After rushing for more than 1,000 in each of the last two seasons, Manalapan’s Dave Presby will be carrying the football for Monmouth University.
Presby made it official signing his National Letter of Intent to the West Long Branch school.
The Manalapan High School senior had many colleges courting him, but thatwas before his official visit toMonmouth.
"I enjoyed everything about Monmouth," said Presby. "It’s local so my parents can come to games and watch."
The long tenure of Kevin Callahan, who called Presby often letting him know of Monmouth’s interest, was a big factor.
"He’s the only coach they’ve had and he’s still there," said Presby. "They have a good tradition."
Presby, unlike many of his scholastic peers, did not start football early at the Pop Warner level. It wasn’t until he was a freshman at Manalapan that he played it for the first time. He quickly developed a fondness for the sport and its physicality. By his junior year, he became one of the leading runners in the Shore Conference, taking the Braves to the state playoffs. He backed that 1,000-plus-yard season with another one last fall.
Presby is the rare back that combines both quickness and strength. He can turn any play into a long gain, or get that 1 or 2 yards needed for a first down.
Looking back on bumps and bruises that gowith playing football and especially a running back that carries the ball often, Presby remarked, "it was all worth it."
Another Manalapan High School star, Ashtyn Foley, also signed her National Letter of Intent. The soccer player is going to continue her academic and athletic career at Rider University.
"It has a good [soccer] program," she added. "I met the players and they made me feel comfortable."
The academic programat the college was also important to Foley, who will major in business/advertising-marketing.
Rider is also close enough for Foley’s parents to come and watch her play.
"It’s the best feeling," she said of making her college choice.
Foley, who plays midfield and forward, knows the challenges awaiting her at the Division I college level.
"Physically, the girls are much stronger off the ball," she pointed out.
Foley was a four-year letter-winner at Manalapan, helping make the Braves a perennial state playoff team.