One of the first offers Mike London sent out as head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers was to 6-7, 230-pound defensive end Rob Burns , who received his official offer letter in late December. It was the first offer for the Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) rising senior, who has rewarded London and company with a commitment.
“He committed to Virginia,” Stone Bridge head coach Mickey Thompson said. “I didn’t know if he was going to go there or not, but what I think put Virginia over the top was Jeff Hanson. Rob really likes Coach Hanson’s demeanor and the way he teaches. He was looking for something to separate a school and I think Coach Hanson helped Virginia separate from other schools.”
Burns certainly had other options, eventually narrowing his list to four – Boston College, Penn State, Stanford and Virginia. He received written offers from each of these schools before committing to the Cavaliers.
Originally slated to play tight end last season as a junior, Burns moved to defensive end when teammate Dan Chrost went down with a knee injury. Burns moved over to defense and played very well, totaling eight sacks and earning first-team all-district, first-team all-county and second-team all-region honors for his play. He helped the Bulldogs reach the Group AAA, Division 5 state championship game.
With his size and athleticism, Burns could potentially play a number of positions – including defensive end, tight end or potentially offensive tackle – on the next level. UVa has been recruited him initially as a defensive end, though.
“I don’t think there is another defensive end in the country with his frame that can run like he can,” Thompson said. “And he plays with a lot of tenacity. He plays with a lot of energy out there. He does have some room to grow and needs to add weight, but he is a really good player. He moves well.”
Burns becomes high school senior #17 and the eighth prospect out of TheSabre.com’s Preseason Top 40 to commit to the Cavaliers. Stay tuned for much more on this commitment on the EDGE.
