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said in a release. Corney, a linebacker recruit, initially planned to attend Fork Union Military Academy (VA) this fall before enrolling at Virginia in January of 2013.
“Originally we talked to Trent about the possibility of attending a prep school before enrolling at the University,” Virginia head coach Mike London on VirginiaSports.com. “When the opportunity became available for him to enroll this fall he elected that option. We’re happy to welcome him to the 2012 recruiting class. He has a lot of natural athletic ability and we expect he will play linebacker at Virginia.”
“I knew they wanted me for 2012, but they already filled their offers up so I didn’t really think it was possible,” Corney wrote in an interview over Facebook.
UVa offered a scholarship to Corney back in January, and he verbally committed to Mike London on March 28. He didn’t sign a letter of intent before the final signing date of April 1, though, which is why he signed the scholarship agreement. He leaves for UVa on July 1 to enroll in the school’s third summer session.
“I’m ready for it all,” wrote Corney when asked if he was ready for college life and major college football. “It’s what I’ve been dreaming about since I was little.”
As a senior, Corney helped Thousand Island Secondary to an Eastern Ontario championship in 2011. He scored 16 touchdowns on just 35 carries. He also played linebacker for the Pirates. Corney is accomplished in track, capturing the gold medal in the Boys Under-18 Javelin event at the 2011 Youth Track and Field Championships. Thousand Island track coach Jack Weststrate says that Corney is a multiple provincial medalist, in sprints, jumps and throws.
In an April interview with TheSabre.com, Weststrate said the following about UVa’s newest addition to the 2012 class: “When we speak of Trent as the total package athletically it is almost an understatement. Trent’s raw skills are off the scale. He has amazing springs and speed for a 6’3″, 240-pound young man. He is extremely powerful… with all of his strength and jumping test results being off the scale. What is even more impressive about Trent is his incredible work ethic. He is totally self-motivated and strives to become better every day. He is also a great student of the game… he wants to know every biomechanical and physiological aspect of his training.”
H-back or tight end have been floated as possible positions for Corney, but obviously linebacker is where he’ll start out his career in orange and blue. Outside linebacker is the likely spot.
Corney has a college-ready body right now, but he’s keeping expectations low for his coming freshman season.
“I’m not sure,” Corney wrote when asked if he hoped to play as a true freshman. “It would be nice. It depends on how fast I can learn. I feel like I could play special teams right away.”
Depth Chart
Virginia’s spring depth chart at linebacker looked like this (scholarship players only):
SLB: Daquan Romero (Soph); Tucker Windle (Sr)
MLB: Steve Greer (Sr); Henry Coley (Soph); Caleb Taylor (R/S Fr); Windle
WLB: LaRoy Reynolds (Sr); DJ Hill (Soph); Darius Lee (R/S Fr)
UVa loses three seniors, including two starters, after the 2012 season. Corney shouldn’t be expected to make an immediate contribution, but the fact that he’ll be able to learn the system should prove valuable with respect to adding depth for the 2013 season.
Corney will be the third sure-fire linebacker in Virginia’s incoming class, joining middle linebacker prospect Kwontie Moore and outside linebacker Mark Hall . Demeitre Brim , who could get a look at safety, probably will be a linebacker as well. Brim showed up at the Spring Game at 225 pounds, certainly looking more like a linebacker than safety in terms of size.
