Joey Blount informed his parents on Monday, March 28, that he had made his decision. He was going to commit to the University of Virginia, where his father, Tony, played safety from 1976-1979, when the family visited Charlottesville April 8-9.

“My mom was skeptical, and so was my dad,” recalled Blount, a 6’2”, 175-pound safety prospect out of Landmark Christian (Fairburn, GA).

“My dad said, ‘It’s up to you. If your heart leads you there, the decision needs to be your own. Nothing about me.’”

Joey followed through with his plans, pledging to new Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall last Saturday. The setting was perfect, with Blount committing the day many Virginia football alumni – including, of course, Tony — were on Grounds. Tony didn’t want to influence his son’s decision, but once it was made the former Cavalier standout didn’t hold back his emotions.

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