Landstown's Freeze Commits
Julian Freeze decided he didn't want to wait any longer. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound defensive end / outside linebacker hybrid out of Virginia Beach's Landstown High School made his college call on Friday by committing to the James Madison University Dukes out of the Colonial Athletic Association.
Albany, Charlotte, East Carolina, Elon and Youngstown State were among the others that recruited Freeze. A trip to Harrisonburg sealed the deal for the Class of 2017 prospect.
"The biggest thing for me was what a JMU degree could bring me in the future. That separated them from the rest and the visit just solidified my decision," Freeze told VirginiaPreps.com.
"Getting to meet the coaches, talk to them and see JMU campus was really good. The coaches really liked my athleticism and my versatility where I can play different positions on the defense."
Freeze is the third player from the Tidewater area, more commonly known to fans as the '757' area code, to select the Dukes. Also having given pledges this summer JMU were Lake Taylor linebacker Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, who did so in July on ESPN Radio 94.1, and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy linebacker KeShaun Moore.
"More than one coach said it's good having players from in-state because it's good for the family," Freeze noted. "Your support stays with you, which is vital for the experience."
Last season as a junior, Freeze was named Second Team All-Coastal Conference 1, registering 33 total tackles, 19 for loss and 12 quarterback sacks. What are the Dukes getting in him?
"A worker. We're going to play him at defensive end, but he's going to play outside linebacker there. He's a great athlete. I'm very excited for him because he deserves it," stated Landstown Head Football Coach Tommy Reamon.
"You give him three meals a day and in the weight room, he'll put on some pounds and have the ability to play great football. We're very proud of him."
JMU has a first-year Head Coach in Mike Houston, who comes to the Dukes after previously serving as the sideline boss at The Citadel. On his staff is former Virginia Tech assistant Bryan Stinespring, known to many in the Hampton Roads area for years.
"I saw Coach Houston up at the Redskins camp last week and had a chance to shoot the breeze with him. They're getting some good football players," added Reamon.
"Stinespring we know is a great recruiter. They've got some great energy going with Coach Houston and I like where they're headed."
Having his college commitment out of the way allows Freeze to breathe a sigh of relief. He's looking to help Landstown achieve its first playoff berth since 2011, also the last time the team had a winning record.
"This really helps me focus just on the season because we have a good team this year," believes Freeze. "The chemistry on and off the field is great. We love playing together. We are ready as a team to prove people wrong and end this playoff drought."
Matthew Hatfield has covered football and basketball since 2004 for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network, and is a staff writer for Tar Heel Illustrated. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and don’t forget to listen to him every Saturday at 10 AM on ESPN Radio 94.1, plus watch him on the Cox 11 Sports Report.