Checking In On Virginia Football’s Class Of 2022

By: Chris Horne |

The University of Virginia football recruiting class of 2022 grew to 14 last week, when twin brothers and speedy skill athletes Dominique and Marcus McKenzie pledged to the Hoos. Most of the Cavaliers’ recruits, including the McKenzie brothers, are at or near the midway point of their senior seasons, well past time for a look at how they are performing.

Defensive lineman AJ Holmes has been a stalwart on the defensive line for Westfield (Spring, TX). ~ Photo credit: AJ Holmes’ Twitter account

Checking In On Virginia Football’s 2022 Class

– Davis Lane, Quarterback, 6’2”, 195 pounds

Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg, VA) opened its 2021 campaign with a 60-14 win over Magna Vista. Lane completed 5-of-8 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns (67, 13), and rushed three times for 28 yards and a 15-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs remain unbeaten heading into tonight’s matchup with Rustburg. Since the opener, LCA has downed Bassett, 45-28, Franklin County 56-26, and Brookville 35-7. Versus Bassett, Lane completed 5-of-11 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown (31 yards) and rushed four times for 19 yards. He was nearly perfect versus Franklin County, completing 8-of-9 throws for 102 yards and a touchdown (25 yards) while rushing for 62 yards and two scores (1, 15) on six carries.

Lane had a long run and a touchdown pass in the victory over Brookville. Highlights from this game are below.


The future Cavalier signal caller has posted highlights from his first three games on Hudl. Check those out below.

– Xavier Brown, Running Back/H-Back, 5’11”, 175 pounds

Lexington Christian (Lexington, KY) is rolling through 2021 and takes a perfect 5-0 record into this week’s bye. Lexington Christian faced previously unbeaten teams each of the past three weeks, coming away with a 37-14 win over Christian Academy of Louisville, a 43-7 romp of Lexington Catholic, and a 31-14 victory over Pikeville.

Brown had two rushing touchdowns, including a 66-yard scoring run, against Pikeville. A 45-yard punt return, 91 yards rushing, and a rushing touchdown were on his stat sheet versus Christian Academy of Louisville. In addition, Brown racked up 221 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 35-28 win over Boyle County.

– Dominique McKenzie, Wide Receiver, 6’0”, 175 pounds

McKenzie and his twin brother, Marcus, are Virginia’s two most recent commitments in the 2022 Class, although they don’t plan on enrolling on Grounds until 2024, following a two-year LDS mission. According to MaxPreps.com, the speedster racked up 27 receptions for 658 yards (24.4 YPC) and eight touchdowns in Pine View’s (St. George, UT) first five games. Pine View is 5-1 heading into an October 1 matchup versus Crimson Cliffs (4-3).

– Dakota Twitty, Wide Receiver, 6’3”, 205 pounds

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (3-1) is looking to rebound from its first loss of the season (55-7 to Shelby) when it takes on East Gaston (3-2) on October 1. In TJCA’s most recent win, a 42-0 drubbing of Bessemer City, Twitty excelled on both sides of the ball. He tallied eight catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns, had an interception return for a touchdown, and recovered a fumble.

According to MaxPreps.com, Twitty has totaled 17 receptions for 339 yards and four scores in four games.

– Karson Gay, Tight End, 6’6”, 225 pounds

Not much in the way of statistics (there are senior highlights below) for the consensus 3-star senior, who plays tight end and defensive end on a Boyd Buchanan School (Chattanooga, TN) squad that is 2-3 entering an October 1 contest against Chattanooga Christian. Boyd Buchanan crushed Columbia Academy last week, 53-20.

– Joe Brown, Interior Offensive Lineman, 6’3”, 285 pounds

Brown has helped Lone Peak (American Fork, UT) to a 4-1 record. His team faces a challenge tonight (10/01) against a 6-1 Skyridge team.

Like the McKenzie brothers, Brown plans on taking a two-year mission trip before enrolling on Grounds.

– Brody Meadows, Offensive Lineman, 6’7”, 290 pounds

Meadows and his Graham (Bluefield, VA) teammates are 4-0 so far in 2021. Outside of a 1-point victory over Union, Graham has cruised, winning by an average margin of 30 points and recording two shutouts. Meadows sees action on both sides of the line for the G-Men, but he is being recruited as an offensive lineman by UVA.

– Keyshawn Burgos, Defensive Lineman, 6’5”, 235 pounds

Burgos stars at Matoaca High School (VA) in the metro Richmond area. The Warriors are off to a great start in 2021, compiling a 4-0 record that includes victories over Glen Allen (former UVA standout Perry Jones is head coach) and Thomas Dale. The latter almost always fields a strong team, and this year is no different with sophomore quarterback Ethan Minter already holding a Virginia offer. Matoaca bested Minter and company, 21-14.

Per MaxPreps.com, Burgos has 17 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks his senior year.

– Anthony Holmes Jr., Defensive Lineman, 6’2”, 275 pounds

Holmes Jr., a standout senior at Westfield High School in Spring, Texas, has been extremely productive through four games, tallying 45 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, six sacks, two pass deflections and one forced fumble according to MaxPreps.com. Westfield and Spring High School square off Friday night (Oct. 1) in a matchup of unbeaten programs.

– Stevie Bracey, Linebacker, 6’1”, 225 pounds

Bracey attends Lovett School (Atlanta, GA), the alma mater of current UVA star linebacker Nick Jackson. He has helped Lovett to a 3-2 record that includes a one-point loss to South Atlanta. Lovett’s only loss was by nine points, so the program has been competitive in every game. Tonight (Oct. 1) they take on Pace Academy, which is guided by head coach Chris Slade.

Bracey plays tight end and linebacker. Per MaxPreps.com, he has four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, two blocked field goals, and 48 tackles (36 solo) with one forced fumble.

– Trey McDonald, Linebacker, 6’4”, 225 pounds

McDonald has helped Baylor School (Chattanooga, TN) to a 5-1 record heading into tonight’s (Oct. 1) showdown with unbeaten McCallie. Baylor School has published stats from five of McDonald’s games. The line for the future Hoos is 34 tackles and three sacks.

The Wisconsin native posted midseason senior highlights on Hudl.com.

– Will Hardy, Safety, 6’2”, 185 pounds

The Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, GA) star two-way player was outstanding in his team’s 24-18 victory over Westminster last week, tallying seven tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and two interceptions on defense. He added 118 all-purpose yards in what was GAC’s first win of the season.

Hardy is being recruited by UVA as a safety. He has played well defensively, totaling 63 tackles (36 solo) with eight tackles for loss, and four interceptions (two in each of the past two weeks). He has proven himself a force on special teams as well with two blocked field goals and on offense, where he has tallied 13 receptions for 206 yards and two scores as a receiver.

– Marcus McKenzie, Defensive Back, 6’0”, 175 pounds

While Dominique is being recruited by Virginia as a receiver, Marcus is more likely to wind up playing defensive back, although he receiver is not out of the question. Marcus has 12 receptions for 226 yards and two scores, as well as an interception for Pine View (St. George, UT) so far this season.

– Will Bettridge, Placekicker, 5’11”, 165 pounds

The Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL) senior has lived up to his billing as one of the most highly rated kickers in the country. In four games he is credited with 21 touchbacks in 23 kickoff attempts, a perfect 17-of-17 on extra points, and 6-of-10 on field goal attempts (these numbers are from MaxPreps.com). Gulliver Prep, which is guided by former UVA linebacker Earl Simms, is 4-0.

Bettridge was in Hard Rock Stadium last night to see his future team in action.