|
|
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
login | create account2009 Virginia Football SigneesFor more information on each recruit, select their name and you will be sent to their capsule. Special thanks to Virginia's Media Relations Department for extended summaries of each player. Be sure visit VirginiaSports.com for up to date information on Virginia athletics. More from VirginiaSports.com:
2009 Signee List:
Sherando's varsity football squad compiled a 38-7 record with Ross Metheny as its starting quarterback. A 4-year starter, Metheny led the Warriors to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a Group AA, Division 4 state championship game appearance in 2007. Injuries, including a broken fibula suffered in the state title game in 2007 and a torn ACL suffered in the seventh game of the 2008 season, and arm strength are question marks, but the lefty signal caller has shown leadership, accuracy, poise in the pocket and a tremendous feel for the game. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Dominique Wallace has been running over, around and by opposing defenders for the past four years on Chancellor's varsity football squad. A big back, he has the speed to break big plays in addition to wearing down defenses. Despite being the focus of opposing defenses, Wallace churned out close to 2,000 yards in 2008 while leading Chancellor to a region championship and a Group AA, Division 3 state semifinal appearance. One of the Cavaliers most highly rated recruits, Wallace also has outstanding potential as a linebacker and could well end up on the defensive side of the ball. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Whenever he was on the field, Kevin Royal showed tremendous promise and playmaking ability. Unfortunately, injuries marred Royal's final two seasons at Brunswick. A broken collarbone sidelined him for half of his junior season, and, after tallying close to 600 all-purpose yards in four games, a broken right forearm cost him the majority of his senior season (he is healthy now, though, and performing well for the varsity basketball team). Royal has excellent size - he very much looks the part of a college player right now - and athletic ability. Versatile, he lined up at running back in 2008 and performed very well. He is also a competitor, being voted the team captain in football and in basketball. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
In 2007, Tim Smith performed well along side Division 1A wide receivers Kerry Boykins, Todd Harrelson and Jamal Wilson. With those three players gone in 2008, he thrived in the role of Oscar Smith's go-to-receiver, hauling in 73 catches for 1,681 yards and 29 touchdowns in helping the nationally ranked Tigers to a Group AAA, Division 6 state championship. Smith, an excellent return man as well, has good size, big-play speed and elusiveness. Don't be surprised if he contributes as a true freshman especially with the new offense being installed. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Bobby Smith becomes the first Varina Blue Devil to sign with Virginia in the Al Groh era. Smith's hard work on the field and in the classroom enabled this scenario to take place. A tall, lengthy receiver with good speed for his size, Smith racked up 52 catches for 1,004 yards and 13 scores in 2008. He has shown good hands, an ability to make the tough catch and an ability to go up and get the ball. Smith didn't come aboard until this past weekend, but he has the tools to be a productive player for the Cavaliers. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Florida is not typically a recruiting hotbed for Virginia, but the Cavaliers plucked Paul Freedman from the Sunshine state as its latest promising tight end prospect. Freedman has the frame to perhaps develop into an offensive lineman, but becoming UVa's next great tight end is one of the main reasons he signed with the Cavaliers. Freedman is a good athlete who has shown good pass receiving ability on the high school level. He missed most of his junior season due to a separated shoulder but was healthy his senior season, racking up 400 yards receiving. With a stable of tight ends on the roster, Freedman will be able to be developed before he is needed to take the field. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Al Groh returns to his Catholic League stomping grounds to score 4-star offensive lineman Oday Aboushi. A two-way star in high school, Aboushi performed well at offensive tackle and defensive tackle but will play offense at Virginia. A versatile player, Aboushi could end up as an offensive tackle or an offensive guard, though he expects to play tackle initially. The Empire State standout earned an offer from Virginia after performing very well in Al Groh's 2008 Camp, becoming one of Virginia's top offensive line targets. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Bowanko, who chose Virginia over offers from Boston College and Florida State, entered his high school career as a 6-4, 200-pound freshman. He heads to the University of Virginia as a 6-6, 265-pound prospect and has not lost the athleticism and agility he had his freshman year. He played offensive tackle for the Wildcats but seems versatile enough to move to the interior line if necessary. As is the case with most offensive line recruits, Bowanko will have to add size and strength before he is ready to contribute, but the potential is certainly there. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
One of the top offensive line recruits in the midwest this year, Sean Cascarano was referred to as an "absolute stud" by an opposing coach. He played offensive tackle for two-plus years in high school, but the Virginia staff believes he has the ability and versatility to play any of the five offensive line positions. Cascarano could turn out to be UVa's top offensive line recruit when all is said and done. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Morgan Moses' Signing Day decision caps off Virginia's outstanding class of offensive linemen. A U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection, Moses has excellent quickness off the ball to go along with impressive size. One of the top offensive line recruits in the 2009 class, Moses, an offensive tackle, has been dominating on the high school level and has the talent to be a stud on the next level. He may have to attend prep school before heading to Virginia, but much depends on how he finishes out his senior year. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Hunter Steward's senior season was his first season in the United States. He made the most of his opportunity, earning AP first-team all-state honors for his performance and earning scholarship offers from James Madison, Marshall and Virginia. Steward has excellent size. He plays basketball and was timed in the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds last summer, so he is a good athlete. The plan right now is for Steward to attend Fork Union Military Academy before heading to Virginia, and a year under FUMA postgraduate head coach John Shuman can only help the talented prospect's development. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Cody Wallace excelled at right offensive tackle for head coach Russ Horton, but look for him to play on the interior line at Virginia. A 3-year starter on the varsity level, Wallace started on both sides of the ball on Moorestown's 2007 state championship squad. Athletic and versatile, Wallace has potential as a guard or a center. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
An accomplished hoopster, Justin Renfrow had his sights set on college basketball early on in his high school career, but that thinking changed as he progressed on the gridiron. He tallied eight sacks as a junior and nine-and-a-half sacks as a senior. He flourished on the spring and summer camp circuit last year, solidifying his stance as a top recruit and earning multiple offers as a result of his performances. This included an offer from Virginia and a commitment came soon after. A productive senior season also included a 70-yard interception return for a score. Renfrow has tremendous upside as a defensive end in the 3-4 set. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Jake Snyder, who'll join his brother, Matt, at UVa, dominated on the defensive side of the ball as a senior. He racked up 24 sacks in 2008, establishing himself as one of the top recruits in the state of Virginia. An agile athlete but also a savvy and intelligent player, Snyder also has a tremendous work ethic. He hopes to enjoy the same success as one of his favorite Virginia players, current St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Brent Urban emerged last spring as a top target for Virginia, and he didn't wait long to commit following a May unofficial visit. A defensive end in a four man front in high school, Urban feels his skill-set matches perfectly as a 3-4 defensive end. Urban tallied 16 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks as a junior and eclipsed both marks as a senior. He was a multi-sport athlete for a time in high school, playing basketball and hockey as well as football. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Many wondered if Virginia had indeed decided to give mid-year enrollment a more serious look. If William Hill, who enrolled at UVa last month, is any indication, then the answer is yes. A two-time first-team all-state performer, Hill racked up 24 tackles-for-loss with 14 sacks as a senior despite facing constant double and triple teams. Like Virginia's other three defensive end prospects, Hill seems to fit very well in Virginia's 3-4 set. Unlike those prospects, he'll have a spring football session under his belt prior to his freshman season. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Jeremiah Mathis traveled under the radar on the recruiting circuit, largely because he did not become a full-time starter until his senior season. DeMatha Catholic, a perennial power, typically has tremendous depth in place, a big reason why the talented prospect didn't truly have an opportunity to shine until this past season. He made the most of his opportunity, becoming head coach Bill McGregor's only two-way starter in the 2008 season. On defense, Mathis tallied over 90 tackles including 13 sacks, receiving all-conference honors for his performance. He played defensive end and tight end for the Stags but is being recruited by Virginia as an outside linebacker. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
McCartin was the leader of Fauquier's defense the past two seasons. An instinctive player, McCartin likely will play inside linebacker for the Cavaliers. He does not have blazing speed, but he makes up for it with a good sense for the game. He is also a sure tackler. McCartin will join his brother, Kyle, at UVa. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
As a linebacker at the University of Virginia, Tucker Windle is following in the footsteps of his father, Steele "Al" Windle, who played linebacker for the Cavaliers in the late 1970s. The younger Windle projects as an outside linebacker. A two-way starter for a productive high school football program, Windle has performed solidly on defense each of the past two seasons. He didn't play much defense as a junior, but the defense he did play in playoff time helped spur the Cavaliers to offer. He exhibits good acceleration the edge and appears to be a good overall athlete, though he is working hard to improve his speed this off-season. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
5-10 may be a generous measurement of Perry Jones, but there is no measuring the heart, toughness and leadership he displayed throughout his high school career. Jones is a football player, plain and simple. Whether it was at tailback, fullback or linebacker, he got the job done for 2008 Group AAA, Division 6 state champion Oscar Smith, one of the top teams in the nation let alone the Commonwealth. Jones will likely play safety at Virginia. Although he'll have to adjust to playing in more space, his 4.4 speed should help ease the transition. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
One thing is evident when you watch Corey Lillard play...he can really hit. He has the potential to be a big-time enforcer from the safety position, though he'll have to transition from playing linebacker on the high school level. While he is not a blazer, he should have the speed and the anticipation ability to get the job done. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Battle becomes the second prospect out of Phoebus to sign with Virginia in the Al Groh era. A speedy prospect who boasts sub-4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, Battle played linebacker in high school and was one of the leaders of a Phantoms squad that captured the Group AAA, Division 5 state championship in 2008. Finding a position for Battle could be a challenge, as he is a bit of a "tweener." It would be intriguing to see Battle get a chance at linebacker, as he would be undersized but bring excellent speed. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Hunter excelled at any position he was asked to play on the high school level, including safety, wide receiver and quarterback. He'll play offense at Virginia with quarterback being the first look. He started at quarterback each of the past two seasons and has the tools to be very successful in Gregg Brandon's spread offense. Hunter is an excellent athlete and rushing likely would be his initial primary strength as a signal caller. While he is not a polished pocket passer, Hunter seems to have good zip on the ball and good overall potential as a passer. If signal caller is not in the cards, he could be special as a wide receiver. He could be special at safety, too, but offense is where he'll play at Virginia. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
LaRoy Reynolds was a do-everything performer at Maury. As a senior, he saw action at wide receiver, running back, quarterback, linebacker and defensive back. Reynolds should play defense at Virginia and will get a look at safety and linebacker. Finding the right fit position-wise could prove challenging, but I feel linebacker could be the position where he has the most upside. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page |
Javanti Sparrow played cornerback and wide receiver for the Bruins. With his size and speed, Sparrow has the potential to be a very good corner, but don't rule out safety or wide receiver either. A standout in track, Sparrow was the state champion in the indoor 500 meters as a sophomore. | Player's Recruiting Profile | Return to Top of Page | |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
