Bosco sends another to Div 1

December 8, 2010

Mike Farrell
Recruiting Analyst

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Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco quarterback Gary Nova has had some ups and downs over the past week. That's putting it mildly.

Nova remains committed to the Panthers.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback led Don Bosco to a 37-27 victory over Bergen Catholic in the New Jersey Non-Public Group 4 state championship game.

That means Nova finished his high school playing career with a perfect record as a starting quarterback.

"I got better and became a better all-around player," Nova explained. "We didn't have a lot of seniors on the team so I had to step up as a leader and improve on my communication with the guys. I had to be positive on the field."

As exciting as that victory was, and as sweet as any championship is, the news that Dave Wannstedt had resigned at Pitt hit Nova like a ton of bricks and was tough to stomach.

"I was mostly just surprised," he said. "Coach Wannstedt had signed an extension and it seemed like everything was pretty much good. I thought he was going to be there. I guess that's the way college football is. It's a business and I understand that.

"That said, I'm sad to see him go because he's a good coach and a great person."

Nova said he has spoken with Pitt assistant coach Jeff Hafley each of the past two days and that has been very reassuring.

"Me and him have a great relationship," Nova said. "He's been 100-percent honest with me since the beginning.

"I've also talked to guys like Quinton (Alston) and Bill Belton. We want to stay strong with Pitt but we know if something happens we might have to make a change."

At this point Nova remains committed to Pitt and it would take a big change of course for him to reconsider and look at other options.

"I'm 100-percent committed," he continued. "Pitt is the place I want to play college football unless there's a full cleaning house of the coaching staff of there's a coach that comes in with an offensive scheme I don't want to run. I like all the guys they've got there now. I'm great friends with all the coaches.

"I like the offense they run now. It's a pro-style offense ... run the ball first, play action. I don't really want to be in a spread offense or anything like that where they want a running QB. None of that translates to the next level."

Nova is ranked the No. 11 pro-style quarterback in the nation.

Blue Chip Imaging Hit Its Mark With Elijah Shumate

Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep is home to plenty of top talented each year and one of the school's best cornerbacks in recent memory is only a rising junior.

Shumate wants to visit three schools.

Elijah Shumate has all the tools to be a lockdown college corner and that's a scary thought, as he still has two more years to develop before he starts playing college football. It's even more impressive when you consider that most schools will probably be looking at him as a safety. His coaches moved him to corner to show off his cover skills.

Lots of schools have verbally offered him -- 11 to be exact -- and plenty of others are sure to get involved as they find out more.

Shumate attended a Boston College camp with his teammates back in June and he said that trip went well. Most schools found out about him at the National Underclassmen Combine, where he did very well for himself.

North Carolina, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Georgia and Rutgers are some of the more recent schools to verbally offer him.

"(The offers) are based pretty much on the National Underclassmen Combine," Shumate said. "They like my cover abilities, my size and my speed. Plus my coaches have been in contact with a lot of schools telling them about me."

While Shumate won't come out and say he has favorites, it's clear that a few schools are on his mind.

"I'm open but I have three schools that I'm very interested in and I want to visit," he said. "Miami, Pittsburgh and North Carolina. I like those schools a lot.

"I like Miami because that's been my school since I was like four years old. I was born and raised on the Miami Hurricanes, watching them. My favorite player was Sean Taylor. That's my idol. They've shown interest. My coach went up there and he was talking to their coaches. He said I'm number two on their board so most likely they'll be offering soon.

"Pitt is a really good school and a lot of players I know went to Pitt. T.J. Clemmings and my quarterback Gary Nova. They've shown a lot of interest in me and they treat me real good. The coaches talk a real good game and they want me to visit. Everyone that's visited talks about how nice it is.

"With North Carolina, I've got family down there. My uncle and I have been in contact with some of the coaches. He's said it's a real good school and he said they've been talking about me big up there. I just want to see how it is and meet a lot of the players just to see how it is."

Shumate cannot receive written offers for a while, but he's already thinking about when he would like to make his decision. He does not think he will let the recruiting process drag on beyond the end of his junior season.

Last fall for Don Bosco he carried the ball 77 times for 900 yards and 15 touchdowns while recording 46 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks.

Blue Chip Imaging's Life Goal

“Our main objective is to give back to our community having embraced the family premise that “it takes a whole village”.   However, our ultimate goal is to help student athletes become conspicuous in order to gain entry in the recruiting process of elite schools and colleges.  Although, our focus will be to provide exceptional services through marketing and recruiting, the primary emphasis will be academic excellence.  The idea is to equip student athletes with enough tools to be able to function in this ever changing society.  Through this process hopefully, they will be able to attain their dreams and expand their body, mind and soul in a positive way.  Perhaps, that is why I encourage my son, Amir, who is one of my partners, to realize the importance of character and integrity.  Believe me; we care enough to give you the best because we want the best, particularly, for our young people.”

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