Andre Sterling has found what he needed at Virginia's Hargrave Military Academy.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back has spent the fall semester at Hargrave after graduating from Farragut High School in May.

Sterling, who plans to enroll at Ole Miss in January, said the move to Hargrave wasn't easy, but it was necessary.

"For me I think the discipline part was a big thing because in high school most people don't really have discipline," Sterling said. "When you go to college football that's what you need. I think it's helped me out a lot."

It's helped Sterling in the classroom as well.

Sterling enrolled at Hargrave with the goal of becoming a better student.

"That's a big part of my life right now, is academics," Sterling said. "Before my senior and junior year (at Farragut) I didn't really think about it much, but when I got to Hargrave I just knew that I had to crack down.

"It was a little while before I caught on. When I started catching on everything got easy."

Sterling has also had to catch on to a higher level of football.

Sterling said the increased competition at Hargrave has helped him prepare for Ole Miss.

"Everybody can run and hit, and everybody's strong," Sterling said. "It's like a mini college."

Sterling's talent was on display at Neyland Stadium last Thursday night when Hargrave took on Tennessee's junior varsity team.

Sterling led Hargrave in rushing with 25 yards on five carries in the 37-21 loss to UT.

The loss was disappointing, but the return to Knoxville gave Sterling a chance to catch up with family and friends.

"I saw a whole bunch of people," he said. "Being up there for three months and not seeing the people that you see every day, it was a good experience to come back home after being away for so long."

Sterling will be away for even longer when he heads to Ole Miss.

Sterling said he's kept in touch with coach Houston Nutt and the rest of the Rebels staff during his time at Hargrave.

"I think they're doing a pretty good job with recruiting," Sterling said. "I think we're going to be alright regardless."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.