By Paul Long
This article is reprinted online with permission from the Danville Register and Bee. “Massie Makes Splash by Signing with Mississippi” first appeared February 5, 2009 in the Register and Bee. Paul Long is a Register and Bee sports writer.
In early December, more than 200 assistant coaches from colleges throughout the eastern United States gathered on the tiny campus of Hargrave Military Academy. Their mission: To take a closer look at some of the top young players in the country during the Hargrave postgrad football program’s annual winter workout.
Just one head coach from a Division I program made the trip that day: the University of Mississippi’s Houston Nutt. And on Wednesday morning, Nutt’s personal touch paid off when the Rebels landed one of the most coveted prizes in the 2009 recruiting class, Bobby Massie. The 6-foot-8, 330-pound offensive lineman was ranked as the No. 1 prep school player in the nation by Rivals.com.
Sitting in the front of a packed Hargrave auditorium shortly after 11 a.m., Massie injected some drama into the proceedings, slowly lifting an Alabama cap off the table in front of him, raising it to his head and then abruptly tossing it over his shoulder before donning an Ole Miss hat instead.
“Coach Nutt, I like everything he’s doing down there with that program,” Massie said. “It’s a place I want to be — (win the) SEC championship, make a run for the national championship.”
Massie, a native of Appomattox, was one of nine Hargrave players to make their college choices official on National Signing Day, and one of two to sign with Mississippi. Defensive back Darius Barksdale will also play for the Rebels next fall.
Others who signed on Wednesday included quarterback A.J. Blue (North Carolina), wide receiver Devin Figaro (Tulane), offensive lineman James Harrill (Gardner-Webb), tight end Philip Lefebvre (Campbell), offensive lineman Anthony Oden (Arkansas), wide receiver Garrick Piggott (Kent State) and linebacker Kent Walker (Kent State).
Massie said he was impressed by Mississippi’s pursuit of him, particularly since his arrival at Hargrave. “Since I’ve been here, they’ve been on me really hard,” he said. “I like the way they’ve been recruiting me.”
Hargrave head coach Robert Prunty said Nutt’s visit to Chatham may have been a difference-maker.
“Coach Nutt was the only head coach that came to the (workout),” Prunty said. “He came up here to the school and showed up. Bobby told me (Tuesday) night, he thought things through and he felt like Ole Miss was the best fit for him.”
Blue, a native of Gastonia, N.C., will fulfill a longtime goal when he arrives in Chapel Hill this summer.
“I always wanted to play for either Carolina or Virginia Tech growing up,” he said. “Once I really knew the system and everything, it definitely became Carolina. I think it’s just a great place for me, a great fit for me, close by my home.”
According to Prunty, Blue made the right choice. “A.J. is a very versatile player,” he said, “a guy who can play quarterback in that wildcat formation, who can play all different positions. That’s very big for Carolina. A.J. Blue really matured here a lot, and I was really thankful for that.”
After winning just four games in 2007, the Tar Heels improved to 8-5 last season and played in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Blue believes the team is heading in the right direction under head coach Butch Davis.
“Four games to eight games,” Blue said. “Who says we can’t go to 10 or 11 games? I’m definitely excited about Butch Davis being there. I’ve talked to him one-on-one; he’s a great man. I feel like I can talk to him about anything. I feel like everything will go (well).”
