FP grad ‘teetering under the radar’

On the one hand, John Shuman wants Miguel Marshall to re-sign with the Virginia Military Institute. Shuman, the head football coach for the postgraduate football team at the Fork Union Military Academy, is a graduate of the school and thinks the Keydets would be a good fit for the Forest Park High School graduate.

But Shuman also realizes that Marshall's three-interception performance a week ago against Hargrave may increase the interest level from other schools. Marshall originally signed with VMI in February, but failed to gain admission, so he headed to FUMA to improve his test scores.

"I'm in a bind," Shuman said. "I'd like to see him pursue VMI, but I also realize that established elite CAA teams might come after him now. I have a problem. I don't want to see him decommit."

Marshall is one of two Prince William County-based players on FUMA's team this season. Jerell McFadden, a 2009 Osbourn graduate and the News & Messenger's Prep Football Player of the Year, joined Marshall in FUMA's secondary.

Both played cornerback with McFadden grabbing two interceptions and Marshall finishing with a team-high seven interceptions.

Shuman likens Marshall to another FUMA defensive back, Tyronne Drakeford. While at FUMA, Drakeford drew interest from schools like VMI and The Citadel, but held off making a decision. Virginia Tech came in late and offered Drakeford, who signed with the Hokies and eventually was drafted in the second round by San Francisco and won a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers.

"He was a player who was teetering under the radar and then got hot," Shuman said of Drakeford.

Shuman said Marshall's chief recruiter at VMI, assistant coach and Gar-Field graduate Winston October, has continued to pursue Marshall.

Both McFadden and Marshall will get to showcase their talents one more time Dec. 8 when FUMA will host a game that will be played in front of college coaches.

Neither McFadden nor Marshall have achieved the qualifying test scores they need to be eligible for entrance into a Division I or I-AA college, which is another reason why schools have not shown heavy interest.

Shuman said Purdue, James Madison and Illinois have shown "lukewarm" interest in McFadden, but no concrete offers have been forthcoming yet. Shuman said McFadden could be recruited as an athlete.

"He's got some work to do with his scores, but you look at his athletic versatility and his speed and burst to the ball, he could be a heck of a punt returner," Shuman said. "He looks like [U.Va's] Vic Hall to me."

Shuman said McFadden and Marshall's decision will also hinge on how many scholarships schools still have to offer. A number of colleges are close to reaching their limit for commitments for their particular class. The next testing date for the SAT is Dec. 5, while the ACT date is Dec. 12.

The national signing date is Feb. 3, 2010.

VMI put Marshall in touch with FUMA when it became clear he would not qualify for admission. McFadden arrived at the military school after Osbourn coach Steve Schultze got in touch with Shuman.

"Steve does a good job of getting tape out on his players so I knew of him," Shuman said. "So when Steve called, I said we could take him."

Sports editor David Fawcett can be reached at 703-878-8052.