Recruiting Notes: Spring Game (Free)

The majority of Virginia’s class of 2014 were in Scott Stadium for yesterday’s Spring Game, but they weren’t they only recruits in attendance. A good group of prospects ranging from the class of 2015 to the class of 2017 were in Charlottesville as well.

Stay tuned for much more in the way of updates in the coming days, but here are some initial news and notes from the weekend.

OHIO OL VISITS

Winton Woods (Cincinnati, OH) offensive lineman George Brown Jr. didn’t stay for the Spring Game, but he did visit UVa on Friday. The 6’7”, 260-pound rising senior tweeted the following regarding his experience.

https://twitter.com/MADDAWG_G/status/454714695669518336

Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and UCLA are a sampling of the many schools that have offered the promising prospect.

SPRING GAME NOTES

– 4-star defensive end/outside linebacker Ricky DeBerry Jr. came away impressed with Virginia on the defensive side of the ball.

https://twitter.com/TheFranchize__/status/455075346367254528

The 6’3″, 245-pound prospect recently narrowed his list of schools to 20. Virginia made the cut and appears to have a real chance, provided of course the Cavaliers can get the job done on the field this coming season.

– 4-star offensive lineman Matthew Burrell Jr., a rising senior out of Hylton High School (Woodbridge, VA), did make it to Scott Stadium. He was joined by teammates Yannis N’Guetta (WR, Class of 2015, Highlights Here) and Donovan Williams (QB/ATH, Class of 2016, Highlights Here).

Like DeBerry, Burrell has visited Virginia numerous times already. UVa has a solid chance here. Other schools Burrell has tweeted very positively about include Penn State and Virginia Tech. He boasts offers from these schools as well as Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee, among others.

– Scout.com reports that Highland Springs (VA) rising senior wide receiver Felton Davis III had a “spectacular” experience at UVa yesterday. The 6’3”, 185-pound prospect visited Virginia Tech two weekends ago and could well end up deciding between the two in-state schools in the end, though at this point he names no favorites.

– Centreville (Clifton, VA) handled Oscar Smith in Scott Stadium last December in the Virginia 6A State Championship, so Taylor Boose, Justin Skule and AJ Turner must have felt pretty good stepping onto David A. Harrison III Field yesterday.

Skule, a rising senior offensive lineman, and Turner, a rising senior running back/defensive back, have been offered by the Hoos. I haven’t checked in with Boose, a potential fullback prospect, just yet, but he had not been offered by the Hoos prior to yesterday’s visit.

– UVa commitment Juan Thornhill, a free safety prospect out of Altavista (VA), made the trip. The 6’2″, 175-pound rising senior helped his school’s varsity basketball team to a state title last month. He has three state championships under his belt in high school (two basketball, one football).

– Cornerback Levonta Taylor has already received double digit scholarship offers, establishing himself as one of the top corners in the class of 2016. The Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) standout was in Scott Stadium yesterday and will finish up the trip today. He was joined by Dolphins teammate and classmate Anthony Womack, a safety prospect.

At this point only Taylor has been offered by Virginia, but Womack certainly is very much on the radar.

In addition to these prospects, the following others were confirmed to be at the Spring Game on Saturday…

Class of 2015

– Sun Valley (Monroe, N.C.) long-snapper Tyler Griffiths (no Virginia offer)

– Liberty (Bealeton, VA) offensive lineman RJ Proctor. The 6’4”, 290-pound prospect has not been offered by Virginia but recently scored one from ODU, which is the first school to offer. Proctor looks impressive physically and I could see him getting an offer from the Cavaliers down the road, but right now the coaches are still evaluating.

– Middle Creek (Apex, N.C.) place-kicker/punter Michael Rubino (no Virginia offer)

– Dinwiddie (VA) athlete Denzel Williams, a 6’2”, 195-pound rising senior (No Virginia offer just yet)

Class of 2016

– Glen Allen (VA) rising junior wide receiver Cole Blackman, a 6’2”, 185-pound prospect (No UVa offer)

– Hermitage (Richmond, VA) all-purpose back Sylvester Mayers, a 5’7”, 155-pound prospect (No UVa offer)

Class of 2017

– St. Christopher’s (Richmond, VA) rising sophomore Alex Faniel has made the in-state rounds of late, visiting Virginia Tech two weekends ago and UVa yesterday. The 6’4”, 210-pound prospect is listed as a quarterback/tight end/strong safety on the St. Christopher’s Hudl.com page.

– Patrick Henry (Ashland, VA) outside linebacker/defensive end Brad Gholson