The University of Virginia football program has landed one of the top placekickers in the nation in the class of 2022. Will Bettridge, a 5-star prospect according to Kohl’s Kicking and Kornblue Kicking, has announced his commitment to UVA over Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU and Michigan.
“I would like to begin by thanking God for blessing me with the most amazing parents and sister,” Bettridge wrote in the tweet below. “I love you guys! I would also like to thank all of my coaches I have had throughout my career to get me to where I am today, especially Coach Sims for believing in me as a Freshman. I would like to thank Coach Brandon Kornblue, Coach Tony, Coach Kohl and the Cannon Family for helping me become the best specialist I can be! Thank you to everyone in the Gulliver community for always supporting me and helping me become a successful student-athlete. Lastly, thank you to all of the coaches that have taken time to recruit me, it is truly an honor! With that being said, I will be accepting a full scholarship and committing to the University of Virginia!!”
100% COMMITTED 🔶⚔️🔷@UVAFootball @UVACoachBronco @drewmeyer5 @RickyBrumfield pic.twitter.com/NjGGN08eCz
— Will Bettridge (@will_bettridge) July 8, 2021
Bettridge, who attends Gulliver Prep in Miami (FL), received full scholarship offers from Virginia, Georgia Tech and LSU, among others. The 5’11”, 165-pound rising senior had preferred walk-on opportunities with Florida State and Michigan. He visited all five finalists in the month of June.
Following his official visit experience in Charlottesville the weekend of June 25-27, Bettridge said: “Definitely loved the visit. It was a great visit and my family and I had a wonderful time. Academically and athletically it fits exactly what I’m looking for and the University can definitely prepare me for my future on and off the field. Felt very comfortable around all the coaches and players I was around.”
UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall and Special Teams Coordinator Ricky Brumfield “said I have an opportunity to come in and compete as a freshman which definitely is a plus,” Bettridge said.
Kornblue Kicking ranks Bettridge as the top underclass (class of 2022 and beyond) placekicker in the nation, while Kohl’s rates him as the no. 7 placekicker in the class of 2022. The standout prospect is coming off a productive junior season in which he connected on 91% of his field goal attempts on his way to earning All-Dade County and All-State First Team honors. A multisport athlete at Gulliver Prep, Bettridge plays basketball and baseball in addition to football.
The UVA coaches “like that I can make kicks and that I thrive under pressure,” Bettridge noted.
Virginia, which was the first Power 5 school to offer Bettridge a full scholarship, continues to enjoy success in recruiting Gulliver Prep under Coach Mendenhall. Defensive line mainstay Mandy Alonso was part of Coach Mendenhall’s first full recruiting class as Cavalier head coach. Rising sophomore walk-on cornerback/wide receiver Sean Moore and rising sophomore outside linebacker D’Sean Perry also hail from the Miami (FL) school. Gulliver’s varsity football program is guided by a former Hoo linebacker, Earl Sims, who was recognized this year as Miami Dolphins George F. Smith High School Coach of the Year.
Virginia Football’s Class Of 2022
UVA boasts 10 commitments in the class of 2022. Position-wise, the Hoos have one quarterback, one wide receiver, one tight end, two offensive linemen, one defensive lineman, two linebackers, one safety and one placekicker in the group. Offensive line pledge Joe Brown is part of the class, but he plans to take a two-year LDS mission after graduating high school with the intention of enrolling on Grounds in 2024.
– Will Bettridge, Placekicker, 5’11”, 165 pounds, Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL)
Rivals ranking: NR
247Sports ranking: 2-star; No. 3 kicker in the class of 2022; No 247 prospect in Florida in the class of 2022
Other rankings: 5-star, No. 1 underclass placekicker by Kornblue Kicking; 5-star, No. 7 class of 2022 kicker per Kohl’s Kicking
– Stevie Bracey, Linebacker, 6’1”, 215 pounds, The Lovett School (Atlanta, GA)
Rivals ranking: 3-star
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 78 linebacker; No. 64 prospect in Georgia
– Joe Brown, Offensive Lineman, 6’3”, 285 pounds, Lone Peak (American Fork, UT)
Rivals ranking: NR
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 36 interior offensive lineman; No. 16 Utah
– Karson Gay, Tight End, 6’6”, 225 pounds, Boyd Buchanan (Chattanooga, TN)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 32 Tennessee
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 33 tight end; No. 17 Tennessee
– Will Hardy, Defensive Back, 6’2”, 185 pounds, Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, GA)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 97 Georgia
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 86 athlete; No. 77 Georgia
– Anthony Holmes Jr., Defensive Lineman, 6’2”, 275 pounds, Westfield (Houston, TX)
Rivals ranking: 3-star
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 85 defensive lineman; No. 73 Texas
– Davis Lane, Quarterback, 6’2”, 195 pounds, Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg, VA)
Rivals ranking: 3-star
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 57 quarterback; No. 24 Virginia
– Trey McDonald, Linebacker, 6’4”, 225 pounds, Baylor (Chattanooga, TN)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 38 Tennessee
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 121 linebacker; No. 40 Tennessee
– Brody Meadows, Offensive Lineman, 6’7”, 315 pounds, Graham (Bluefield, VA)
Rivals ranking: 4-star; No. 35 offensive tackle; No. 12 Virginia
247Sports ranking: 3-star; No. 38 offensive tackle; No. 15 Virginia
– Dakota Twitty, Wide Receiver, 6’5”, 215 pounds, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (Mooresboro, N.C.)
Rivals ranking: 3-star; No. 75 wide receiver; No. 14 North Carolina
247Sports ranking: 4-star; No. 44 wide receiver; No. 10 North Carolina
