Virginia Football Recruiting Notes: Kollie, Barnes, Thornton Reveal Top Schools

By: Chris Horne |

Virginia was the first school to offer a scholarship to David Crockett (Jonesborough, TN) rising senior athlete Prince Kollie, who included the Hoos in the top 10 list he published on Twitter last week. Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wake Forest made the list as well.

The 6’2”, 200-pound Kollie has seen his recruitment skyrocket throughout this year. Virginia offered on January 29. On March 9 – the date of an EDGE recruiting report on TheSabre.com – Kollie held offers from Charlotte, Austin Peay, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Wake Forest, Marshall, Army, Kansas, Indiana and Virginia. He has since added Vanderbilt, Boston College, Louisville, Auburn, Georgia, NC State, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan State, West Virginia, Texas, LSU, Florida State, Mississippi, and, most recently, Notre Dame.

Virginia offered Kollie as a linebacker, a position the Hoos have enjoyed success in recruiting this year with commitments from Michael Green, Langston Long, Josh McCarron and West Weeks. He plays running back, safety, and linebacker in high school. He named safety as his favorite position, adding, “but really anywhere on the defensive side. It used to be wide receiver, but the defensive side of the ball has grown on me.”

Of UVA, Kollie said the following about the Cavaliers in the aforementioned EDGE report: “I can definitely see myself there. They have a great academic program that has been highly ranked in the country for a long time, and the football program won’t stop until they are at the top and I love that! I get along with all of the coaches really good. I got that welcomed feeling as soon as I got there.”

Asked what he is looking for in his school of choice, Kollie said: “I’m looking for a great academic program that gives me the best chance to be the best man and take care of my family with a thriving football program with a good fanbase.”

(I don’t usually post fans reacting to recruits on Twitter, but I thought this was a good one …)

Virginia Remains In Contention For Pair Of Maryland Stars

Three-star defensive back Ryan Barnes says that while his “recruitment is still open” he will be “focusing on these 15 schools at the moment.” The 6’2”, 180-pound rising senior’s list includes Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.

Analysts on Rivals.com and 247Sports have Notre Dame as the favorite to land the Quince Orchard High School (Gaithersburg, MD) standout, who is a teammate and classmate of Virginia football cornerback commitment William Simpkins.

One of Virginia’s top wide receiver targets revealed his top six over Memorial Day weekend. Dont’e Thornton, a 6’4”, 185-pound rising senior out of Mount St. Joseph’s (Baltimore, MD), announced Arizona State, Florida State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Southern Cal, and Virginia as his favorites.

Oregon is the favorite per 247Sports and also per Rivals. Thornton originally committed to Penn State in February of 2019 but reopened his recruitment last August. It appears the Nittany Lions are no longer in the running.

More Recruiting Notes

– Virginia remains in contention for 6’4”, 260-pound rising senior defensive line prospect Ryan Keeler, who revealed his top five schools on May 23. However, Rutgers is the outright favorite for the Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, IL) according to Rivals and 247Sports.

– The offensive line is one of Virginia’s biggest needs remaining in the class of 2021. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall said last week that the Cavaliers want to take four in this class. UVA is still in search of its first rising senior offensive line commit, and a few have recently eliminated the Cavaliers from consideration.

Texas offensive lineman James Brockermeyer (Just announced a final four of Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Texas). UVA offered James and his brother, Tommy, but barring a change will not landed either. Tommy Brockermeyer, who is also a rising senior, is considering a final five of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, LSU and Texas.

Illinois offensive line prospect Otto Hess is off the board having committed to Boston College.

UVA officially tossed its hat in the ring with a pair of rising senior offensive line prospects recently, offering scholarships to California native Thomas Cole and Hawaii standout Kalan Ellis. Cole has collected seven Pac 12 offers plus Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Virginia, among others. Ellis has been offered by Hawaii, Syracuse and Virginia.

– Virginia extended a scholarship offer to Jordan Hall, a 6’2”, 235-pound rising sophomore linebacker prospect out of James Monroe (Fredericksburg, VA). Hall also boasts an offer from Virginia Tech.

The Hoos are seeking to add to the recruiting success they have enjoyed at James Monroe. UVA football received a verbal commitment from James Monroe class of 2021 defensive back Aidan Ryan and will welcome a former Yellow Jackets star, linebacker Jack Hardy, into the program this coming season as a true freshman recruited walk-on.