COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Two players from Hampton Roads and several from state schools were on Bruce Feldman’s 2025 Freaks List, The Athletic announced. The list features 101 players he perceives as the most athletic in college football, having talked to many strength and conditioning coaches.

Salem High graduate Kaelon Black, who’s in his second year with Indiana after transferring along with coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison, is No. 58.

William & Mary cornerback Jalen Jones, a Deep Creek High graduate and first-team FCS All-America selection, was No. 84. Old Dominion offensive lineman Zach Barlev was No. 87.

Three were from Virginia Tech: defensive lineman Kemari Copeland (No. 23), wide receiver Donavon Greene (No. 41) and wide receiver Cameron Seldon (No. 70). Virginia provided linebacker Kam Robinson at No. 51 and punter Daniel Sparks at No. 90.

Liberty running back-kick returner Julian Gray was No. 45, King William High graduate/running back Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest was No. 63, and James Madison running back Jordan Fuller was No. 97.

Fuller transferred from Holy Cross, where he is the Crusaders’ all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (44) and total touchdowns (45). JMU coach Bob Chesney was his coach with the Crusaders through 2023.

Henderson on Walter Camp watch list

Old Dominion linebacker Jason Henderson, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath and running backs Vaughn Blue of Liberty and Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest were among 46 players named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Award, which goes to the nation’s outstanding player. So was Indiana edge rusher Mikail Kamara, a former JMU standout.

Richmond ranked 25th in FCS poll

Richmond, preparing for its first season in Patriot League football, was ranked No. 25 in the Stats Perform FCS preseason poll.

The Spiders were the only team from Virginia in the top 25 or even to get votes. Richmond was picked second in the Patriot League behind FCS No. 14 Lehigh, which beat the Spiders in last year’s playoffs and will play host to UR in an Aug. 30 opener this year.

The top four, in order, were North Dakota State, Montana State, South Dakota State and South Dakota.

The ranked Coastal Athletic Association teams were No. 9 Rhode Island, No. 13 Villanova, No. 22 Monmouth and No. 24 Stony Brook. Two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams received votes below the top 25: South Carolina State and North Carolina Central.

TRACK AND FIELD

Whyte moves up to sixth in USATF 200 meters

Madison Whyte of Newport News, a former Heritage High star who competes for Southern California, was moved up one spot to sixth place in the women’s 200 meters. She crossed the line seventh in 22.56 seconds in a final that had nine runners, but a runner ahead of her was disqualified.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won in 21.84.

COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER

CNU ranked third in preseason poll

Christopher Newport, an NCAA Division III semifinalist last season, was ranked No. 3 in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Captains are 79-2-9 in Jamie Gunderson’s four-year coaching career, including the 2021 championship.

COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY

JMU reveals new class

James Madison announced its current recruiting class of a transfer and eight freshmen, who include Hampton Roads products Mika Hilburger from Tabb High and Sydney Raguini from Princess Anne.

COLLEGE MEN’S LACROSSE

UVA signs two transfers on defense

Virginia coach Lars Tiffany announced the signing of transfer defenders Aidan Murnane from Colgate and Michael Meredith from Jacksonville.

Murnane was a second-team All-Patriot League pick in 2024, and Meredith made last season’s Atlantic Sun first team.

SOFTBALL

Ex-JMU star reveals first pregnancy

Former James Madison star pitcher Odicci Alexander, whose Athletes Unlimited Softball League season with the Bandits team recently ended, revealed she and husband Akeem Bennett are expecting their first child.

Originally Published: August 4, 2025 at 6:50 PM EDT