Weekend Visitors: Louisville

UVA commitments Zachariah Burton, Tommy Christ, and Tyler Fannin, as well as top targets Tyran Hunt and Mekhi Becton, were among the prospects in Scott Stadium last Saturday to watch the Cavaliers take on 5th-ranked Louisville.

Hunt, a 6’6”, 275-pound senior out of Southampton (Courtland, VA), and Becton, a 6’6”, 300-pound senior out of Highland Springs (VA), represent two top targets at Virginia’s most important position of need in the class of 2017 — the offensive line. More specifically, Virginia is recruiting both players to play offensive tackle.

Hunt was on Grounds on an official visit. He has also taken an official to Syracuse and plans to take officials to Maryland and Virginia Tech this month. My personal take prior to last weekend was that Virginia Tech was the school to beat. However, as of yet I have not been able to gauge Hunt’s reaction to the Virginia official, so we’ll see if the Hoos were able to make a big move.

Becton, who will take an official visit to Michigan this weekend, has been on Grounds numerous times and developed close relationships with this staff. This past Saturday’s trip was another unofficial visit. Virginia remains one of the top contenders with Michigan and Virginia Tech also considered high on Becton’s list. A decision from the massive lineman isn’t expected any time soon, though.

Burton, who plans on graduating from William Penn High School (New Castle, DE) in December and enrolling on Grounds in January, took his UVA official this past weekend. The 6’1”, 185-pound senior seems to have had a great time.

Burton, defensive back Germane Crowell Jr., and running back Lamont Atkins have all signed grant in aid paperwork with UVA with the intent of enrolling in January of 2017. Atkins and Crowell made their official visits the weekend of the Pittsburgh game.

Christ, a senior defensive end prospect out of Dominion High School in Sterling (VA), has been on Grounds twice since receiving offers from Ole Miss and Penn State earlier this fall, a good sign if there was any concern about him reconsidering his Cavalier commitment. Christ’s brother, Jimmy, a 6’4”, 230-pound freshman, was in attendance as well. The brothers are Dominion’s starting offensive tackles.

Fannin is a 6’3”, 290-pound senior out of Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA). He was last in Scott Stadium for the Pitt/UVA game two weeks ago.

“It was awesome,” Fannin wrote in a Twitter direct message, discussing his UVA experience last Saturday. “Great atmosphere and so glad I was there. Had a great visit. I got to talk to Coach Mendenhall after the game. He talked about how the way we played and we finished meant the world to him and were clear signs of progress that will build our future.”

Other Confirmed Visitors

– Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) junior running back Justus Woods. Virginia, East Carolina, Northwestern, and Wisconsin are the reported offers for the 6’1”, 200-pound prospect, whose highlights you can watch below.

– Offensive/defensive lineman Teagan McDonald tweeted today’s visit at UVA was his first ever college visit. McDonald is a 6’4”, 265-pound sophomore.

Brandon Smith, TE/DE/LB, Louisa (VA), Class of 2020

This was the second visit Smith made to UVA in as many Saturdays, as he also attended the UNC contest. The 6’5”, 220-pound freshman is very much on the Cavaliers’ radar.