Virginia football last signed a placekicker to a full scholarship in the class of 2018, when South Carolina native Hunter Pearson inked with the Hoos. Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL) rising senior star Will Bettridge, who verbally committed to the Cavaliers last week, will be the next when he signs a letter of intent in December.

The 5’11”, 165-pound Bettridge considered other full scholarship offers including Georgia Tech and LSU, which made the final five along with UVA, Florida State and Michigan. The latter two offered preferred walk-on opportunities to the Kohl’s Kicking and Kornblue Kicking 5-star prospect. Bettridge visited all five schools in the month of June before making what he called a “very tough decision.”

“It was pretty hard seeing all the schools and seeing what stood out and didn’t,” Bettridge said, recalling a busy month of June. “All it really took was a conversation with my family after each visit to see if we liked the school as a family or not. After I had the top 5 I was in between UVA and two others a lot, but ultimately I thought that UVA was the best fit for my family and I.”

Asked what separated UVA from the rest, Bettridge answered: “Definitely the family at UVA and how close the players are to all the coaches and how everything they do is together really stood out for me.”

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