UVA Football Recruiting Notes: Hoos Make RB Walker’s Top 10

By: Chris Horne |

The past week has been an active one recruiting-wise for UVA football, which landed commitment no. 9 in the class of 2018 last Friday following its first “Friday Night Lights” football camp. Earlier today (June 5), Virginia made the top 10 for one of the top offensive prospects in the state of Virginia.

Top RB Target Announces Top 10

Hopewell (VA) class of 2018 running back Ronnie Walker has been high on UVA’s wish list for quite some time, receiving an offer from head coach Bronco Mendenhall in February of 2016. The Cavaliers’ recruiting effort have paid dividends as Virginia is one of 10 schools the star back revealed he is “focusing on” at this point in his recruitment.

Walker, who announced his top 10 via Twitter, adds that he is “still open to all other offers.”

Duke, Indiana, Michigan State, North Carolina, NC State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers and Virginia Tech made the list as well.

Top DT Target Franklin Announcing June 6

North Caroline (Ridgely, MD) star Jamion Franklin’s college announcement is set to take place tomorrow, June 6, at noon. Scout.com reports the decision is coming down to Notre Dame, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin.

On National Signing Day 2017, UVA’s Mendenhall lamented not being able to find his ideal nose tackle prospect. Franklin, who has been on Grounds multiple times, could be what he is looking for in the class of 2018. Unfortunately for the Hoos, Notre Dame has 100% of 247Sports’ eight Crystal Ball predictions for Franklin. We’ll find out for sure tomorrow.

Cavs Make Another Top DT Target’s Top 8

Virginia is still alive in the race for another top class of 2018 nose tackle target, Cam Goode. Goode tweeted his top 8 schools – Arizona, Indiana, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Temple, Virginia and Virginia Tech — on June 1. The 6’0”, 320-pound St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) rising senior writes that these eight schools are the ones he is “focusing on and entertaining heavily” while noting that the list could change.

UVA Out For Zubovic

UVA offered a scholarship but is now out of the running for 3-star offensive lineman Blake Zubovic, who released his top five this afternoon. The Pennsylvania class of 2018 standout is focusing on Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Virginia Tech.

Friday Night Lights

UVA’s inaugural “Friday Night Lights” camp series began last Friday night. Three more remain, taking place on June 9, June 16, and June 23. A “Monday Madness” one-day camp takes place on June 19 while a 7-on-7 camp and OL/DL camp take place on Saturday, June 24.

From a recruiting standpoint, the first “Friday Night Lights” event was a success as the Cavaliers landed a commitment from 6’7”, 240-pound offensive tackle prospect Bobby Haskins. Class of 2019 prospect Wandale Robinson, a product of Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky, was also pleased with the event.

The 5’9”, 170-pound rising junior plays running back and wide receiver at Western Hills. Obviously he impressed Coach Mendenhall enough at the camp to score an offer. Check out his junior season highlights below, courtesy of Hudl.

Virginia quarterback commit Wyatt Rector traveled all the way from Leesville, Florida, for the first FNL. UVA linebacker commit Javar Garrett tweeted that he plans to attend the second round this Friday.

As for Rector, it appears he had a great experience.

More Reported Offers

Woodbridge (VA) class of 2018 DL/OL Henry Chibueze reported a scholarship from the Wahoos last Wednesday, May 31. According to the below tweet, the 6’4”, 300-pound Chibueze has been offered by UVA as a defensive tackle. North Carolina, Temple and East Carolina are among the other schools that have offered.

Here are the Woodbridge standout’s junior season highlights, courtesy of Hudl.

Also last Wednesday, Northview (Dothan, AL) class of 2018 defensive tackle Anthony Pierce Jr. tweeted that he had been offered by the Cavaliers. Click here to view the tweet from the 6’1”, 295-pound rising senior and check out his junior season highlights below. Army, Navy, Troy and Tulane are among the other offers he has reported.