Amherst Central's Burke Commits to Hobart

beRecruited.com reports that SR RB Justin Burke of Amherst Central High School (NY) has committed to play football at Hobart College.

Burke was a first team Section 6A South RB for the Tigers, leading the team in rushing for 526 yards and five TDs in 2011.  In 2010 Burke broke St. Mary Catholic School's (Lancaster, NY) single-season (1,798 yards) and single game rushing (356 yards) records while also scoring 15 TDs for the Lancers.

His highlight reel is listed below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q5Ys6UIPDQ

At 5' 11" 180 lbs and 4.46 40 yard dash Justin looks like he's got all the tools to be a great RB at Hobart.  On top of his athletic skills he achieved a 3.4 GPA!

Welcome to Hobart Justin!  Have a great Memorial Day Weekend and thanks to all of you out there who served and continue to serve our great country.  Go 'Bart and go USA!

Throwback (and a throw down) Friday

Thanks to David Gibbons '94 who was a great OL for the Statesmen (and now serves as a Director on the Board of the SAA - Hobart's Booster Club) for sharing this photo.  Although I am not 100% certain of the which game this great shot came from, I am guessing this was from the 1991 season (based on the jersey and 100th season patch) and against Canisius College.

Please send any action shots to "Comin' Atcha" and I'll post them throughout the upcoming season.

All District Virginia LB Commits to Hobart

The Viva Loudoun News (Leesburg, VA) reports that Tuscarora High School SR LB/FB Christopher Holoman has commited to attend Hobart and play football for the Statesmen.  Holoman was named as his District's 1st team at LB and the Defensive Player of the Year.

At 6' 1" 207 lbs Christopher is a quick and versatile run blocker with the ability to break out into the flat and catch passes.  At LB he is a very strong at reading plays and quickly getting to the point of attack.  With his help, the Tuscarora Huskies enjoyed a 9-3 season.

Links to the aforementioned announcements, awards and Christopher's highlight reel is listed below:

http://vivaloudoun.blogspot.com/2012/05/tuscarora-tuscarora-sending-seven.html

http://mvp.gamedaymagazine.com/rumor_mill/2011/11/2011-dulles-district-all-district-football-team.php

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/860991/christopher-holoman#

Aside from football, Christopher is a member of his Student Council, National Honor Society, symphonic band, and the Mt Pleasant Baptist Church.  All in all, he sounds like a great addition to the Statesmen Football family.  Welcome to Hobart Christopher!  Go 'Bart!

SAA and NFF Honor Hobart Student Athletes

The Statesmen Athletic Association and the Hobart Athletics Department honored several Statesmen Football players at the recent "Block H Awards" dinner and ceremony.  Please see the attached link from HWS Athletics for the story:

http://www.hwsathletics.com/news/2012/4/30/HFB_0430124905.aspx

A quick recap is as follows:

Offensive MVP - SR WR Garth Muratori '12
Defensive MVP - SO OLB Devin Worthington '14
Most Outstanding Hobart Athlete - SR CB Drake Woodard '12
Most Outstanding Lineman - SR OL Brendan Hatlee '12
Character and Sportsmanship - SR TE Greg Clifford '12
Most Improved - SR DT Gianni Contro '12
Scholarship - SR OL Anthony Coletta '12
"Love of the Game" - SR OL Kyle Sandy '12
Rookie of the Year - FY DE Tyre Coleman '15

The National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society recognized SR OL Jarrid Blades and SR OL Brendan Hatlee for maintaining a 3.2 GPA (or better) over their collegiate careers.  Blades and Hatlee were roommates as freshmen and became cornerstones for the Statesmen OL over the past four seasons.

A link to the NFF announcement is below. 

http://www.hwsathletics.com/news/2012/5/3/HFB_0503121740.aspx

Congratulations to all of these excellent Hobart student-athletes!

Williamsville South High's Scamurra to Attend Hobart

You gotta love twitter.

Williamsville South High School's SR OL/DL T.J. Scamurra recently tweeted he'll be in the Hobart College Class of 2016 playing football for the Statesmen.  Scamurra played center for the WSHS Billies leading the OL and helping WSHS to an undefeated regular season and Section 6A South conference title.  Although the Billies eventually fell to Sweet Home (of Amherst, NY) in the Sectional finals at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson (aka the Bills') Stadium, they otherwise had a very successful 9-1 season.

From the looks of it, Scamurra is a tough drive blocker who had a tendency of serving up pancakes (i.e., flattening blocks) to opposing defensive lineman.  He's also a solid pass protector and seems to have no problem working in a shot gun formation.  Williamsville's QB Trent Ferguson passed for almost 200 yards per game behind the blocking of Scamurra and his OL teammates.  T.J. also handled snaps on FGs and special teams assignments as well.

At 6' 280 lbs, Scamurra will bring great size and strength to the Statesmen OL who recently graduated two centers, Jarrid Blades '12 and Kelvin Cruz '12.  His highlight video is below:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/649701/highlights/4296368

Scamurra won a number of All-Conference and State recognition for his efforts on the gridiron, but he's not just a good athlete.  T.J. also received National Honor Society status at WSHS so he's a good student to boot.

Scamurra wore #54 in HS and it's available given the graduation of Kyle Sandy '12 so look for Scamurra as #54 in your programs and on the field for the Statesmen.

Welcome to Hobart T.J. (and keep serving up those pancakes)!  Go 'Bart!

Wilbraham & Monson's Osumah to Attend Hobart

Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA) reports that SR WR Jared Osumah will attend Hobart this fall.  Osumah is also an outstanding track athlete having won the New England Prep School long jump championship in 2011 and assisted the Titans in earning eighth and seventh place finishes in the National Penn Relays 4x400 and 4x100 events this past weekend in Philadelphia.

The 6'3" 190 pounder has break away speed and won 1st All League honors as a JR at W&MA.  His junior year highlight video can be found below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuD-8dYjiQE

It appears as though Jared suffered an injury in the first game of his senior season but it hasn't hampered him this spring and he appears ready to go this fall for the Statesmen.  Additional background on Jared can be found here from the W&MA website:

http://www.wma.us/page.cfm?p=631&newsid=450

http://www.wma.us/page.cfm?p=631&newsid=454

Please join me in welcoming Jared to the Statesmen family.  Go 'Bart!

Editor's note:  Osumah declined on his commitment and elected to attend a post-graduate year at Bridgeton Academy (ME).  He decided to stay "in state" and will be a FY WR for the University of Maine Bears this fall (source:  http://wmebsports.com/2013/02/21/getting-to-know-the-2013-maine-football-recruits/)