Since 1972, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy has been awarded each season to the college football triangular series winner among service academies Army, Navy and Air Force.
That trophy will take on more significance in Hampton Roads as several local football players signed with service academies Wednesday on national signing day.
Woodside defensive end Breyden Byrd, Norview defensive end Donovan Everette, Cox wide receiver Dominic Wilson and Smithfield running back Chris Gundy all signed with Navy. Kellam linebacker Kemari Copeland signed with Army. And Salem defensive end Isaiah Henderson signed with Air Force. Some of these athletes signed during the early signing period in December.
“Words can’t describe how grateful I am,” said Byrd, who is rated the No. 19 senior in Hampton Roads. “You have to look beyond football because football isn’t going to be forever. And what if you get injured? You still want to be OK. … Navy was it for me. It’s a prestigious school and a great education. It was a no-brainer.”
Copeland, who was rated the No. 28 senior in Hampton Roads, chose Army over Navy.
“I just felt more at home at Army,” he said. “The coaching staff called me every week.”
He knows that military schools aren’t for everybody, but he’s thankful for this opportunity.
“You get to go there and play big-time football, and get a great education that will set you up for life,” he said. “I’m just very thankful and honored to be able to play football at the next level.”
Everette, who was rated the No. 25 senior in Hampton Roads, had other offers. But after sitting down with his parents, he knew Navy was the right place for him.
“It means a lot because it’s my future,” he said. “I felt like that’s where I wanted to be, that’s what was planned for me and that’s my destiny. I’ll be set up for life after football, and that’s most important to me.”
They aren’t the only players from Hampton Roads playing at service academies.
Tyhier Tyler (Woodside), Nick Stokes (Kempsville), Noah Knapp (Catholic) and Brandon Jones (Catholic) all played for Army last season.
Drew Wilder (Jamestown) and Justin Smith (Ocean Lakes) played for Navy.
Here’s a look where some other Hampton Roads football players in the Class of 2021 are going to college:
Luke Bevins (Ocean Lakes): Christopher Newport
Joey Campbell (New Kent): VMI
Da’Jon Evans (Maury): Virginia State
Desmond Green (Salem): James Madison
Wade Grubbs (New Kent): West Virginia Wesleyan
Logan Istre (Ocean Lakes): Apprentice School
Devin Jones (Bayside): Johnson C. Smith
Malaki Jones (Salem): Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire
Jaden Mahan (Ocean Lakes): West Virginia Wesleyan
Payton Payne (Nansemond River): Emory & Henry
Ayden Pick (Bayside): St. Andrews
Douglas Pruim (Gloucester): Frostburg State
Julian Soriano (Nansemond River): Emory & Henry
Anthony Waddler (Wilson): Johnson C. Smith
James Wade (York): West Georgia
Brendan Wallace (Cox): Hampden-Sydney
James Woods (Ocean Lakes): Greensboro College
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
