Landan Word’s visit to Virginia last Saturday went from good to great rather quickly.

“We were watching the very beginning of spring practice when Coach London walked over to me and told me I had a full scholarship there. He said if I wanted to make it official and commit there I could come up and tell him any time,” recalled Word, a sophomore linebacker out of Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.). He was accompanied at Virginia by his father and uncle.

The offer, Word said, “was completely unexpected. I didn’t know that would happen at all. We were all really excited. My father and uncle were proud of me, coming as far as I’ve come.”

Word’s father, Barry, played football at the University of Virginia before moving on to an NFL career. Landan grew up following the Cavaliers, saying he has been watching games in Scott Stadium “for as long as I can remember,” making Saturday all the more special.

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