Having trouble sorting through recruiting lists of dozens of players? Dial into our recruiting war room, and we’ll break things down for you. Here’s a look at Virginia’s commitments, needs and desires on offense for the 2005 class.

Comments

What a phenomenal start for the 2005 class. 2004, while solid overall, ended in disappointment with UVa missing out on several top prospects, including wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett (USC), wide receiver Doug Dutch (Michigan), defensive lineman Dwayne Hendricks (Miami) and Westfield wide receiver Eddie Royal (Virginia Tech). So far in 2005, UVa clearly leads the way among all Division I-A schools with an astonishing 17 verbal commitments. Three of the commitments are on Rivals.com’s current Top 100 list – offensive lineman Eugene Monroe (#11), inside linebacker Lamont Robinson (#89), and quarterback Vic Hall (#100). Needless to say, any disappointment following the end of the 2004 recruiting class has been quickly replaced by enthusiasm.

A big part of this year’s enthusiasm was the commitment of Eugene Monroe . Monroe, who is one of the highest-rated players ever to commit to UVa, could bring a lot more to the program than a bookend offensive tackle. Monroe’s commitment shows other All-American prospects that UVa is a serious contender and can land the top players in the country. As St. Peter’s Prep cornerback Mike Brown said in a recent update, “great players want to play with great players.” Great players do want to play with great players and, while the top targets will likely not come simply because Monroe has committed, it definitely makes UVa look more attractive among the perennial powers. To keep the momentum going, however, the Cavaliers must take their on-field play to the next level. More players may commit before the season, but an excellent season may help land any remaining blue-chip targets and could propel UVa to great things in 2006.

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