Varina (VA) defensive lineman Lorenz Terry received a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia on September 14. On Wednesday night (October 2) the 6’5”, 245-pound senior announced via Twitter that he has verbally accepted the offer from head coach Bronco Mendenhall.
I am Beyond Blessed to say I have verbally Committed to the University of Virgina🔷🔶 #GoHoos @CoachBWolfe @Coach_Sooto @UVACoachBronco pic.twitter.com/bg0ilNMBu9
— Lorenz Terry (@LorenzTerry1) October 2, 2019
Terry’s first visit to UVA came on the day he was offered – September 14, when traveled to Charlottesville to see the Cavaliers take down the Florida State Seminoles. Varina head coach Stu Brown says the standout senior was tempted to commit on the spot.
“He was hooked,” Brown said.
Terry didn’t wait long, though. With tonight’s announcement he became the 12th prospect to pledge to the Hoos in the class of 2020. If Vic So’oto’s tweet is any indication, it appears UVA projects Terry – a defensive end and tight end at Varina – as a defensive lineman.
Home grown!!
LETSS GOOO!!
804 👉🏽 434#SILVERBACK ⚔️
— Vic So'oto (@Coach_Sooto) October 2, 2019
Coach Brown believes Terry may be scratching the surface of his gridiron potential no matter what position he ends up playing in college.
“I would describe Lorenz as raw,” Brown said. “That isn’t a bad thing. He needs to be coached up, but he has attributes you just can’t teach. He looks like a major college player. UVA offered, but a lot of other BCS schools were in here just because of how he looks.”
As he shifted his focus to football, Terry, who plays football and basketball at Varina, has seen his recruiting stock rise throughout this year.
“We encourage all of our players to play other sports,” Brown said. “Lorenz played football, basketball, but this offseason he didn’t play AAU and he just focused on weight training. He went from 220 pounds to 245 pounds. His transformation was tremendous. When he came into camp our offensive linemen couldn’t block him.”
Virginia coaches were impressed with Terry’s ascension on the field this 2019 season. So’oto was in touch after receiving senior season film from Brown, requesting Terry’s presence in Charlottesville for the Florida State game.
Four games into 2019 and the Blue Devils are 3-1 heading into this week’s showdown with a talented Lake Taylor (Norfolk, VA) squad. Varina’s lone loss was a double overtime defeat at the hands of defending state champion Manchester. The now future Virginia Cavalier’s good showing against the Lancers is just part of the success he has enjoyed early in 2019.
“He’s chasing down skill players he shouldn’t be able to chase down,” Brown said.
Terry will be Virginia’s first recruit from Varina since Doni Dowling signed in 2014, although Mendenhall coached two former Blue Devil players in Dowling and cornerback Tim Harris.
Virginia Football’s 2020 Class
– Ira Armstead, Dual-Threat Quarterback, Adams (South Bend, IN)
– Sam Brady, Linebacker/Athlete, North Lincoln (Denver, N.C.)
– Jahmeer Carter, Defensive Lineman, Archbishop Spalding (Severn, MD)
– Jimmy Christ, Offensive Lineman, Dominion (Sterling, VA)
– Ja’Darius Clark, Defensive Back, Alexandria (LA)
– Lavel Davis Jr., Wide Receiver, Woodland (Dorchester, S.C.)
– Dave Herard, Athlete, Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
– Donovan Johnson, Safety, Helen Cox (Harvey, LA)
– Jestus Johnson, Offensive Lineman, Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.)
– Joshua Rawlings, Tight End, Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh, PA)
– Lorenz Terry, Defensive Lineman, Varina (VA)
– Brandon Williams, Outside Linebacker, Isidore Newman (New Orleans, LA)
