South Jersey football notes

Paul VI senior Matt Barnett has committed to attend Wagner University on a football scholarship.

Barnett also was involved with Boston College, Navy, and Connecticut, among other programs.

"I felt like it was the right place for me," Barnett said.

Wagner, on Staten Island, N.Y., is a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) program that plays in the Northeast Conference with schools such as Monmouth and Sacred Heart.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Barnett, who lives in Washington Township, was a four-year varsity player at Paul VI. A fullback and linebacker, he helped the Eagles to three division titles in his career.

"He's one of the best players and people I've had the opportunity to coach," Paul VI coach John Doherty said. "Wagner got a special kid. He will have a great four years there."

Barnett said Wagner's coaches project him as a "fullback or big tailback-type" but he could switch to defense. He had seven sacks for Paul VI last season.

Barnett said he plans to major in criminal justice.

Merriweather commits. Eastern senior Darius Merriweather has committed to Southern Illinois, an FCS program in Carbondale, Ill., that plays in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The 6-2, 195-pound Merriweather projects as a strong safety or outside linebacker for the Salukis, according to Eastern coach Dan Spittal. Merriweather will join former Eastern player Ron Baines, now a freshman cornerback, at Southern Illinois.

Spittal said Eastern junior cornerback Eli Woodard, a speedy, 6-1, 185-pound athlete, is drawing major recruiting interest. Spittal said Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Rutgers loom as Woodard's top three.

Recruiting visits. Triton defensive end/quarterback Brian Keller has narrowed his college choices to Lehigh, Lafayette, Bucknell, and Holy Cross.

Triton coach Pete Goetz said the 6-3, 225-pound Keller will visit all four schools before making a decision.

Keller was a first-team All-South Jersey selection as a defensive end.

Cherry Hill East's Brian Regan, a first-team All-South Jersey running back, will visit Bucknell and Lehigh, according to coach Tom Coen.

Cherry Hill East linebacker Matt Satchell will visit Colgate, and wide receiver/defensive back Rob Taylor will visit West Chester.

CAL realignment. Mainland athletic director Mike Gatley, the president of the Cape-Atlantic League, said the league is close to finalizing a realignment for football.