Recruiting update archives at links on right.
Armstrong Rumors True?
Yesterday, a report from the Insiders.com had Robert Armstrong committing to the Pittsburgh Panthers. As many Cavalier fans know, Armstrong had originally signed with Virginia in February of 2002 before being declared ineligible. He now plays for Fork Union Military Academy. Last night we caught up with Fork Union coach John Shuman. So, are the rumors true?
"Absolutely not," said Shuman. "The report is false. I can attest that I have been with Robert all day, and he has not used the phone or the internet all day. I just left him 20 minutes ago."
He continued.
"I think it is someone trying to activate some friction. Last week there was a rumor that he (Robert) was looking at Tennessee. Now it's Pittsburgh."
With the recent situation involving Ahmad Brooks, who also didn't meet NCAA eligibility guidelines, Cavalier fans may have been worried that Armstrong may have had some friction with the staff. Coach Shuman says otherwise.
"People are trying to create a situation where Robert is unhappy with Virginia because of the Ahmad Brooks situation," said Shuman. "That is not true. Robert is not upset. He knew the situation in the summer…he knew he was coming here and he made the decision to come here."
Coach Shuman assured theSabre.com that, to his knowledge, Armstrong is still very much committed to the Cavaliers.
"I am pretty solid in saying he is still committed," said Shuman. "Neither Robert or his mother have come to me and said they want to open up the process. I have not opened up the recruiting process at all. It's shut. Every school that calls asking for Keenan or Robert, I tell them they are closed. We haven't spoken with the Pitt coach since last Spring."
"If Robert or his mother come to me and want to open up the process again, I would" honor their wishes. "But they haven't done that."
As far as Coach Shuman knows, Robert Armstrong is still committed to the Virginia Cavaliers. No school has been able to recruit Armstrong up to this point, so a commitment anywhere else besides Virginia seems highly unlikely, if not improbable at the moment. Parent's weekend at Fork Union is in October, so we will keep an eye out to see if the Armstrong does indeed open up the process then (His mother could then instruct Coach Shuman to re-open the recruiting process).
As far as how Armstrong is playing, Coach Shuman had nothing but great things to say about the young man's progress. He noted that Armstrong "has done everything we have told him to do, and he has been excellent."
SuperPrep is reporting that tight end recruit Jonathan Stupar (State College, PA) is listing Virginia along with Florida State as his co-leaders.
Stupar, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end, is considered one of the best at his position nationally. He's a big kid with excellent hands. Rivals.com has him listed with four stars.
With a glaring need for depth and quality along the offensive line, the Virginia coaching staff is focusing heavily on recruiting top notch prospects who not only possess the size to play in the trenches, but who possess the skill and athletic ability to possibly contribute immediately. Coach Groh and co. got off to a promising start earlier this week when West Springfield's (VA) Marshall Ausberry and New Jersey's Gordie Sammis committed to the 'Hoos.
Ausberry was the first to commit this week, making his decision public on Monday. The 6-6, 330-pound mammoth prospect chose the Cavaliers over Virginia Tech and Marshall, both of whom had offered scholarships. In addition, Ausberry received heavy interest from Penn St, Maryland, Tennessee, South Carolina and Michigan State.
Ausberry has the athleticism to compliment his size. He has recently run a very respectable 5.2 in the 40. In the spring, Ausberry is the starting center for West Springfield's varsity basketball squad. Off the field, he is already fully qualified for NCAA freshmen eligibility.
This week, we were able to speak with Marshall about his recent commitment to the Cavaliers. He is very excited about the opportunities the University of Virginia presents to him and looks forward to officially becoming a Wahoo in the near future.
Interview with Marshall Ausberry
Why did you choose Virginia?
"UVA is a great school. It is a top academic school. Getting a degree from there is quite an accomplishment, and it gives me an opportunity to get a job right out of college. Also, the football program is on the rise. They had a top 5 recruiting class last year, so they have lots of talent. The NFL experience on the coaching staff is awesome. They have an NFL style. It will help me to learn a little bit about the pro game while I am in college, and hopefully I can use that experience and take it to the next level."
Why the early decision?
"I wanted to eliminate any pressure during my senior year. I have heard horror stories from other recruits, so I didn't want to deal with the pressure."
What other schools were in the mix?
"Well, Virginia Tech and Marshall both offered me early as well. UVA was just the place for me. It is only two hours away from home, and I didn't want to go too far away. I also received interest from Penn State, Maryland, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Michigan State. Those were the other schools that were really interested."
Do you expect to play early?
"Coach [Groh] said that they have preseason drills and games. Depending on how I can handle those games, the coaching staff may decide to redshirt me. Or I can decide to redshirt myself if I don't feel comfortable with where I am at. It basically is up to me, depending on how I feel. I would like to get a chance to play though."
How does playing basketball help you on the gridiron?
"Basketball is a great sport. It's fun and it helps with my footwork and lateral movement. I am a pretty big guy, so it helps me get in pretty good shape. Once I end basketball season I can continue training through the summer and push myself physically."
What now for Marshall Ausberry? What goals do you have for next year?
"Well, as a team, our top goal is to win the state championship. I want to help us win the title. Personally, I want to hit the weight room and be ready for next year. I want to work hard to improve in football. I want to improve in academics as well, because they are so important.
Have you thought about what your course of study will be at Virginia?
"I am thinking about majoring in Education, but for right now, I am not positive."
James Terry, a 6-2, 225-pound running back/linebacker from Woodbridge H.S. in Lake Ridge, VA has committed to Virginia. Terry runs the forty in the 4.5's and can bench 360 pounds. Terry is a versatile player who can play on either side of the ball. He could be Virginia's next bruising back, or he could end up helping the Hoos at linebacker.
Terry missed four games last season as a junior, but still amassed 700 rushing and 10 touchdowns. On defense as a linebacker, Terry finished the season with 70 tackles. Rivals.com lists him with three stars and has his player stock climbing.
Terry is the fifth commitment of the 2003 recruiting class for UVa.
Mike Farrell of Rivals.com is reporting on TheWagonOnline that Gordie Sammis has committed to Virginia. Sammis, a 6-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey, is rated three stars by Rivals and his stock is rising.
As a junior, Sammis was named Parochial all-state, all-county, all-area and all-conference.
This is the fourth commitment for the Cavaliers for the 2003 recruiting class. Sammis joins New Jersey linebacker Marvin Richardson, Virginia Beach safety Robbie Catterton, III and West Springfield offensive tackle Marshall Ausberry.
Mike Farrell of Rivals.com is reporting on TheWagonOnline that Marshall Ausberry has committed to Virginia. Ausberry, a 6-6, 330-pound offensive tackle from West Springfield High School in Virginia, is considered one of the state's top recruits for the 2003 class.
Rivals.com lists Ausberry as a three-star recruit, with his stock on the rise. Even at 330 pounds, Ausberry can still run the forty in 5.25.
This is the third commitment for the Cavaliers for the 2003 recruiting class. Ausberry joins New Jersey linebacker Marvin Richardson and Virginia Beach safety Robbie Catterton, III.
More to come in Thursday's SabreMail.
Chris Johnson, an offensive/defensive line prospect from Charlottesville High School, recently returned from the University of Virginia's summer camp. According to Johnson, the camp was an excellent experience.
"I had a great experience," said Johnson of his time at the UVa camp. "We mainly did drills, working on offensive and defensive line techniques. We worked a lot on hand positioning for both offensive line and defensive tackles. I also learned how to maintain blocks."
While Johnson can play both offensive line and defensive tackle, he prefers defense, and says that is where most schools are recruiting him.
"Most schools are looking at me to play defensive tackle," said Johnson, who recently ran a 4.9 in the forty to complement his 6'4" 255 lb frame.
Being from Charlottesville, many feel Johnson may be a lean to the Cavaliers. And while he certainly does like what the Cavaliers have to offer, Johnson may wait a while before making a final decision.
"Virginia is a good school," said Johnson. "But I am looking at Virginia, Maryland, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Stanford and UCLA - if I decide to look out west. I probably will decide before February, but I want to look around and take my time."
Currently, Johnson has two official scholarship offers, including one from the Cavaliers. He has been unofficially offered two more scholarships. For the summer, Johnson has not decided whether or not he will visit any more camps.
Recruiting guru Mike Farrell of Rivals.com is reporting on this week on TheWagonOnline that top in-state linebacker Vince Hall has put Virginia back on his list. TheSabre.com reported May 9th that Hall had taken the Cavaliers off his list of schools for consideration.
Hall, a 6-1, 240-pound linebacker from Western Branch H.S. in Chesapeake, says that he likes UVa because of Coach Al Groh's NFL coaching experience. Virginia Tech is still a strong contender for Hall's services, as are Clemson and Maryland.
Hall is arguably the best player in the state of Virginia and is listed by Tom Lemmings as one of the nation's best linebackers, and made Lemming's early national Top 100 list.
Catterton is very fast and has been timed at 4.4 at the Nike Camp and 4.39 at UVa's camp last summer. Catterton is known for his quickness and instincts on both the football and baseball fields, but his skills aren't limited to those two sports. Catterton also played goalie for his high school soccer team, so the term "all-around athlete" can definitely be used to describe this young man.
While only a few schools had offered Catterton before his commitment (Virginia, Wake Forest and Kent State), there were over 30 schools expressing strong interest, including Virginia Tech, Tennessee and Notre Dame.
Catterton is a hard hitter and will likely try out for safety when he arrives in July 2003. Catterton is also an exceptional baseball player. He chose Virginia primarily for academics, but the ability to play both baseball and football at UVa really sold him. Catterton will likely play outfield for the Cavalier baseball team.
Yesterday, TheSabre.com had the opportunity to speak with Robbie while he was in Charlottesville playing baseball at St Anne's Belfield. We also had the pleasure of speaking with Robert Catterton, Sr. as well as Robbie's high school head football coach Chris DeWitt. Here's what they had to say…
Comments from his father, Robert Catterton, Jr.
On the interest of other schools
“There were roughly 35 or so [schools] that had expressed interest before [his commitment to UVa]. It was amazing all of the mail that he got. They saw his Nike Camp performance and it started getting hot and heavy. After the one May period when [coaches] can call you on the telephone, he was getting six or seven calls a night. Carolina called twice one night. We were supposed to be at Tennessee on the 22nd, the day he committed to Virginia.”
On playing both sports
“Both of us sat in Coach Groh's office and talked for over an hour, and that was a specific question that we asked, and he said that he would give him the opportunity to try out for the baseball team.
“He'll probably play in the outfield. We've already talked to Coach [Dennis] Womack about that. I've spoken with Coach Womack several times. He was down for the tryouts for the Commonwealth and watched all of the players in the state. We talked a little bit – Robbie had been to his hitting camp in the winter, and as soon as they watched him run 6.5 [in the 60-yard dash], they said, 'We want you.' And, at the Commonwealth, he ran a 6.4, which was the fastest in the state.”
On Robbie's assets as a football player
“He's really aggressive and very smart. He seems like he knows what's going to happen with a play before it happens. UVa Coach Bob Price mentioned that Robbie's really instinctive. He mentioned that when Robbie was at his camp last year at the end of his sophomore year. We were supposed to go to Ohio State's camp, but Coach Price came down to the combine and said he really wanted to see him at the camp.”
On Robbie's toughness as a defensive back
“He likes to hit people. He plays outside linebacker in high school. Coach Groh took a serious look at him. When we sat in his office, he listed 16 things he liked from the tape he saw on Robbie.”
Comments from Coach Chris Dewitt
“He's lightning fast. He has absolutely killed people on some plays the last few years. He's been playing with our varsity since the 9th grade. He's just done an outstanding job. I think the University of Virginia is lucky to have him. I know they like him. Coach Groh studies more and more film every time I talk to him. He's watched hours of film. He knows almost play for play [Robbie's] highlight film. [Coach Groh] must have really evaluated him for a long time.
“[UVa's] going to use him at safety, but he plays outside linebacker for us. We do give him some deep responsibilities. I think he's going to do great there. I think Virginia had an edge over a lot of people because Robbie went to their camp last year. They actually got to see him play safety. A lot of schools wanted him to come to camps to see what he does over the top, but UVa already did. Robbie liked UVa. It was a good fit. I'm glad that Robbie made his decision and I think he's as happy as he can be about it.
“[On the football field], he sees things well. His presence is unbelievable, and he really gives one heck of a blow when he gets to you. He's forced many turnovers. In the last few years, he's caused probably 15 turnovers. Last year alone, I know he had five or six interceptions. He can hit and he can play, and he's enough of a football player to play strong safety.”
On Robbie's speed
“I'd say that Robbie is a 4.4 guy [in the forty]. I know he broke the Virginia Commonwealth 60-yard record at the baseball tryouts. Because he's so long and lean, the forty might not be his best. The only thing he hasn't done here is run track, and he could probably win some titles in the 100 and 200. His top end speed is unbelievable. Virginia Tech has Cedric Humes up there. One of the plays on the highlight film has Robbie walking down Cedric on a long run. And Cedric is a 4.4 guy. In football, we'll work with some of the players on their starts. But because of baseball, we haven't really been able to work with Robbie on the forty.”
On Virginia's efforts with Robbie
“All of the other college coaches did a great job, but Virginia is knocking down the doors to get the kids that they want, and that makes the kids feel good. They made Robbie feel good, and he's liked Virginia since I've known him. Robbie went ahead and pulled the trigger early, and that's good for everybody.”
Interview with Robbie Catterton
Why an early commitment to Virginia?
“I've always felt comfortable with Virginia. Coach Groh was the first person to send me a letter on September 1st. They Fed Ex'd a package saying that they wanted me. I went up there for three football games and two basketball games. And Coach Groh came into school on May 21st and officially offered me. They told me they had four senior safeties that were graduating this year, and will only have two on campus my freshmen year. I may have a chance to start or play early. The recruiting class that they got last year helped a lot, and I know they're only going to go up in their recruiting. The players that they're getting are going to be contending for the national championship."
What else helped you with your decision?
“The facilities are great and school is great. I know that, even if I don't make it to the NFL after Virginia, I'm going to be set with a job. It's close to home, although that wasn't much of a factor. I've been a UVa fan for a while.”
What will be your curriculum?
“I've been thinking about two things, sports management or pre-law, but I'm undecided. I'll think more about it next year.”
Who else was high on your list?
“Notre Dame has always been a dream school, but they haven't been getting the players that they used to get. Tennessee, Maryland, UNC, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State were up there.”
How important was it to be able to play baseball in college?
“That helped out a lot [with my decision]. I've always wanted to play both sports in college, but football is going to come first and we'll see how the first fall goes. Coach Groh is giving me the opportunity to play, so I'm going to take advantage of that.”
Who would you compare yourself to as a safety?
“I'd have to say John Lynch. I've always liked him and I think he's got a playing style that I mostly resemble.”
What position do you play best?
“Safety is my stronger position. I can play both receiver and safety. Virginia Tech was recruiting me as an athlete, but they were thinking about me playing receiver. I think I'm a better fit at defense – that's where I belong.”
People say you're a hard hitter. What's your most memorable hit?
“It was the Homecoming game of my sophomore year against Green Run. I was coming up on an option play to tackle running back Donte Newsome. I almost made him do a back flip and he fumbled the ball. That made me feel pretty good.”
What's your greatest asset as a football player?
“My mentality. I feel that I know the game of football. I know where to be and when to be there. At safety, I can help the defense get set up.”
What do you enjoy most about playing baseball?
“Baseball is a great sport. I've played baseball since I was five years old. At first it was just playing for the fun of the game, but now it's getting pretty serious. It could be a career. That would be the great thing about playing both sports in college. Baseball would be a great sport to fall back on [if things don't pan out with football at the pro level].”
Mike Farrell at Rivals.com is reporting this week that the Virginia football program is making great strides in landing two players who are considered tops at their positions in each of their respective states.
Chris Ellis, who is considered the top defensive lineman in Virginia, was leaning to Virginia Tech prior to this week. Why the change? Ellis just finished his summer camp at UVa and liked what he saw. According to Farrell, Ellis spent a lot of time with UVa defensive line coach Mike London. He's now torn between the two schools.
Ellis, 6-5, 230 (Bethel HS, Hampton), is fast for his size, reported running a 4.7 forty. Rivals.com lists him with 4 stars.
Jonathan Stupar, the top tight end in Pennsylvania and one of the best nationally, wasn't planning on camping anywhere this summer, but somehow the Coach Danny Rocco and the Cavaliers have convinced him otherwise. Stupar will be in Charlottesville this weekend attending Virginia's skill position camp.
Stupar, 6-5, 245 (State College) has over 20 offers from major Universities. He's a big tight end at 6-5, 245. Stupar is a good student as well, boasting a 3.5 GPA and recently scoring above 1,050 on his SAT.
The top schools on his list that have offered include Virginia, Arizona State, Maryland, UNC, N.C. State, Ohio State, Florida State and UCLA.
Rivals.com and the Richmond Times-Dispatch are reporting that Robbie Catterton, a 6-3, 190-pound defensive back from Kellam H.S. in Virginia Beach, has committed to the University of Virginia.
Catterton committed to the Cavaliers on Saturday while attending Blue-Chip Junior Day on grounds at UVa.
Catterton reportedly runs a 4.4 in the forty yard dash and is considered one of the top recruits in the state.
This is UVa's second commitment for the 2003 recruiting class.
Andre “Dre” Callender, a 5-10 182-pound tailback from Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, NJ, is one of the fastest players in the Northeast. He has earned offers from about 15 schools, including the Cavaliers. According to Seton Hall Head Coach Eric Gobble, it is Callender's speed that separates him from the rest of the running backs in New Jersey.
“His best football attributes are vision and speed,” said Gobble. “He sees holes developing on the field, and has the patience to set up blocking and pursuit angles for himself. When he does hit the hole, he has explosive speed.
“Our track coaches have clocked him at a 4.28 hand-timed 40. As of yesterday, he had the fastest electronically timed 100m (10.6) and 110HH (13.8) in NJ this season. For the last 2 years, he has been one of the top 10 hurdlers in the nation.”
This summer, Dre plans on bulking up for his senior season. According to Coach Gobble, he gained 15 pounds of muscle from his sophomore to junior season. As for his off-the-field background, that may be more impressive than his blinding speed.
“Off the field, Dre is polite, quiet and shy,” said Coach Gobble. His mother and father are very supportive, and provide a strong, family-oriented home. They stress the importance of schoolwork and the extra effort it takes for Dre to work through his learning disabilities. He takes the ACT in this month.”
As for a list of schools, Dre seems to be pretty much wide open at this point. The Cavaliers are recruiting him as a running back, the position he would prefer to play in college. Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio State are recruiting Dre as a cornerback. He attended Virginia's Junior Day and was very impressed with what he saw, according to Coach Gobble. He and his family hope to visit a number of schools this summer and narrow his list down near September. There is no timetable on a decision.
Last week, Virginia received a commitment from walk-on Conner Hughes of Lafayette High School in Williamsburg.
Hughes is one of the state's best kicking prospects, and chose Virginia over Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech apparently offered Hughes a partial scholarship for soccer, with the intent on letting him try out for football next spring. The Virginia coaching staff is taking Hughes as a walk-on with the intent on using him solely for football. Hughes will have the opportunity to receive a full scholarship at UVa if he performs well.
Hughes was named first-team Group AA as a senior kicker. As a quarterback and kicker, Hughes helped lead Lafayette to a win in the Group AA Division IV state championship game. In that game, Hughes rushed for 169 yards, threw for one touchdown pass and kicked two field goals, one of which was 49 yards and tied an earlier record he set in the semi-finals.
"I'm very impressed with his athletic ability. He was an All-State kicker and kicked for us for four years," Head Coach Paul Wheeler said, "He was the best kicker I've been around in 22 years. By the end of the year, he proved to be one of the best athletes in the state. He quarterbacked our football team to the state championship, and had never played quarterback before. He took on the responsibility right before the first game. He took the football team through some rocky times early and did a great job. He's a fine young man and a very good student. Conner proved he was a winner by leading a team to the state championship that was probably not expected to be there.
"The thing that makes him an excellent candidate to be a very fine college kicker is the fact that he is a very good athlete, and he hasn't even hit his ceiling yet. I think, with maturity and strength training, he's going to get better because he has athletic ability in him. He's a very fine soccer player. I think that his best kicking is ahead of him. He holds the state playoff record with 49 yards. He set it in the state semi-final game and did it again the next week in the final. His longest in practice is around 60 yards. [In terms of confidence in his ability], I felt that we had a chance at any time, and of course that made us a much better football team."
With Virginia losing both of its kickers from last season (David Greene and Mike Abrams), Hughes will team with another outstanding incoming kicker, Tom Hagans. Hagans will likely focus on punting duties, while Hughes will concentrate on filling the place kicking duties. UVa's current kickers are inexperienced and a bit inconsistent, so the opportunity is there for both kickers to contribute as early as the 2002 season if the veterans cannot improve.
Vince Hall, linebacker from Western Branch HS in Chesapeake, has
recently eliminated UVa from consideration. He was recently named to
Lemmings early Top 100 list as one of the best linebackers in the
country. No reasons have been given to why Hall eliminated the
Cavaliers. He currently lists VT, Penn State, Tennessee, UNC and
Maryland.
Rivals.com is reporting that Marvin Richardson, a 6-4, 210-pound linebacker, has committed to the University of Virginia.
Richardson hails from East Orange, N.J. and plays for Coach Tom Cocuzza at Bishop Francis High School.
Richardson was on UVa grounds the weekend of April 20th, and was joined by over 130 recruits at Scott Stadium for the UVa Spring Football Festival that Saturday.
Richardson reportedly runs 4.55 in the forty yard dash and is considered a sleeper. While the UVa coaches are out on their evaluations for this month, they felt the need to offer Richardson a scholarship early, even though many top recruits in the state of Virginia have yet to receive offers from the Cavaliers.
More info to come.
Recruiting Archives
Recruiting Updates
By Chris Horne, September 26th, 2002, 8:22 a.m.
Jon Stupar listing UVa and FSU as leaders
By Mike Ingalls, July 5th, 2002, 12:30 p.m.
More on Marshall Ausberry
By Chris Horne, July 5th, 2002, 4:30 p.m.
James Terry commits to Virginia
By Mike Ingalls, July 4th, 2002, 2:30 p.m.
Gordie Sammis commits to Virginia
By Mike Ingalls, July 2nd, 2002, 2:50 p.m.
Marshall Ausberry commits to Hoos
By Mike Ingalls, July 1st, 2002, 11:50 a.m.
Local football star likes Cavs
By Chris Horne, June 27, 2002, 3:40 p.m.
Virginia back on Hall's list
By Michael Ingalls, June 27, 2002, 3:35 p.m.
More on Robbie Catterton
By Michael Ingalls, June 21, 2002, 4:35 p.m.
Last week, Robbie Catterton III, a 6-3, 190-pound combo sport athlete from Kellam High School in Va. Beach, announced his decision to attend UVa on a football scholarship. The Virginia Beach native liked what he saw in Virginia during a junior recruiting visit and committed to the Hoos while on Grounds. Catterton will have the opportunity to play both baseball and football at UVa.
Robbie Catterton
Virginia making strong moves for two top athletes
By Michael Ingalls, June 21, 2002, 4:35 p.m.
Catterton commits to Hoos
By Michael Ingalls, June 17, 2002, 6:45 a.m.
UVa in running for speedster Callender
By Chris Horne, June 6, 2002, 5:15 p.m.
Conner Hughes adds name to 2002 UVa recruiting class
By Michael Ingalls, May 9, 2002, 2:55 p.m.
Top in-state linebacker removes UVa from consideration
By Michael Ingalls, May 9, 2002, 2:44 p.m.
Virginia Football Lands 1st Commitment of 2003 Class
By Michael Ingalls, May 2, 2002, 9:15 p.m.
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