Asbury Park’s Bland-Bennett signs with WV Wesleyan
Will play on offense and special teams for the Bobcats
Asbury Park High School senior Daquane Bland-Bennett will head to West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV on an academic and athletic scholarship in the fall, according to a news release from the district.
Bland-Bennett officially signed Wednesday — National Signing Day — with the co-ed liberal arts college. He has played both running back and defensive back positions for the Blue Bishops since his junior year and will switch to playing slot on offense and special teams as a returner for the Bobcats.
In his time at APHS, Bland-Bennett helped the team advance to the Central Jersey Group I semi-finals for two consecutive years.
For the 2013 season, Bland-Bennett finished with 1,005 all-purpose yards, 445 rushing yards, six touchdowns, averaging 8.7 yards per carry. He was named to the All-Class B Central Division coaches team and will receive the coach’s award at the Blue Bishops team banquet later this month.
West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats Coach George Shehl said he is thrilled about this year’s recruiting class of student-athletes.
“It’s a truly exciting time for us,” Shehl said in the release. “Our staff has put in a ton of effort this off season recruiting high quality kids and we are excited to officially welcome them to our family.”
National Signing Day, usually held the first Wednesday of February, is the first day that high school seniors can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA].
Founded in 1890, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private residential college that is affiliated with The United Methodist Church. The College has 1,400 students and offers 44 majors and 34 minors along with graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, education, English creative writing, and nursing, according to their website.
[Photo at top: From left to right: Daquane’s father, John Bennett, Daquane Bland-Bennett, his grandmother Frances Bennett and mother Barbara Bland. Insert: Seated from left, Asbury Park Blue Bishop’s Head Coach Keith Killea, Daquane Bland-Bennett and Assistant Coach Matt Ardizzone. Standing from left, Vice-Principal Vincent Stasio and Athletic Director Dr. Walter Barrett.]
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