Hargrave Military Academy closing post-grad football program

The school cited a number of NCAA issues for the decision.

By Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Apr 19, 2013, 3:44pm EDT

Longtime football power Hargrave Military Academy will discontinue its postgraduate football program at the end of the 2012-13 academic year, the school announced Friday. In a statement, the school cited changes in the NCAA landscape.

The landscape for postgraduate athletes and football programs has changed. This includes: college's desire to have their student-athletes on campus by spring semester; NCAA changes and restrictions on colleges hosting postgraduate football teams on their campuses; and eliminating competition with the college junior varsity teams.

Hargrave, located in Chatham, Va., has long been known as an outsized supplier of talent for major college football teams. The school has produced many college and NFL standouts, including Ahmad Brooks, Torry Holt, Jay Ratliff and Carlos Rogers. Of the top 25 prep school prospects in the Class of 2013, according to Rivals, 13 were from Hargrave, including the top player, defensive end Shaq Lawson, who signed with Clemson.

Hargrave stated in the release that its basketball program will not be affected, saying "The Tiger's (sic) postgraduate basketball program will not be affected by this change and allows the basketball program to continue its success for years to come."