NEW BERLIN – In just two days, Milford Academy’s 2010 class will open its 13-game season at home at 6 p.m. against Gattaca College of New Jersey. Milford head coach, Bill Chaplick, invited several highly recruited players – all of whom will eventually play in the ACC – to appear in a photo that appears in today’s edition.
In a round-robin interview session, Jeremy Davis, Donte Dotson, Rodman Noel, Alonzo Russell, and Derrick Campbell briefly spoke about their high school careers, their goals at Milford Academy, and their future in college football:

Jeremy Davis
Davis has a nice pedigree within his family. His half brother is NFL defensive back, Phillip Buchanon, a number one draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2002. Davis came on strong his senior season, but like many who attend Milford Academy, needs to bump up his grades and college entrance scores. After meeting with the Miami coaching staff, he likes the way head coach Randy Shannon deals with players. “He’s a good coach who doesn’t hold anything back,” Davis said. “Anything he has to say, he’s going to tell you.”
Davis follows in the footsteps of Miami senior Craig Cooper, a Milford grad, whom Davis has met. “I’ve been down (to Miami) and pretty much know everybody already,” Davis said. “They said they want me to play as a true freshman.”

Donte Dotson
Dotson’s high school team in Deefield Beach, Florida did not have a true quarterback, so Dotson handled the duties his senior season. He threw for 14 TDs and over 1,000 yards, while also rushing for 13 scores and over 1,000 yards. The versatile Dotson is expected to play wide receiver when he attends East Carolina next season. At 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, Dotson does not cut an imposing figure, yet he makes up for that with toughness and determination. “I have to bring it to people and use what I’ve got to get into the end zone,” Dotson said.

Rodman Noel
Noel has the prototypical physical attributes of an NFL-sized defensive back. He is 6-foot-3 1/2 inches and 206 pounds, according to the Milford Academy website, and specialized as a defensive safety at Everett High School for the number one team in the state of Massachusetts last year. A native of the Northeast, Noel spoke about moving south to play in ACC where he’ll eventually match up against some of his current Milford teammates.
“Maryland has a good atmosphere and good academics, and I really like the defensive backs coach,” Noel said. “My goal there (next season) is to just compete and start as a freshman.”
About facing Davis, Dotson, and Alonzo Russell: “It’ll feel good playing against them. We’ll be talking a little bit of smack to each other on the field. It should be fun,” he said.

Alonzo Russell
At 6-foot-4, Russell will provide a large target for whomever is the Virginia Tech signalcaller next season. Out of Washington, D.C., Russell is adjusting to small-town life in New Berlin after growing up in the nation’s capital. “It’s kind of weird (not) getting cell service here,” Russell said.
Russell said that he expects the Hokies to red-shirt him his freshman season. In the meantime, he plans to make the best of his Milford experience. “I just have to be me (here),” Russell said. “That’s what got be a D-1 offer, that’s what got Virginia Tech looking at me and all the rest.”

Derrick Campbell
At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, Campbell has the physical tools to compete on the collegiate level. He says he wasn’t a highly recruited lineman, but expects to get an offer from Miami later this year. For now, he’s improving his grades and his collegiate draft stock.
“When I graduated from high school in May (the people from Miami) told me I needed to come up to Milford,” Campbell said. “They sent me here to improve...I’m pretty excited.”
Campbell said his primary focus is working hard on academics. “That’s basically what I’m thinking about,” he said.

More information about this year’s Milford Academy team is available on the school’s official website: www.milfordacademy.org.