Eight 2008 Falcons To Play College Football
Falcon senior Jeremy Gray was huge part of Briar Woods success on the gridiron. Gray will take his talent to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a preferred walk-on...
Photo By: Chuck Moore / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Briar Woods' senior Ray Taliaferro will take his game to the next level in 2009. Taliaferro will be running the ball for Marshall University in West Virginia...
Photo By: Chuck Moore / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Senior Jake Ashton will travel to Elon University in North Carolina to continue his football career. He is projected to play either linebacker or safety at the next level...
Photo By: Chuck Moore / Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
ASHBURN, VA - No less than eight graduating members of the Briar Woods Falcons 2008 football team have agreed to play for their new college in 2009. These are the players who anchored the Briar Woods teams that won six, seven and eight games in their first three years of varsity football competition. Along with the win improvement, those seniors helped lead the Falcons to two straight playoff appearances. Falcons head coach
Charlie Pierce is "extremely proud" of these players. While he believes all eight have the physical ability to compete at the next level he is most confident about the character assets the players will bring to their new teams.
"These eight young men will be leaders on their new teams, regardless of the amount of playing time they earn. Their new coaches will be very impressed with all of them."
Running back Ray Taliaferro, all-time single season rushing leader in Briar Woods history will be carrying the ball in Huntington, WV for the Marshall Thundering Herd. Ray may get playing time at RB, DB or kick/punt returner. The Herd competes in the MAC conference.
Two wide receivers, Jeremy Gray and Jeff Simmons, will also play in the Division I Bowl Subdivision. Gray has preferred walk-on status with Southern Methodist University of Conference USA in Dallas, Texas. He may see action at WR or DB. Simmons will travel to Bowling Green Ohio where he has regular walk-on status with Bowling Green University of the MAC conference.
Three players have preferred walk-on status with teams in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Aaron Kakol and Jamie Caldwell will be playing fairly close to home. Kakol figures to compete for playing time on the offensive line at James Madison University of the CAA. James Madison won a national championship in 2004 and was a playoff team in each of the last four years. Aaron's counterpart on the offensive and defensive line Jamie Caldwell will also compete in the CAA with Towson University. He will be a contender for playing time on the
offensive line at center. Jake Ashton travels to Elon, North Carolina to play at Elon University in the Southern Conference. Jake projects to play at LB or safety.
Three-year starting center Richard Derrickson goes to Salisbury State University in Maryland. He has the size, strength, skills and desire to be a standout player in the Division III Atlantic Central Conference. And the versatile Bryan Mahoney stays in the Commonwealth with the NAIA University of Virginia-Wise of the Mid-South Conference. Bryan played safety for the Falcons as well as handling the punting duties. He will compete for playing time at both positions.
Finally two players, Michael Girolami and Austin DeMoss, will be preparing themselves for defending our country. Michael accepted an appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Austin has a Navy ROTC appointment at Virginia Military Institute.
