The University of Virginia has attracted talent from Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, TN) in the past. Former Cavaliers standout tight end Tom Santi and walk-on running back Christian Waddey are examples. Mike London and company hope to strike again in 2012, having offered 6-6, 265-pound offensive lineman Blake Bars .

“He’s a great kid. A great worker,” MBA head coach Daniel McGugin said of Bars, who has been offered by Arkansas State, Boston College, Florida, Louisville, Mississippi State, Penn State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Virginia. “He’s a very unselfish player. He’s just a great guy to coach because he wants to be good. Blake is always positive. He was on our freshman team. His sophomore year, he was a good backup on the varsity. He started this past year, and he was good enough to get recognition from Virginia and Florida and a lot of other schools.”

Bars starts at tackle in high school but potentially could move inside on the college level.

“I think he has the ability to play guard or tackle,” McGugin said. “He is a tackle for us. He’s 6-6 almost, but he also has the feet and the ability to play guard. He probably projects as a tackle. He’s still a fairly young junior.”

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