QB De’Vante Cross Is UVA’s First Commitment In Mendenhall Era

By: Chris Horne |

Just over two weeks after being named head coach of the Virginia football program, Bronco Mendenhall extended a scholarship offer to Parkland (Allentown, PA) dual-threat quarterback prospect Devante Cross.

“[The UVA] coaches told me they looked at quarterbacks all over the country, ones who are dual-threat and run the Zone Read, and he is the number one guy on their list,” Parkland head coach Jim Morgans said of Cross, the Pennsylvania Football News 2015 4A Offensive Player of the Year.

Virginia’s pursuit of the 6’2″, 195-pound senior paid off today, when Cross announced that he had verbally committed to the University of Virginia. Cross, becomes the first prospect to commit to UVA in the Bronco Mendenhall era, was on Grounds on an official visit this weekend. He will sign a letter of intent with the Cavaliers on Wednesday, February 3.

Cross originally committed to Boston College last October, but the Eagles recruited the dynamic athlete as a defensive back. UVA, though, wants him to play quarterback, where he totaled over 4,000 yards of offense as a senior in 2015, passing for 2,948 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushing for 1,385 yards and 19 touchdowns.

“First of all, he’s an outstanding athlete. He’s also a heck of a basketball player,” Morgans said. “He started for us as a sophomore. In his first game as a sophomore we kind of played two kids, but we knew he was probably one of the best athletes on the team. He won that position and has been starting ever since. We’re averaging about 14 games a year, so he has a lot of experience under his belt. He holds every record for us, rushing and passing. This year he was close to 3,000 yards passing and 1,500 yards rushing.”

With Cross in the fold, Virginia will now sign two quarterback prospects in the class of 2016. The Hoos also have a commitment from Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.) standout Sonny Abramson, who pledged all the way back in November of 2014.