Good Counsel (Olney, MD) wide receiver Darnell Pratt Jr. was one of three prospects spotted at UVA’s first day of preseason practice last Friday. Today, the 6’3″, 180-pound rising senior announced his verbal commitment to the University of Virginia.
BLESSED AND HONORED TO ANNOUNCE THAT I'M COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA #HOOSRISING17 pic.twitter.com/nRsdrTnjjx
— Darnell Pratt Jr.(@DJPratt21) August 9, 2016
Pratt, who also held offers Air Force, Army and Navy, among others, becomes the Cavaliers’ 19th commitment in the 2017 Class. Of the 19 commits, he is the first sure-fire wide receiver recruit in the class. Virginia landed four receiver recruits in 2016, including 6’1″ Cole Blackman, 6’1″ Joe Reed, 6’3″ Hasise Dubois, and 6’4″ Aidan Howard, so Bronco Mendenhall certainly is stockpiling some good size at the position for the years to come.
A good athlete, Pratt posted an electronically-timed 4.41-second shuttle and 30.5-inch vertical leap at Nike’s The Opening Regional in Washington, D.C., in April of this year. On his highlights below, he shows he can make difficult catches in traffic. Before seeing Pratt’s highlights, though, here is the latest look at UVA’s 2017 Class…
– Lindell Stone, QB, Woodberry Forest (VA)
– Lamont Atkins, RB, Lake Braddock (Burke, VA)
– PK Kier, RB, Millbrook (Winchester, VA)
– Darnell Pratt Jr., WR, Good Counsel (Olney, MD)
– Harry Crider, OL, Columbus East (Columbus, IN)
– Tyler Fannin, OL, Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA)
– Chris Glaser Jr., OL, Solon (OH)
– Bryson Speas, OL, Dudley (Greensboro, N.C.)
– Mandy Alonso, DT, Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL)
– Tommy Christ, DL, Dominion (Sterling, VA)
– John Kirven, DE, Woodberry Forest (VA)
– Ryan Thaxton, DE, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (Alexandria, VA)
– Matt Gahm, LB, Highland Park (Dallas, TX)
– Joey Blount, FS, Landmark Christian (Fairburn, GA)
– Darrius Bratton, DB, Fork Union Military Academy (VA) via William Fleming (Roanoke, VA)
– Zachariah Burton, DB, Penn (New Castle, DE)
– Germane Crowell, DB, Carver (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
– Terrell Jana, ATH, Woodberry Forest (VA)
– Brian Delaney, PK, Westfield (Chantilly, VA)
