The 2012 Fork Union Military Academy (VA) postgraduate football program features two players — defensive tackle/offensive lineman Max Valles — from the University of Virginia’s 2012 recruiting class. I caught up with longtime FUMA postgrad coach John Shuman for the latest on these two, on and off the field.

Chavis, a product of Varina High School (VA), and Valles, who starred at St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.), signed with the Hoos this past February but fell short academically, which is why they are enrolled at FUMA. Of the two, Chavis has a much tougher road academically, but he and Coach Shuman are determined to make sure he makes it to Charlottesville next summer.

“He’s doing pretty good,” Shuman said. “He has got to get great grades. He’s a smart guy. He just has to hunker down. He can’t let up any day on his academics. If he gets behind, that’s it.

“UVa has told us what he needs to do. We have a plan. We’re on it. We’ve never had a kid not make it to UVa. There’s some pride there. We’ve got to get it done.”

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