Jon Holts' family won't have to travel very far to see him play college football next season. On Tuesday, they gathered around the Spotswood senior, as he signed his letter of intent to play at JMU.

"It just feels good to be able to sign the paper now, get it all over with," says Holts after a brief ceremony at the school. "Everything's lifted off my shoulders. Now it's just time to go out there and have fun."

An ankle injury cut Holts' senior season at Spotswood short. But the injury didn't scare away the Dukes, who offered Holts a partial scholarship last week.

"Jon's as good-a-lookin' kid on the hoof as there is in the country," says JMU head coach Mickey Matthews. "I mean, he has the opportunity to be a great college football player. I mean, he's strong. We like everything about him."

The Dukes recruited Holts as an outside linebacker. He chose JMU over Maryland, William & Mary, Shepherd and Bridgewater, among other schools.