Trio of local football stars to play at Shepherd University next year
By David Selig
The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — David Carter and Elijah Washington both received interest from Division I football programs, but in the end, they gravitated to the team that showed it wanted them most.
The two Handley High School seniors plan to play at Division II Shepherd University next year.
Carter has signed his official letter of intent, while Washington said he will do so in the coming days.
They’ll join James Wood High School senior Trae Tinsman, who signed with the Rams earlier this month.
All three had considered walk-on roles at Division I schools but decided to accept scholarship packages from Shepherd.
“We don’t give scholarships to a lot of freshmen, but Winchester is a big area for us this year,” said Shepherd coach Monte Cater, who by rule could not speak about Washington but confirmed that Carter and Tinsman had signed. Handley coach Tony Rayburn said he had been receiving calls from the University of Virginia about Carter for a walk-on role, but the The Winchester Star’s 2009 Defensive Player of the Year instead chose a program that could use him right away.
“It was [a tough decision] because coach Rayburn and the coaches at U.Va. thought I could play at that level,” said Carter, who made the decision this past weekend. “They thought I had a really good shot to make the team [at Virginia], but I wanted to play soon.”
Carter had 96 tackles and three interceptions in his only full varsity season after missing most of the previous three with injuries and illness.
He also piled up 450 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, creating some of what Cater called “jostling” amongst his assistant coaches for Carter’s services.
Cater said Carter will likely play safety, but that his skills as a wide receiver — and his potential to even play outside linebacker — are also attractive to the team.
Cater noted that finding a quarterback was a key goal in this recruiting season, and he said he’s been impressed with Tinsman’s mobility as well as his arm.
Tinsman was an all-area and all-district quarterback this fall, passing for 1,249 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“Shepherd is a great school, and I’m excited,” Tinsman said after scoring 25 points in the Colonels’ 67-59 victory over Millbrook in the Northwestern District boys’ basketball play-in game Thursday night. I’m ready to play football.”
Tinsman, who had also received interest from some Division I schools said he was also considering Holy Cross before making his decision.
“I think [Shepherd] is the best fit for him,” James Wood football coach Mike Bolin said. “He’s got all the talent he needs. He just needs to get coached up and learn the offense.”
Former Millbrook quarterback Andrew Oates joined Shepherd this past season, but he broke his collarbone and Cater said he has left the program.
Washington — a two-way lineman who started for the Judges for four years — said he just received his official paperwork Wednesday after making his decision in the previous few days.
He had been considering James Madison, Richmond and Florida A&M, but those would have been as a walk-on. He said he’s been told he might have a chance to contribute right away at Shepherd as either a defensive end, defensive tackle or linebacker.
“I’m excited to keep playing football,” said Washington, who was an all-area, all-district and all-region defensive lineman this season despite missing nearly three full games to injury. “It’s nice because it’s close to home, but they’re also a good football program.”
Washington said he’s also trying to convince teammate Leonard Grant to join him and Carter at Shepherd, but Grant is undecided and also considering attending junior college.
Rayburn — who had Jeremiah Wilson sign at Maryland and Graham Sharples sign at JMU earlier this month — said he’s pleased to have at least two of his players choose Shepherd.
“I’m excited that we have some players going there now, because [Cater] is so successful, and he does it the right way,” Rayburn said.
Shepherd has a connection to the Judges, as two of the Rams’ former players, Matt Roark and Shane Snyder, were assistant coaches at Handley this season.
“Not that we can give them a finder’s fee, but it helps to have some of your former guys there,” Cater said.
Shepherd has two other players on its current roster from this area — redshirt freshman defensive lineman Tre Kidwell (James Wood) and freshman defensive lineman Jacob Sumana (Sherando).
Staff writer Robert Stocks contributed some information to this report.
— Contact David Selig at
dselig@winchesterstar.com