The University of Virginia football program has added another promising defensive lineman and another promising in-state prospect to its class of 2021. Four-star defensive end Bryce Carter, a 6’3”, 250-pound prospect out of Chester, Virginia, announced Thursday (December 3) that he has pledged to the Hoos.
I want to thank God and every family member, coach, teammate, and teacher from little league all the way through high school that has helped me on this journey. I feel blessed to be recruited by all the schools through this process. With that said I’m committing to UVA🔹🔸⚔️ pic.twitter.com/8QPL7U693e
— Bryce Carter (@BryceACarter_9) December 4, 2020
Carter becomes the third defensive line prospect to commit to Virginia in the class of 2021, joining Athens Academy (Athens, GA) three-star Hugh Laughlin and Cane Ridge (Nashville, TN) standout Michael Diatta. Virginia may have a fourth defensive lineman in the class if former Varina (VA) star Lorenz Terry is able to follow through on his plans to enroll in January of 2021. Terry, who committed to but did not sign with UVA in the class of 2020, attended Fork Union Military Academy (VA) for postgraduate work this fall.
Virginia had serious competition in recruiting Carter, who also claimed scholarship offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech. He rose to prominence at Thomas Dale High School (Chester, VA) and played football for the Knights for three seasons before transferring to Life Christian Academy following the 2019 season. When he transferred, Carter reclassified from the class of 2021 to the class of 2022, but 247Sports reports that Carter will return to the 2021 Class. His first opportunity to sign with the Hoos comes in less than two weeks, as the Early Signing Period for the class of 2021 takes place December 16-18.
247Sports, Rivals and ESPN rank Carter as a 4-star prospect. In its 2021 rankings, Rivals has Carter as the no. 7 overall prospect in Virginia and the no. 20 strongside defensive end in the nation. In their 2022 rankings, 247Sports (57 nation, 3 Virginia) and ESPN (76 nation, 4 Virginia) have Carter among the nation’s top 100 prospects and top four in the Commonwealth.
In an EDGE article in February of 2019, Thomas Dale head coach Kevin Tucker described the then sophomore as “a monster” on the football field, adding, “He’s just like (now Notre Dame freshman running back) Chris (Tyree). He has a 3.8 GPA. He’s humble and modest. I’ve been blessed to have a good run of those guys.”
Below are highlights from Carter’s 2019 season at Thomas Dale, in which he earned all-region honors for his play on the defensive line.
Virginia Football’s Class Of 2021
UVA adds a talented athlete to the defensive line pipeline in Carter, who also matches physically with what Coach Mendenhall said recently the direction of the defensive line will be. A prototypical Cavalier defensive lineman will have height and be athletic. Carter fits the bill at 6’3″, 250 pounds. So do Laughlin (6’6″, 285 pounds), Diatta (6’5″, 260 pounds), and Terry (6’4″, 260 pounds). The Cavaliers feature 6’3″, 325-pound Jahmeer Carter, 6’6″, 250-pound Nusi Malani and 6’6″, 270-pound Su Agunloye in its true freshman defensive line class in 2020.
Virginia now boasts 23 commitments in the class of 2021. Eight prospects attend schools in the Commonwealth.
– Javin Burke, Athlete, Bradley Central (Cleveland, TN)
– Bryce Carter, Defensive End, Life Christian Academy (Chester, VA)
– Jesiah Davis, Wide Receiver, Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
– Michael Diatta, Defensive Lineman, Cane Ridge (Nashville, TN)
– 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)
– Noah Josey, Offensive Lineman, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, TN)
– 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)
