by Cliff Mehrtens



Several Davidson Day football players are drawing serious attention from college recruiters.

Quarterback Will Grier, a sophomore who led North Carolina with 49 touchdown passes last season, has visited several in-state colleges recently. East Carolina University coach Ruffin McNeil offered him a scholarship as soon as Grier arrived April 10, said Chad Grier, Davidson Day’s coach and Will’s father.

Five Davidson Day players - Evan Gates, Aaron Seward, Jordan Young, Mike Stevens and Jordan Brown – were invited as recruits to watch Appalachian State’s spring game in Boone on March 31.

Chad Grier said Gates, a junior receiver, is Appalachian State’s top recruiting target among receivers in the Class of 2013.

On April 1, Gates, Seward, Young, Stevens, Brown and Grier were invited to compete at the VTO Elite 100 combine at Mallard Creek High School. There were 198 of the state’s top high school players at the combine. According to Chad Grier, Brown ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine and Stevens ran the fastest Pro Agility Shuttle.

Mike Farrell, who writes for recruiting website Rivals.com, rated the top 11 skill-position players at the camp, and had Will Grier as the top quarterback at the combine, and the ninth-best player overall, Chad Grier said.

There was a showcase segment at the end of the combine for the top performers of the day. Ten wide receivers and five quarterbacks were chosen to compete in 1-on-1 drills. Davidson Day’s Young and Brown were chosen as receivers, and Will Grier was chosen as a quarterback.

Last season, Grier completed 250 of 398 passes (63 percent) for 3,785 yards and 49 touchdowns. Grier also ran 97 times for 925 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 9.5 yards per carry. He ran for seven two-point conversions, and passed for four others.

Davidson Day, playing its first varsity season, went 11-1 and won the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III championship.

Will Grier also visited four Atlantic Coast Conference schools – Duke, Wake Forest, North Carolina and N.C. State – in the past two weeks.

He visited North Carolina on March 30, and spent the day in Chapel Hill touring the campus, the Tar Heels’ football facilities, sitting in on the quarterback meeting and watching UNC’s spring practice. The Griers also attend the UNC’s home baseball game against Wake Forest.

“Will came away very impressed with the coaches and the school,” Chad Grier said.

On March 31, Grier’s tour went to N.C. State, where he toured the football facility and met with offensive coordinator Dana Bible and head coach Tom O’Brien.

Grier’s time at N.C. State was limited because he had to leave to play a Davidson Day baseball doubleheader just north of Raleigh. He hit three home runs in the doubleheader as the Patriots won both games.

Chad Grier said UNC’s recruiting coordinator was impressed with several Davidson Day players after watching game film.

Seward caught 65 passes, including 10 in the title game, for 1,075 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Gates had 53 receptions for 850 yards and four touchdowns. Jordan Young had 13 scoring catches among his 50 receptions for 675 yards, and Jordan Brown (32 catches, 563 yards, eight touchdowns) and Mike Stevens (27 catches, 469 yards, seven touchdowns) were solid targets.

Gates told rivals.com: “I went to Appalachian State last Saturday and they verbally offered me. Appalachian State is a beautiful campus and they are extremely nice. It’s kind of early to tell with them as it’s early in the process, but I want to get a better feeling for the coaches.”

Gates said N.C. State, Duke and North Carolina are showing interest, as are Georgia and Wake Forest.

He plans to visit N.C. State, Duke and North Carolina, and attend several summer camps.