Preseason Top 40, Final Version

There isn’t much change from 1-20 from the original Preseason Top 40 posted in June, but there has been some shuffling from 20 through 40. With the final piece of evaluation – the 2010 season – yet to come, check out which prospects are included in this final version of the TheSabre.com’s Preseason Top 40.

Of the Top 40, 28 players have given verbal commitments. Only three of the top 10 prospects have committed, however, so certainly some big decisions are yet to come.

UVa leads all schools with 11 commitments from the Top 40. Virginia Tech comes in second right now with six. UNC has three recruits. Duke and West Virginia have two apiece while Clemson, Connecticut, Liberty and Marshall each have one commitment.


Preseason Top 40, Final Version

Curtis Grant

1. Curtis Grant – LB, 6-3, 220 pounds, Hermitage (Richmond)

Uncommitted

2. Dominique Terrell – WR/CB, 5-10, 170 pounds, Osbourn (Manassas)

Uncommitted

3. Demetrious Nicholson – CB, 5-9, 165 pounds, Bayside (Virginia Beach)

Uncommitted

4. Landon Turner – OL, 6-6, 300 pounds, Harrisonburg

Committed to UNC

5. Corey Marshall – DL, 6-1, 250 pounds, Dinwiddie

Committed to Virginia Tech

6. Travis Hughes – LB/RB, 6-1, 225 pounds, Kempsville (Virginia Beach)

Uncommitted

7. Clifton Richardson – RB, 6-1, 195 pounds, Menchville (Newport News)

Committed to UVa (soft verbal)

8. Quinta Funderburk – WR, 6-2, 200 pounds, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)

Uncommitted

9. Lafonte Thourogood – QB, 6-2, 210 pounds, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach)

Uncommitted

10. Jay Whitmire – OL, 6-7, 290 pounds, T.C. Williams (Alexandria)

Uncommitted

11. Ronny Vandyke – S/LB, 6-3, 200 pounds, South County (Lorton)

Committed to Virginia Tech

12. Daquan Romero – LB/DE, 6-1, 220 pounds, Phoebus (Hampton)

Committed to UNC

13. Anthony Harris – DB/WR, 6-3, 190 pounds, L.C. Bird (Chesterfield)

Committed to UVa

14. Caleb Taylor – LB, 6-0, 230 pounds, Phoebus (Hampton)

Committed to UVa

15. Rob Burns – DE/TE, 6-7, 230 pounds, Stone Bridge (Ashburn)

Committed to UVa

16. Michael Cole – LB/S, 6-2, 200 pounds, Cave Spring (Roanoke)

Committed to Virginia Tech

17. Tim Scott – CB/WR, 5-11, 175 pounds, Colonial Forge (Stafford)

Committed to UNC

David Watford

18. David Watford – QB, 6-1, 185 pounds, Hampton

Committed to UVa

19. Jake Goins – OL, 6-5, 280 pounds, Manchester (Midlothian)

Committed to Virginia Tech

20. David Dean – DT, 6-2, 285 pounds, Green Run (Virginia Beach)

Committed to UVa

21. Michael Holmes – RB, 6-1, 190 pounds, Harrisonburg

Uncommitted

22. Kameron Mack – S/ATH, 6-5, 200 pounds, I.C. Norcom (Portsmouth)

Committed to UVa

23. Eric Frohnapfel – TE, 6-6, 220 pounds, Colonial Forge (Stafford)

Committed to West Virginia

24. Diamonte Bailey – DE, 6-3, 220 pounds, Hermitage (Richmond)

Committed to UVa

25. Thompson Brown – DE/TE, 6-4, 240 pounds, St. Christopher’s (Richmond)

Committed to UVa

26. Ross Burbank – OL, 6-5, 285 pounds, Cox (Virginia Beach)

Committed to UVa

27. DeAndre Reaves – RB, 5-10, 180 pounds, Dominion (Sterling)

Committed to West Virginia

28. Sam Marshall – OL/DE, 6-8, 265 pounds, Chancellor (Fredericksburg)

Committed to Duke

29. Dewayne Alford – DE, 6-3, 220 pounds, Nansemond River (Suffolk)

Committed to Virginia Tech

30. Grant Jones – OL, 6-4, 280 pounds, Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg)

Committed to Liberty

31. Isaiah Battle – OL, 6-7, 265 pounds, Blue Ridge

Committed to Clemson

32. Jared Velasquez – DB, 6-1, 185 pounds, Robinson (Fairfax)

Uncommitted

33. Michael Nebrich – QB/ATH, 6-1, 190 pounds, Lake Braddock (Burke)

Committed to Connecticut

34. Chris Hall – QB/ATH, 6-4, 225 pounds, Dinwiddie

Committed to Virginia Tech

35. Raysean Richardson – LB/S, 6-0, 200 pounds, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)

Uncommitted

36. Timmy Keith – WR, 6-0, 200 pounds, Osbourn (Manassas)

Uncommitted

37 Reggie Owens – DB, 6-0, 180 pounds, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach)

Committed to Duke

38 Darius Lee – LB/S, 6-1, 205 pounds, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes (Alexandria)

Committed to UVa

39. Blake Frohnapfel – QB, 6-5, 200 pounds, Colonial Forge (Stafford)

Committed to Marshall

40. Marcus Harris – RB, 6-0, 175 pounds, Stone Bridge (Ashburn)

Uncommitted


Ones to watch

Neil Anthony-Hale – DB/LB, Maury

Breon Bailey – QB/ATH, Norfolk Christian

Mylon Blueford – CB, Oscar Smith

Kevin Buchanon – LB/DE, Maury

Damien Caison – TE, Warren County

Donte Capers – CB, Booker T. Washington

Cortez Carter – FB/LB, Liberty (Bealeton) Committed to Marshall

Damien Carter – LB, Amherst

Dan Chrost – TE/DE, Stone Bridge

Jason Creeden – OL/DL, Woodberry Forest

Austin Copeland – LB, Gar-Field

Josh Doggett – LB, Atlee

Trey Gardner – WR, Dinwiddie

Jaston George – DB, Oscar Smith Committed to Syracuse

Kevin Green – ATH, Petersburg Committed to Virginia

Iric Harris – CB, Hylton

J.T. Hornyak – DB, Woodberry Forest

Irabor Imobisa – OL/DL, Meadowbrook

Demetrik Jackson – RB, Thomas Dale

Anthony Johnson – WR, Mountain View

Keith Johnson – WR, Petersburg

Demitri Knowles – WR, Liberty Christian Academy

Chaz Lowery – OL, Ocean Lakes

Josh Mann – OL, Ocean Lakes

Jamil McGinnis – WR/DB, L.C. Bird

Connor Mewbourne – OL/DL, First Colonial

Michael Mey – ATH, J.R. Tucker

Alex Mosley – DL, Highland Springs

Christian Norton – LB, Deep Run

Tre Preston – LB/DE, Franklin County

Brendan Riddick – ATH, Hermitage

George Riddick – OL/DL, King’s Fork

Brian Rody – QB, Stone Bridge

Brandon Rogers – CB, Hermitage

Spenser Rositano – S, Stone Bridge

Max Sarmento – LB, Deep Run

Drayton Shanks – WR, Eastern View

Dallas Simmons – RB, Deep Run

Mason Thomas – DB, Kempsville

Joshua Trimble – DB, Bishop O’Connell

Josh Woodrum – QB, Cave Spring Committed to Liberty

Raheem Walker – DB, Maury

Derrion Walton – RB, Lake Taylor

Sedale Young – OL, William Fleming

Matt Zanelatto – WR, Lake Braddock


Revisiting UVa and VT offers

Here are the prospects that have been offered by both schools. How are the in-state rivals faring?

QB Lafonte Thourogood – Remains uncommitted. I like Virginia Tech’s chances in the end.

QB David Watford – Committed to UVa

RB Michael Holmes – Uncommitted. Things have been quiet on this front.

OL Jake Goins – Committed to Virginia Tech

OL Landon Turner – Committed to UNC

DL Corey Marshall – Committed to Virginia Tech

LB/S Michael Cole – Committed to Virginia Tech

LB Curtis Grant – Uncommitted. Alabama and Florida headline the out-of-state schools in heavy contention, while Virginia and Virginia Tech are definitely in this race as well in my opinion.

LB/RB Travis Hughes – Uncommitted. Travis has a top 5 of UNC, CLEM, MD, VT and LSU, in that order. He will take official visits to all five before committing. Virginia has not been eliminated but is on the outside looking in at this point.

CB Demetrious Nicholson – Uncommitted. UNC continues to lead, but Clemson, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech and others are being considered. I see Clemson and Virginia Tech as UNC’s biggest threats right now.

S Kameron Mack – Committed to UVa

RB/ATH Clifton Richardson – Committed to UVa. Richardson is only a “soft” commit to UVa, although I really think Virginia will be the school he signs with. He is not seriously considering Virginia Tech right now even though he remains open to other schools.

ATH Dominique Terrell – Uncommitted. Terrell has narrowed his list to LSU, Miami, Texas Tech, Virginia and Virginia Tech

ATH Ronny Vandyke – Committed to Virginia Tech


UVa’s in-state haul

Clifton Richardson

In-state recruiting is a major focus of the new coaching staff. With 12 commitments in the fold heading into the fall, Coach London and company should be pleased with their efforts thus far. Only one commitment is ranked in the top 10, but there are five other prospects currently sitting between 10 and 20. Virginia has beaten rival Virginia Tech head to head for three prospects, including running back Clifton Richardson , quarterback David Watford and safety/athlete Kameron Mack .

Clifton “Doodie” Richardson, the headliner, has the potential to be a stud running back. He has good size, shiftiness, quickness and toughness. Richardson is also a highly capable receiver out of the backfield, so he would bring versatility to the running back spot. What makes his commitment key as well is the fact that he hails from the Tidewater area, one of the more talent-rich areas of the state.

At last check, Doodie still claims to be a “soft” commitment to UVa. The way he speaks about the Virginia staff and his actions – he has made several visits to UVa since his commitment – signal that he is pretty solid, though, and at this point I expect he’ll follow through and sign with Virginia in February.

Remaining targets

If Virginia can turn in a good season and show that the program is going in the right direction, I believe Hermitage linebacker Curtis Grant could still be within reach. I do think the season is very important to Virginia’s chances, though.

Virginia’s remaining best bets right now include T.C. Williams (Alexandria) offensive tackle Jay Whitmire and unranked wide receiver Demitri Knowles of Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg). The Hoos also remaining the running with cornerback Demetrious Nicholson and quarterback/athlete Lafonte Thourogood but are on the outside looking in for linebacker Travis Hughes .