TRACKING THE STARS OF THE FUTURE
 

Football Recruiting Report
Monday, July 20, 2015

By Sammy Batten


Wallace-Rose Hill star plans to enroll early

KEYSHAWN CANADY

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By Sammy Batten
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Asked to describe the kind of impact Keyshawn Canady has had on the Wallace-Rose Hill football program, head coach Joey Price recalls the first play from scrimmage in last year's 1-AA state championship game against Starmount.

Canady, a junior running back/cornerback, took a handoff on first down in the game played at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

“He took the handoff, cut back across the field and ran 72 yards for a touchdown,'' Price said. “That's the kind of player Keyshawn has been for us. He's made a lot of big plays at big times, be it running, catching, returning kicks or playing defense.''

The play sparked Wallace-Rose Hill to a 34-21 victory and helped earn offensive player of the game honors for Canady, who finished with 130 yards rushing on 14 carries.

The ability to create those signature moments at any time is a big reason a number of Football Bowl Subdivision programs offered the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder scholarships. But East Carolina pulled off a major in-state recruiting coup on July 13 by securing a verbal commitment from Canady following an unofficial visit to to the ECU campus.

Canady became the eighth member of the Pirates' recruiting Class of 2016 after turning down offers from Charlotte, North Carolina, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

“I think he just felt comfortable with the (ECU) coaching staff,'' Price said of Canady's decision. “It's not far from here, so his mom and dad don't have to drive far to watch him play like they would have to Winston-Salem. I don't think Chapel Hill was an option for him any longer after they changed defensive staffs. But he just fell in love with East Carolina. (Outside linebackers) Coach (Duane) Price put in a whole lot of time with Keyshawn.''

Price first became aware of Canady's talents as an eighth grader by simply “watching him in a straight-line run.'' Speed is one of Canady's many attributes. He's been timed at 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash and was clocked at 4.29 and 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash during a Shrine Bowl combine at Scotland High School in June.

Canady joined the Wallace-Rose Hill junior varsity as a freshman before earning a starting job on the varsity as a sophomore. He helped the Bulldogs to a 12-3 finish by collecting 60 tackles and four interceptions on defense, while rushing 29 times for 341 yards and seven scores on offense.

The performance merely set the stage for a breakout 2014 season for Canady during Wallace-Rose Hill's title run. In a single game against Pender County High, Canady touched the ball only five times, but turned those opportunities into two interceptions, 111 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

On the season, Canady produced 1,238 yard rushing and 20 touchdowns on 108 carries on offense, while making 72 tackles, two tackles for loss and four interceptions on defense.

ECU has recruited Canady as an athlete. Price believes his star could play on the either side of the ball, but likes him as a defender the best.

“He can lock somebody down at corner,'' Price said. “We put him on the other team's best receiver and because he holds that much down it eases the pressure on the rest of our defense.

“But he plays every position for us, including running back kicks. He's just a good player and a great athlete. He has a 39-inch vertical jump. He's a muscular kid who can bench 300 pounds and clean 300, so he's pretty strong. He may end up playing safety because he's a big kid who can run through those alleys and make big hits.''

Price compares Canady's skills to another FBS player he helped develop while coaching at South Columbus High School in Tabor City.

Bryan Dixon was a two-way star for the Stallions between 2003-2005, who wound up signing to play safety for North Carolina. Dixon lettered as a redshirt freshman for the Tar Heels, but injuries cut short his college career.

“Bryan was a multi-purpose kid, and Keyshawn plays a lot like him,'' Price said. “You could play them both anywhere on the field.''

Canady is planning a December graduation from Wallace-Rose Hill in hopes of enrolling at ECU for the spring semester of 2016.

The Pirates are also in hot pursuit of Canady's backfield mate at Wallace-Rose Hill, 5-11, 180-pound running back Johnnie Glaspie.

Glaspie earned MVP honors in the state championship game in part due to a 73-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He piled up 1,040 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns on 110 carries for the season, while contributing 69 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks on defense.

Appalachian State, Charlotte, ECU, North Carolina, Wake Forest and West Virginia have all offered Glaspie scholarships.

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07/20/2015 02:08 AM