Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX) rising senior tight end Jack Witmer didn’t hide his excitement upon receiving a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia on July 22.
He tweeted: “WOW! Excited and extremely honored to have earned an offer from the University of Virginia to continue my academic and athletic career!!! #GoHoos”
In an interview with TheSabre.com, he said: “Initially I was at a loss for words. UVA is an incredible school with some of the top academics in the country and one of the best football teams too. I`m still on cloud-9 from this offer. I can’t express into words how excited I am about this opportunity.”
UVA coaches followed up quickly with a series of Zoom meetings, allowing the 6’7”, 235-pound 3-star prospect the opportunity to get to know the entire coaching staff, tour UVA virtually, etc. Last week, Witmer toured the Grounds in person despite not being able to have face-to-face contact with the staff.
Today, Witmer made it official: He will be attending the University of Virginia.
“I am honored to announce that I am committing to play football at one of the best academic and athletic universities in the nation, the University of Virginia. I would like to thank God for the opportunities, abilities, and passion that He has given me,” Witmer wrote in the tweet below.
“I would also like to thank every coach, in both football and basketball, that has seen my potential, trained, and guided me to be a better athlete, teammate, and man,” Witmer continued. “Thank you to the coaches who have put their time and interest in getting to know me and my family through the recruiting process. And, thank you to my teammates for the countless hours you’ve put into training on and off the field; I’m a better person because of each of you.
“Lastly, thank you to my parents and family for being my biggest supporters and helping me reach my dreams. I wouldn’t be here today without you all.
“#GoHoos #THEStandard21”
COMMITTED #THEStandard21 #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/RYvAC4EdpM
— Jack Witmer (@_jackwitmer) August 5, 2020
Witmer’s commitment fills a need, as tight end is a position Virginia has clearly been targeting in this class. He will be the third scholarship tight end on the roster when he arrives in Charlottesville in 2021, joining Grant Misch, who will be a redshirt junior, and Josh Rawlings, who will either be a redshirt freshman or sophomore.
Witmer, who earned All-17-6A District First-Team and Academic All-District honors each of the past two years, says the Virginia coaches “believe I can be the next NFL tight end out of the program. I think they see me very much in the same way as [Central Michigan graduate transfer Tony Poljan] as we both had the same build coming out of high school. I think they love my height and ability to block.”
Virginia checks all of the boxes Witmer said he was looking for in his college of choice. In addition to UVA, he considered scholarship offers from Air Force (interest in football and basketball), Central Florida, Iowa State, New Mexico and Toledo. Ivy League programs Columbia, Dartmouth and Yale offered as well.
“I’m looking for a school that will challenge me academically as well as athletically,” Witmer said in the previous interview with TheSabre. “I plan to major in business so a school with a strong business school and alumni network are what I’d love to have. Athletically I want somewhere where I’ll be able to compete for a spot and be used well as a tight end.”
Virginia Football’s Class of 2021
It has been evident that UVA wanted at least one tight end in this class, and they finally get one in Witmer, who combines great size and is a talented athlete. He should have time to develop, as Misch, Rawlings, and walk-on Mike Kosar should be able to man the tight end position in 2021. None of those players will be seniors that season.
Virginia now boasts 20 commitments in this class. Addressing the offensive line with at least one more prospect is certainly on the wish list. An all-purpose running back/H-Back and defensive lineman also appear to be on the staff’s radar position-wise.
– Javin Burke, Athlete, Bradley Central (Cleveland, TN)
– Jesiah Davis, Wide Receiver, Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
– Malachi Fields, Athlete, Monticello (Charlottesville, VA)
– Amaad Foston, Running Back, John Milledge Academy (Milledgeville, GA)
– Ty Furnish, Offensive Lineman, Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, GA)
– Micah Gaffney, Cornerback, Spanish Fort (AL)
– Michael Green, Linebacker, Lafayette (Williamsburg, VA)
– Hugh Laughlin, Defensive Lineman, Athens Academy (Athens, GA)
– James Jackson, Outside Linebacker, North Cross (Roanoke, VA)
– Langston Long, Safety/Linebacker, Christ School (Arden, N.C.)
– Josh McCarron, Outside Linebacker, Archbishop Murphy (Everett, WA)
– Charlie Patterson, Offensive Lineman, Fellowship Christian School (Roswell, GA)
– Jacob Rodriguez, Dual-Threat Quarterback, Rider (Wichita Falls, TX)
– Aidan Ryan, Defensive Back, James Monroe (Fredericksburg, VA)
– Jonas Sanker, Athlete, Covenant (Charlottesville, VA)
– William Simpkins III, Cornerback, Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, MD)
– Logan Taylor, Offensive Tackle, Episcopal (Alexandria, VA)
– West Weeks, Linebacker, Oconee County (Watkinsville, GA)
– Jack Witmer, Tight End, Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX)
– Jay Woolfolk, Dual-Threat Quarterback, Benedictine (Richmond, VA)
