That decision came last week when the St. Albans native verbally committed to the University of Virginia…
By Dylan Butler
Kevin Ogletree didn’t want to wait. Once he was sure what college he was planning to attend, the Holy Cross wide receiver would make his decision.
That decision came last week when the St. Albans native verbally committed to the University of Virginia for the fall of 2005.
“The combination of being a good academic school and great athletics made it unmatchable,” Ogletree said of Virginia. “Plus the (Atlantic Coast Conference) is building every year and it’s probably going to be the best football conference in the country.”
Thanks to an outstanding performance at the prestigious Nike football camp, where Ogletree was touted as one of the top receivers, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior received scholarship offers from a bevy of big-time programs, including Penn State, Boston College, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Maryland and Indiana.
Ogletree, who has a 3.0 grade point average and already scored a 1,000 on the SAT, narrowed his choices to Virginia, Penn State and Syracuse before ultimately deciding to play for former Jets coach Al Groh in Charlottesville.
“Once I got there, I felt at home,” Ogletree said. “It’s a great place to be.”
Last year Ogletree finished with 40 receptions and 11 touchdowns, averaging 25.7 yards a catch to lead Holy Cross to an 8-3 record and a berth in the CHSAA ‘AA’ championship game.
Ogletree made a verbal commitment June 14 to play at Virginia beginning in fall 2005. The 6-1, 170-pound junior, who helped lead the Knights to an 8-3 record and a berth in the CHSAA ‘AA’ championship game, to lead the AA division.
Ogletree, who ran a 4.41/40 and had a 35-inch vertical leap at the Nike camp at Penn State in May, also had four interceptions at free safety.
“He’s a three-sport athlete and a very good student,” Holy Cross football coach Tom Pugh said of Ogletree, who is also a starting centerfielder on the school’s baseball team and a starting small forward on the basketball team. “He made a good choice.”
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
