Central State Head Coach Bobby Rome isn't a new name in the 757 area code. The former University of Virginia- Lynchburg Head Coach is a Norfolk native who starred at Granby High School and helped the Comets capture their last Eastern District title in 2014, and knows the Tidewater area intimately.

That showed big when Rome and his Central State program out of Ohio recently offered four recruits in the seven cities.

Rome is the fifth head coach since CSU reinstated the program in 2005 under NCAA Division II governance. The Marauders were NCAA Div. II national runner-ups in 1983 and won NAIA national titles in 1990, 1992 and 1995. From 1997 up until the resurgence of the program in 2005, CSU did not field a football team.

Oscar Smith linebacker Tae'Ron Richardson, defensive end Jah'ke Hilliard, Norcom wide receiver Shyhiem Cannon, and new Maury running back Demonte Dunlap all received offers recently from the Marauders.

The offer for Richardson, who has been showing his skills in the GAME Academy 7-on-7 lately with Virginia High School Football games on hiatus until February, is his first to date.

"I've been working a long time to get at least one opportunity to play football at the next level," said Richardson, who was in on 110 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles in 2019 with the Tigers. "I've been through so much and I have to prove the doubters wrong. I know it's my senior year, so it's all or nothing."

We asked the four recruits about each other, and Tae'Ron was tasked with talking about current teammate Hillard.

"That (playing with Hilliard) would be great. We have been playing with each other since Middle School, so to go to college with one of my brothers would be great," Richardson said of Hilliard, who had 90 total stops and 10 sacks during a breakout campaign last season.