Lafayette High star Jaylen Pretlow changes course, commits to ODU as Monarchs add to haul on signing day

Jaylen Pretlow, adept at reversing field as a star wide receiver and kick returner at Lafayette High in Williamsburg, went in another direction this week when he committed to Old Dominion.

Pretlow originally committed to Navy, but he reopened his recruitment last month and announced on social media Monday night he had committed to ODU. He is expected to join a handful of other players who signed with the Monarchs on Wednesday as the second national signing period began for the Class of 2023.

“ODU is getting an all-around player and more importantly a quality young man,” Lafayette coach Andy Linn said Wednesday.

Pretlow played only cornerback in the spring of 2021 for a Lafayette team that won the Class 3 state championship. He played safety, wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner as a junior and added wingback to his duties last season. He scored 60 touchdowns during his final two seasons — 21 rushing, 33 receiving and six on returns.

ODU’s signees Wednesday join a group of 15 players that signed in December. The signees Wednesday were:

  • Trenton Kintigh, a 6-1, 265-pound defensive lineman from Venice High in North Port, Florida

  • DeAndre Lynch, a 6-3, 294-pound defensive lineman from Rocky Mount, North Carolina

  • Sayyid Stevens, a 6-1, 228-pound defensive end from Midway, Georgia, who played four seasons at Duke

  • Ryan Ramey, a 5-9, 176-pound cornerback from Missouri City, Texas

  • Spencer Dow, a 6-2, 292-pound offensive lineman from Park Ridge, Illinois

  • Caleb Bryant, a 6-7, 253-pound offensive lineman from Philadelphia

  • Rasheed Reason, a 5-10, 160-pound cornerback from Vallejo, California

  • TJ Lott, a 5-11, 160-pound wide receiver from Pahokie, Florida

Stevens played in 23 games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Duke, but was limited to three games last season.

Kintigh missed four games during his senior season, but returned from an injury and finished with 73 tackles to help Venice High reach the state championship game.

Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com. Twitter @JamiVP