Landstown linebacker Xavier Glass highlights William & Mary’s 13-player recruiting class as key starters depart
It’s not just that William & Mary will lose at least eight starters from a season in which its 11 wins are the most in the program’s 129-year history. The group includes all five team captains and five All-Colonial Athletic Association selections.
Less than two weeks removed from their FCS quarterfinal loss at Montana State, the Tribe revved up its efforts to replace the departing seniors on Wednesday by signing a 13-man recruiting class. Not coincidentally, the class is heavy with players in spots being vacated by starters who have exhausted their eligibility.
In Lachlan Pitts, the Tribe loses an All-CAA tight end who averaged almost 20 yards per catch. Jackson Blee joins the Tribe having caught seven touchdown passes while averaging 26.7 yards per catch in earning all-state honors in North Carolina the past two years.
The Tribe’s one sure loss on the offensive line that paved the way for 266 yards rushing per game is Associated Press All-American Colby Sorsdal, projected by some to land in an NFL camp this summer. Three offensive linemen are in the recruiting class.
Among them, Goochland’s Hayden Raley has a dad who played four seasons in the ACC for Virginia. The father of Georgetown Prep recruit Luka O’Day played in the ACC for Maryland.
Landstown High’s Xavier Glass highlights a group of three signees who will help replace team captain Trey Watkins at linebacker. Glass, also a basketball letterman, brings a 4.0 grade-point average to W&M.
“He’s smart as heck,” said former Landstown coach Tommy Reamon, who coached Glass for several seasons. “He’s athletic, a physical specimen and I’m very proud of him.”
Added Tribe coach Mike London: “Xavier is an explosive athlete and a natural pass rusher. He has a high ceiling and will be an excellent addition to our OLB room.”
With All-CAA pick Carl Fowler and fellow team captain Zyquan Bessant leaving, the Tribe has a minimum of two spots to fill on the defensive line. Centreville’s Gent Veizi comes in after tallying 35 career sacks. Gerald Williams of Good Counsel High in Maryland, who is 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, played basketball and rugby while also participating in musical theater and the knitting club.
The Tribe also loses All-CAA pick Caylin Newton, Cam’s younger brother, but landed a wide receiver in Chantilly’s Garrett Robertson, who is also physical and versatile. Tye Freeland is a significant loss in the defensive backfield, but Brendan Robinson, a starter on the state championship basketball team for Paul VI, had 12 career interceptions and reportedly no receptions by receivers he guarded this season.
“As ever, we emphasized recruiting the state of Virginia, with more than half the class coming from our state,” London said. “While we may still add more to this group, we are very confident the young men we have commitments from today will come in and help us continue to build on our championship tradition.”
William & Mary signees
TE Jackson Blee 6-6 230 Belmont, N.C. (South Point)
QB Noah Brannock 6-0 200 Forest Hill, Md. (Calvert Hall)
LB Clayton Dobler 6-4, 220 Midlothian, Va. (James River)
OL Kamron Frye 6-4, 280 Fredericksburg (DeMatha)
LB Xavier Glass 6-2 240 Virginia Beach (Landstown)
DB TJ McGill 5-11 175 Charlotte, N.C. (Chambers)
OL Luka O’Day 6-5 280 Darnestown, Md. (Georgetown Prep)
LB Elijah Rainer 6-0 220 Moseley (Trinity Episcopal)
OL Hayden Raley 6-5 290 Maidens (Goochland)
WR Garrett Robertson 6-3 180 Chantilly (Chantilly)
DB Brendan Robinson 5-11 175 Leesburg, Va. (Paul VI)
DL Gent Veizi 6-2 275 Centreville (Centreville)
DL Gerald Williams 6-2 290 Olney, Md. (Good Counsel)
