Season recap: DeOnte Arnett
With Forestville's playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Maryland defensive end commitment DeOnte Arnett had his best game of the year.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder helped the Knights to a 14-0 win over Crossland on Nov. 1, keeping Forestville in playoff contention.
“It was a game we needed late in the year,” Forestville head coach Charles Harley said. “He had four sacks alone in that game, three tackles behind the line of scrimmage and he caused [a couple] fumbles. He had a real killer game.”
Forestville won the following week against Fairmont Heights to qualify for the postseason. The Knights were defeated in the first round by Dunbar.
Arnett recorded approximately 59 tackles, 13 sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries for 5-6 Forestville, according to Harley.
“He was double-teamed, triple-teamed; teams were running away from him the whole year,” Harley said. “It was frustrating for him [getting avoided] but he still had a pretty good year.”
Harley said Arnett, who projects as a rush end on the weak side in college, has one of the quickest first steps he’s ever seen.
“His explosiveness [is a major asset],” Harley said. “He gets off the ball faster than 99 percent of the players he played against.”
Arnett plans on graduating from Forestville in December and enrolling at Maryland in January. He’ll join former Forestville standouts Kevin Dorsey and Devonte Campbell -- both mid-year enrollees from last year -- in College Park.
“It wasn’t an easy transition for Dorsey, but he made things work out,” Harley said. “Knowing that he’s there will make it a lot easier for DeOnte.”
Harley said he expects Arnett to endear himself to Maryland fans pretty soon upon his arrival.
“He’s a hard-working young man who goes to class and who won’t get caught up in dumb things,” Harley said. “He plays hard every play.”
Comments
Matt- I know I am beating a dead horse here but, i just read another quote from Roscoe Smith about how high he is on the Terps. Is the memory of Len Elmore, Len Bias, Joe Smith, and others gone? Is there no loyalty? I mean, why is it so hard to land these guys? Is the Terps reputation that tarnished?
Also, I saw Kevin Dorsey mentioned above. Where was he this year? Same for Boykins? Finally, do you think that Cris Cosh's days are numbered at UMCP? Will CJ Brown be a 4 year starter? Please say yes.
Posted by: ryan | December 2, 2008 11:49 AM
Ryan -- I don't think the reputation of Maryland has been tarnished, but schools like North Carolina, Georgetown and Duke have obviously had more recent success and are thus 'hotter' programs in many recruits' eyes. That said, it's definitely a positive for UM that Smith is speaking highly about the Terps. Never say never in recruiting. As for Dorsey, he had a foot injury that kept him out all season. Both he and Boykins redshirted. I honestly can't speculate on any coach's future. Regarding C.J. Brown, I think there's a decent shot. He'll battle Jamarr Robinson and Danny O'Brien for the job in 2010. He seems like a pretty talented prospect.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | December 2, 2008 11:59 AM
I am a huge Maryland fan, but i also am brutally honest, so when i say this i mean it: CJ Brown will be the greatest quarterback the terps have had since Boomer Esiason. I live in Wexford, PA, and my school is rivals with his school.Although his team sucks and has not had a winning season in decades, he torched my schools defense, though we did win the game. Against another local school named Baldwin, he alone scored 6 touchdowns. This kid is the real deal and can do it all. He is, in my opinion, one of the top 5 dual threat quarterbacks in the nation!!(High School Quarterbacks)
Posted by: josh | December 2, 2008 5:25 PM