Sabre Scoop: Countdown To Signing Day 2015

National Signing Day: Wednesday, February 4

Recruiting Calendar

A Contact Period is in effect until February 1, which is a Quiet Period. A Dead Period takes place from February 2-5. During the Contact Period, coaches can make in-home visits with prospects. Prospects can make official visits to schools during the Contact and Quiet periods, but they cannot visit schools or meet with coaches during a Dead Period.

UVa’s Class of 2015

With safety David Curry flipping to Georgia Tech, Virginia’s class now stands at 18. Two of those recruits – tackle Grant Polk and linebacker C.J. Stalker – have enrolled. Position-wise, the breakdown is as follows: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE, 3 OL, 1 OL/DT, 1 DT, 1 DE/OLB, 2 LB, 1 CB, 1 CB/WR, 1 S

Rankings-wise, UVa’s class is most highly regarded by 247Sports, which ranks the group no. 46 in the nation. Scout.com ranks UVa’s class no. 54 in the country, while Rivals.com has it at no. 59 nationally.

What To Watch For This Weekend Of January 23-25

OLB/DE is the top remaining position of need. Two uncommitted linebacker/defensive end targets with offers will be on Grounds this weekend on official visits.

St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) product Jordan Fox, who has held a Virginia offer for quite some time, is down to Stanford and UVa. Presumably a decision will come soon after this weekend’s trip, as Fox visited Stanford last week and has no other visit plans after this weekend.

Lakeland Christian (Lakeland, FL) prospect Eric Gallon received an offer from UVa last week. He is also considering Cincinnati and Middle Tennessee State, but if this weekend goes well I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him commit before heading back to the Sunshine State.

EDGE subscribers can read more on Gallon in the report I posted yesterday.

In addition to Fox and Gallon, UVa will host 6’5″, 230-pound defensive end/outside linebacker Naji Abdullah. The Sandalwood (Jacksonville, FL) senior is currently a Florida A&M commit but is looking forward to this weekend in Charlottesville. Where he stands in terms of an offer is unclear, but I hope to get more information as soon as possible.

Here are Abdullah’s senior season highlights…

Most of Virginia’s class of 2015 will be on Grounds on official visits this weekend. Only two — Warren Craft and Juan Thornhill — aren’t expected to make the trip, as both have basketball games to play in. Craft and his William Fleming (Roanoke, VA) teammates take on Rockbridge County tomorrow at the Roanoke Civic Center, while Thornhill, who is looking to lead Altavista (VA) to a third straight state title, guides the Colonels against Brookville on Sunday.

Updates on other class of 2015 targets…

– Colonial Forge (Stafford, VA) wide receiver target Gary Jennings will take an official to West Virginia this weekend. Jennings is also considering North Carolina and Notre Dame, but I feel the Mountaineers are Virginia’s top competition at this point. I like UVa’s chances right now, but this weekend is an important one.

– Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA) safety John Petrishen will take an official visit to Penn State this weekend. He has taken an official to Pitt and is scheduled to take an official to UVa next weekend.

– After losing one (David Curry), Virginia has offered another Buford (GA) safety prospect in 6’2″, 190-pound Steven Reese, who plans to take an official to Northwestern this weekend.

– Nash Central (Rocky Mount, N.C.) defensive end Houshun Gaines will be in Blacksburg on an official visit this weekend. Gaines has committed to Tech but took an official visit to Vanderbilt last weekend and is scheduled to take an official to UVa next weekend. Frankly, I’d be surprised if he follows through with the trip to Charlottesville, but we’ll find out for sure in the coming days.