Lord Botetourt grads are playing football in record numbers on College level!
Lord Botetourt has an amazing record number of alumni football players playing in college football this coming fall season. We were excited to see Jesse Hanson prominently featured on local TV News sports casts talking about earning a starting spot on the Offensive Line for the VA Tech spring game. Sure got the Bee excited, so checking in with the Lord Botetourt coach was a natural transition to see how things were going for other former players.
There are 30 already on the college gridirons across the country who were once mighty Cavaliers and more have signed letters to play on the next level!
We spoke with Coach Jamie Harless about this number of young men from LBHS on college fields. He said,
“Each year brings a new group of young men. Each year also shows the quality of the environment Botetourt County is providing for the overall growth and development of these young men in all aspects. It is phenomenal to see all the success they are having. They have lit a torch to lead the way for the next group of Cavalier football players! “
Indeed they have!
Coach Harless was more than happy to provide a listing of the current college football athletes who played at Lord Botetourt. Here it is.
Harless said, “Gonna be a great fall for LB alums.”
*3 at Appalachian State Possibly 2 starters at App State Troy Everett OL and Kyle Arnholt ILB Colston Powers OL working with the 2s as well
* 4 at VMI
Possibly 4 starters at VMI
Hunter Rice RB Trey Rice K Evan Eller ILB and Trey Reiter will have a shot at Center
*3 at Virginia Tech
1 Possible Starter at VT Jesse Hanson OL Gunner Givens at DE doing very well and Hunter McLain OL Hokies are excited about.
*1 at James Madison
Zach Horton at JMU working with the 1s in Spring ball has a chance to start for JMU at TE.
*1 at Furman University
1 starter at Furman Xavier Stephens DL
*1 at Charleston Southern University
Bryson Oliver ILB is running with the #2 linebackers and looking to move up
*1 at Liberty University
Gage Bassham OL Working at Liberty University as a #2
*1 at UVA
Jake Dewease up at UVA saw Special Teams action and is looking to get Defensive reps at Safety this year. He’s earned the nickname “Stoplight” nothing gets past him.
* 3 at Concord University
3 starters at Concord Noah Overstreet DL Ty Maust ILB Mikey Rago Punter
*1 Notre Dame College OH
1 Starter Notre Dame College in OHIO D2 Isaiah Stephens OLB
*1 West Virginia State University
Cam Moss at West Virgina State as a #2 TE right now
*1 Hampden Sydney College
1 Starter at Hampden Sydney James Ryan Salvi at Safety
*1 Bridgewater College Starter
Dylan McClachlan WR
*2 Bluefield College
Frank Sawyers and Trevor Catron at Bluefield College working to get reps.
*1 Coach at Virginia Tech Alex AJ Hampton former LB player working as a defensive GA to the DBs coach at Virginia Tech
* 6 new commits who will be playing at the following schools
Aiden Jones Heading to Concord University
KJ Bratton heading to UVA
Daniel Smith heading to Virginia State
Bryce Harrison heading to Bridgewater College
Dae Dae Carter headed to Louisburg Junior College
Bryson Harvey headed to William and Mary
Harless reinforced, “We will have 30 active College football players this Fall and 1 former player coaching at a power 5 school. ”
Wow is an understatement. Thanks to Botetourt County Public Schools and Lord Botetourt football team members for putting us on the college football map. Go Cavaliers on the next level, we are proud of you!
–Cathy Benson, photo by Renee Hanson
