all-league honors in addition to being named the team’s most valuable player.

“Lorenzo is a great student-athlete,” said DeMatha Head Coach Bill McGregor. “He works very hard in the classroom and academics are important to him. On the field, he is an outstanding football player.”

Waters returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown to help Washington defeat Baltimore in the Crab Bowl last December. He also finished with four tackles in the all-star game.

“When he hits you,” McGregor added, “people’s eyebrows raise in the stands.”

Over two dozen student-athletes across the county signed national letters-of-intent with various college programs including football players from Forestville, Friendly, Riverdale Baptist, McNamara and Suitland.

Among the other county standouts signing national letters-of-intent last week were Forestville defensive back Antonio Belt and Riverdale Baptist defensive back Brian Burns who both signed with Temple. Gwynn Park running back Khalek Shepherd signed with Virginia and Friendly defensive back Jordan Haden signed with Florida.

McNamara senior Brandon Coleman, who was one of the state’s most heavily recruited players, signed with Rutgers.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound wide receiver earned first team all-state and all-league honors after finishing the season with 41 receptions for 838 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Rutgers is getting a great person who is well rounded,” said McNamara Head Coach Bryce Bevill. “Brandon is a humble kid and one of the hardest working and talented young men I have ever been around. He is one of the greatest all-around individuals I have coached.”

PRINCE GEORGE'S FOOTBALL SIGNINGS

NAME                      SCHOOL      COLLEGE

Austin Bailey          DeMatha       Akron

Antonio Belt        Forestville     Temple

Joe Boyd                  Friendly         Delaware State

Brian Burns             R. Baptist       Temple 

Trevon Butler           Wise              Old Dominion

Marcus Coker          DeMatha       Iowa

Michael Coley         DeMatha        California

Alex Copeland          DeMatha         Carnegie Mellon

Jake Geiser                DeMatha        Delaware

Matthew Goldsmith  McNamara      Illinois State

Jordan Haden             Friendly          Florida

Jeremiah Johnson      Suitland         Maryland

Shane Johnson           DeMatha        Pittsburgh

Jeff Knox                   DeMatha         Pittsburgh

Arie Kouandjio          DeMatha         Alabama

Kyrrel Latimer           DeMatha         Virginia

Anthony McDaniel     Wise               James Madison

Michael Meriwether   DeMatha        IUP

Terrell McGowan       Potomac          Towson

Rahsaan Moore           Wise               Maryland

W.R. Robinson           R. Baptist        Buffalo

Crishon Rose              McNamara     East Carolina

Dominic Shepard       E. Roosevelt   Delaware State

Khalek Shepherd       Gwynn Park     Virginia

Devonta Tabannah     Potomac           New Mexico

Daniel Tapscott          DeMatha          Gannon

Steven Thames           R. Baptist         New Hampshire

Travis Thomas            Bowie              Wofford

Titus Till                     Wise                 Maryland

Lorenzo Waters           DeMatha          Rutgers

Everett Weldon           Gwynn Park     Towson

Reggie Woods             C.H. Flowers    Holy Cross