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Reports: All-State DT Picks UVa

By Chris Horne, Recruiting Analyst

Jun 21, 2012

Donta Wilkins at UVa's 2011 Big Man Camp

Potomac (Dumfries, VA) rising senior Donta Wilkins has verbally committed to the University of Virginia, giving the Hoos an all-state prospect at a big position of need. Multiple outlets are reporting the commitment.

Eleven other major FBS programs -- Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Penn State, Purdue and Wake Forest -- had offered the 6'3", 300-pound Wilkins, a VHSCA first-team all-state defensive tackle and second-team all-state offensive line selection last season.

The competition outside of the Commonwealth was steep, but ultimately the feeling Potomac head coach Jerry Roadcap had back in March proved to be true.

"I can't speak for Donta, but I think he is going to stay local," Roadcap said in a March 9 article on TheSabre.com. "I don't think he'll go too far away. That's just my feeling. Of course, the decision will be made by him and his family."

Wilkins has started on the varsity level since his freshman year. Roadcap was named Panthers head coach in 2010, and in the time he has coached Wilkins he has been impressed with the two-way star's effort as well as ability.

"When he's on the field, he never takes a play off," Roadcap said of Wilkins. "He loves blocking. He loves playing on the defensive line. He does whatever we need him to do. He plays from the snap to the whistle. Some guys take plays off. He never does. He has got a lot of natural ability, but that desire and will to play to the whistle has got him where he is today."

Virginia now has 12 commitments in its 2013 class. Six are expected to play on the defensive side of the ball.

TheSabre's Take: An important get here for the Hoos. For one, defensive tackle is a big need in this class. Virginia missed on two of its early top targets already in Maurice Hurst Jr. and Henry Poggi, as both prospects committed to Michigan. Wilkins earned an early offer as well, and he joins St. Christopher's Jack English as defensive tackle commitments in this class. My initial projection was for Virginia to take two d-tackles in this class, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the staff add another. Especially if they start to view English as more of a tight end, which is another need position in 2013.

An added bonus here is the fact that Wilkins is accomplished on both sides of the ball. As a junior last season, Wilkins graded out at 85-percent on offense and racked up 83 tackles with 27 tackles for loss and nine sacks from the nose guard spot. If defensive tackle doesn't work out, interior offensive line remains a possibility. Back in March, Roadcap said most college coaches envisioned Wilkins as a defensive tackle or center.

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