NEW BERLIN – Milford Academy’s Travon Van and Malcolm Bunche, two of the Falcons’ more highly recruited players this season, may get the opportunity to reacquaint themselves over the next four years of college.
Van, a running back who already has six rushing touchdowns in two games this season for the Falcons, will attend the University of Florida next year. Bunche, an offensive tackle who is the son of former NFL player Curtis Bunche, will play for the Miami Hurricanes.
Van grew up in Southern California, and attended Helix High School in La Mesa. It’s the same school that graduated NFL players Reggie Bush and Alex Smith. Bush won the Heisman Trophy three years ago and is a running back with the New Orleans Saints. Smith was the number one pick in the NFL Draft four years ago with the San Francisco 49ers.
As a talented running back for a high school with a great lineage, it’s no wonder media types and fans are quick to compare Bush and Van.
“People have tried to compare me to Reggie Bush, but I try to do my own thing,” Van said. “It’s good to be recognized by people.”
Van is attending Milford Academy upon the recommendation of his high school coach. He made an unofficial visit to the University of Florida earlier this year, and was offered a scholarship on the spot by head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer, who has led the Gators to a pair of national titles over the last three years is no slouch in judging talent. But first, Van needed to rachet up his college entrance board scores. “Right now I’m concentrating on academics,” Van said. “(Milford Academy) has helped me a lot. They fix any bad habits you have real quick.”
Off the football field, Bunche is the epitome of a gentle giant. He turns 18 in October and is 6-foot-7 and 326 pounds. Schools from the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC were interested in signing the versatile lineman, but he settled on Miami after meeting with head coach Randy Shannon.
“Coach Shannon is just a great guy,” Bunche said. “He’s a guy who really cares about his players. He wants you to be successful academically and athletically.”
Bunche, too, made his way to upstate New York upon the advice of his high school coach. Just like Van, he appreciates the effort of the Milford Academy staff. “People have told me this place is a lot tougher than college,” Bunch said. “They’re hard on you and they get in your face. They push you so hard because they want you to make it to the next level.”
Polite and soft-spoken, Bunche brings an attitude to the football field once he straps on his helmet. He enjoys pancaking defenders and laying wood on speedy defensive linemen. He also has one big rule when he lines up: “Nobody touches my quarterback,” he said. “We’re his lifeline. I’m a unit type of guy. If someone else, like the right tackle messes up, I’ll get up in his face and let him know about it.”
As big as Bunche is, it probably takes few words to get his point across.