New Englands best favors PSU, Maryland

The top player in New England has offers from both Maryland and Penn State, his two favorites. So where will Norwich (Conn.) Norwich Free Academy athlete J.J. Justice play?

"Right now Penn State and Maryland are his top two choices in no order," said James Justice, the father of the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder. "He got offers from both schools out of camp. He's also interested in Boston College, Virginia, Purdue, Syracuse and Notre Dame. BC is third on his list and Notre Dame is now in the mix as well.

"He's waiting on offers from Virginia and Notre Dame, he has offers from all the others."

Justice, who ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at Virginia and Maryland camps and a 4.5-second 40 at Boston College, can play numerous positions in college. As a quarterback at Norwich Free Academy, he threw for 20 touchdowns and ran for another 15.

"He had almost 2,000 total yards on offense," his father said. "On defense, he barely had any stats because the games were over by the half. Every game was a blowout."

Most schools want Justice as a safety or linebacker.

"BC wants him as a safety and so does Maryland it seems," he said. "Penn State wants him as a linebacker, but they also said he could be a safety. He could also play quarterback or running back anywhere, but most schools want him for defense."

Originally, Justice wanted to head south and play for a warm weather school. However, that doesn't seem to be a factor anymore.

"It's good for Maryland and Virginia and we're looking at Auburn as well, but it's not a big factor anymore," he said. "I want the best situation for J.J."

Penn State seems to be applying the most pressure for an early commitment.

"They've told us that they can't wait forever, so there's a chance he could commit by August," his father said. "But that would only be if he's certain. Right now I think official visits will be taken and he'll decide later."

Justice's father played running back at Syracuse in the early 1970s. Does that help the Orangemen?

"I've heard some people there say I have orange in my blood," he laughed. "But where I played has no impact on what is best for J.J. I think he could be a terrific quarterback at Syracuse and they said he could play wherever he wants, but right now Penn State and Maryland are on top with BC being the local favorite."