GO HOOSpic.twitter.com/E6GhEezVOq
— Lindell Stone (@lindellstone) April 18, 2016
The University of Virginia football program has received a verbal commitment from Woodberry Forest (VA) quarterback Lindell Stone, a junior rated as a 4-star prospect by 247Sports and a 3-star recruit by Rivals, Scout, and ESPN. Stone, a native of Dallas, Texas, chose the Hoos over offers from Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Tulane, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. He held some Ivy League opportunities as well.
“He had a great meeting with [the Virginia coaches],” Woodberry Forest head coach Clint Alexander said, adding that “a tipping point for him as always been academics.”
Stone’s original UVA offer came when Mike London was the Cavalier head coach. London is now on Maryland’s staff, while UVA is in the first year of the Bronco Mendenhall era. Stone met twice with the new Virginia staff this year, with the latter meeting being the one that boosted the Cavaliers to the top.
“[Stone and the UVA staff] didn’t have a great first meeting because I think they weren’t sure where they were with quarterbacks on the roster,” Alexander recalled. “Once they evaluated their needs, they did a great job of reaching out to him. Talking Xs and Os, Lindell was really comfortable with it. When he came back from that second meeting, I thought to myself, ‘I’d be really surprised if he’s not going to UVA.’ He just seemed comfortable and reassured.”
The 6’2”, 205-pound signal caller played seven games for Woodberry Forest his freshman season, throwing for 498 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. As a sophomore in 2014, Stone completed 40-of-58 passes while throwing for 392 yards with five touchdowns and two picks. He played in only five games that season, though, missing the final three contests with a broken collarbone.
With Stone as its starter throughout the entire season, Woodberry Forest went 8-2-1 in 2015. He finished the year with 3,494 yards passing, 39 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
“What I’ve always thought is the best thing about Lindell is that, as good a player as he is, he is 100-percent a better person,” Alexander said. “He loves practice. He’s the first one there and the last one to leave. Half the time we have to run him off the field so he’s not late to dinner. When your quarterback is that type of guy, that sets the tone for the rest of the team.”
UVA now boasts four commitments in the class of 2017, including Stone, center Tyler Fannin, defensive lineman Tommy Christ and safety Joey Blount. Virginia is very much in the running with another Woodberry Forest rising senior in defensive back Terrell Jana, who told TheSabre.com yesterday that Virginia is at the top of his list.
UVA had held a commitment from Woodberry Forest tight end John Kirven; however, coach Mendenhall and company want to reevaluate the 6’5”, 240-pound prospect before making a final decision on a scholarship. Kirven subsequently reopened his recruitment and has since earned an offer from Illinois.
