Four Wood football players heading to D3 schools

Four James Wood football players signed to compete at the NCAA Division III level for college during a ceremony at the high school on Monday.

Hunter Franks will play offensive tackle for Shenandoah University. The All-Class 4 Northwestern District and All-Area First Team and All-Region 4C Second Team selection helped the Colonels rank second in the area with 30.9 points per game and 322.1 yards per game.

The Hornets are coming off a 7-3 season, their most wins since 2004. SU went 3-3 in the ODAC.

Franks will study physical therapy.

A defensive end, Caleb Keefer will play for SU’s ODAC rival Bridgewater. The All-Area First Team and All-District Second Team selection ranked second in the area with nine sacks and seventh with 85 tackles.

The Eagles went 4-6 overall and 1-5 in the ODAC last year.

Keefer will study exercise science.

Karim Cisse will play safety for Averett University in Danville. The Cougars are joining the ODAC next year after previously competing in the USA South. Averett went 5-5 last year.

Cisse ranked seventh on James Wood with 44 tackles and had two sacks.

Cisse will study aviation.

A linebacker, Blake Hounshell will play for Grove City College in Pennsylvania. The Wolverines compete in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and went 8-3 overall and 6-3 in conference play last year. Grove City defeated Utica 49-7 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Scotty Whitelaw Bowl.

Hounshell ranked fifth on the Colonels with 49 tackles last year.

Hounshell will study exercise science.