The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of football recruiting scoop! Tomorrow afternoon the Wahoos will take the field for the final time at Scott Stadium this season and that means that it'll be their last opportunity to host recruits for game. As UVa tries to put the finishing touches on an already deep 2017 class well, there are a number of visitors expected in Charlottesville this weekend, particularly in the class of 2018. We'll give you a break down of who is expected not only in the junior class but in others as well as why they matter and where things stand.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Nearly four dozen recruits expected
This is the last chance for Bronco Mendenhall and the Cavaliers to host recruits for a game in 2016, making this an important footnote to what has been a successful fall at least for recruiting. The program is expect to host more than 40 recruits tomorrow when Miami comes to town, a number that includes several committed players: Three-star running back Lamont Atkins, three-star defensive lineman Tommy Christ, three-star running back P.K. Kier, three-star OLB Jeremiah Owusu, and three-star DE Ryan Thaxton.
Let's stay there in the 2017 class to start and highlight an intriguing official visitor, as Virginia will host Ellison Hubbard. A 6-foot-2, 252-pound three-star defensive tackle from Loganville (GA) Grayson, he already has offers from the likes of Boston College, Indiana, Iowas State, Minnesota, Pitt, and Wake Forest, among others. Interestingly, though, is that right now UVa is not among them but that could (and likely will given our read of things) change. Just from asking around and reading tea leaves, this definitely seems like a recruitment that UVa could be a real factor in.
Another interesting recruitment and visit is that of Rashad Butler, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound athlete originally from Winston-Salem who is now doing a post-grad year at Fork Union. His is a situation much like a lot of kids this time of year, when schools start to find players late in the process. Do not be surprised to see UVa make a little noise here, especially considering he's a former teammate of Virginia legacy and pending early enrollee Germane Crowell.
Speaking of noise, the Cavaliers are also expecting to host a number of prospects from Bishop Sullivan in Virginia Beach, easily the most talent-rich program in the state right now. And one of them is Chris Hunt, a 6-foot-1, 163-pound defensive back who is currently committed to West Virginia. How serious the Hoos are here remains to be seen but it's interesting nonetheless that Hunt will be in town.
Elsewhere, the Wahoos are also expecting Chris Pierce, the OLB/WR from Smithfield who has been on the visitor list for several home games this season, though we believe he's yet to make it to one so far. As we've said in the past, this remains a bit of a weird situation given UVa's desire for him to play defense and the rumored preference for him being offense. Will that change? We shall see.
Virginia is also expecting to host more in-state recruits in Caleb Snead, a 6-foot-4, 183-pound wide receiver from Heritage in Lynchburg, and Jordan Stout, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound kicker from Honaker.
Lastly among the senior class, the Hoos are also expecting to host Ryan Van Demark, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound tackle from Princeton (NJ) Hun School and a name you're sure to know by this point: Zane Zandier, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound three-star outside linebacker from Jefferson Hills (PA) Thomas Jefferson. His situation has remained somewhat fluid since he visited Charlottesville earlier this fall, especially once Michigan State entered the fray. At this point, particularly now that he's planning to visit, we could absolutely see the Cavaliers adding him despite the recent commitment from Owusu.
Large group of juniors expected tomorrow
Elsewhere on the visitor list, we mentioned at the top that the Cavaliers are expecting to have a number of 2018 recruits in town when they play the Hurricanes. That list includes a pair of prospects from Bishop Sullivan:Zach Bevins, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound three-star offensive lineman, and Dante Burke, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end. Sticking in the 757, UVa is expecting to host three-star receiver Armani Chatman, a 6-foot, 175-pound prospect from Bayside, as well as Tyer DeSue, the 6-foot, 199-pound three-star pro-style quarterback who is now at Bishop Sullivan as well. If you'll recall, UVa has had a deep history with DeSue dating back to when he was just an eighth grader. The word lately is that he's planning to announce his college choice soon, so this is an interesting visit given the timing. We feel like the Hoos are playing from behind WVU in this one.
Also from the 2018 class, UVa is expecting to host Matthew Hall, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle from Marietta (GA) Walton, and Alex Howie, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive lineman from Canton (MI) Salem. Getting back to the in-state targets, Virginia will have Billy Kemp, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound wideout from Highland Springs, Josh King, a 6-foot, 220-pound linebacker from Battlefield, Dasamir Spriggins, a 6-foot, 160-pound cornerback from Kempsville, and Mondo Walker, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound three-star safety from Bethel and younger brother of former Wahoo Rijo Walker, in town as well.
Finally, the Hoos will host a pair of Tar Heel State products in Jalen Weddington, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound athlete from Charlotte (NC) Vance, and Payton Wilson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker from Hillsborough (NC) Orange who already has offers from Duke, Maryland, UNC, NC State, Penn State, and Wake Forest.
There will be several other intriguing prospects on Grounds tomorrow. From the class of 2019, UVa is expecting to host Chayce Chalmers, a 6-foot, 185-pound safety from Stonewall Jackson, and from the class of 2020 the Hoos will have Altique Barlow, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman from Bishop Sullivan who already has an offer from Virginia Tech, and Gaberiel Fuster, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker, who also has an offer from the Hokies, in town as well.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Nearly four dozen recruits expected
This is the last chance for Bronco Mendenhall and the Cavaliers to host recruits for a game in 2016, making this an important footnote to what has been a successful fall at least for recruiting. The program is expect to host more than 40 recruits tomorrow when Miami comes to town, a number that includes several committed players: Three-star running back Lamont Atkins, three-star defensive lineman Tommy Christ, three-star running back P.K. Kier, three-star OLB Jeremiah Owusu, and three-star DE Ryan Thaxton.
Let's stay there in the 2017 class to start and highlight an intriguing official visitor, as Virginia will host Ellison Hubbard. A 6-foot-2, 252-pound three-star defensive tackle from Loganville (GA) Grayson, he already has offers from the likes of Boston College, Indiana, Iowas State, Minnesota, Pitt, and Wake Forest, among others. Interestingly, though, is that right now UVa is not among them but that could (and likely will given our read of things) change. Just from asking around and reading tea leaves, this definitely seems like a recruitment that UVa could be a real factor in.
Another interesting recruitment and visit is that of Rashad Butler, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound athlete originally from Winston-Salem who is now doing a post-grad year at Fork Union. His is a situation much like a lot of kids this time of year, when schools start to find players late in the process. Do not be surprised to see UVa make a little noise here, especially considering he's a former teammate of Virginia legacy and pending early enrollee Germane Crowell.
Speaking of noise, the Cavaliers are also expecting to host a number of prospects from Bishop Sullivan in Virginia Beach, easily the most talent-rich program in the state right now. And one of them is Chris Hunt, a 6-foot-1, 163-pound defensive back who is currently committed to West Virginia. How serious the Hoos are here remains to be seen but it's interesting nonetheless that Hunt will be in town.
Elsewhere, the Wahoos are also expecting Chris Pierce, the OLB/WR from Smithfield who has been on the visitor list for several home games this season, though we believe he's yet to make it to one so far. As we've said in the past, this remains a bit of a weird situation given UVa's desire for him to play defense and the rumored preference for him being offense. Will that change? We shall see.
Virginia is also expecting to host more in-state recruits in Caleb Snead, a 6-foot-4, 183-pound wide receiver from Heritage in Lynchburg, and Jordan Stout, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound kicker from Honaker.
Lastly among the senior class, the Hoos are also expecting to host Ryan Van Demark, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound tackle from Princeton (NJ) Hun School and a name you're sure to know by this point: Zane Zandier, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound three-star outside linebacker from Jefferson Hills (PA) Thomas Jefferson. His situation has remained somewhat fluid since he visited Charlottesville earlier this fall, especially once Michigan State entered the fray. At this point, particularly now that he's planning to visit, we could absolutely see the Cavaliers adding him despite the recent commitment from Owusu.
Large group of juniors expected tomorrow
Elsewhere on the visitor list, we mentioned at the top that the Cavaliers are expecting to have a number of 2018 recruits in town when they play the Hurricanes. That list includes a pair of prospects from Bishop Sullivan:Zach Bevins, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound three-star offensive lineman, and Dante Burke, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end. Sticking in the 757, UVa is expecting to host three-star receiver Armani Chatman, a 6-foot, 175-pound prospect from Bayside, as well as Tyer DeSue, the 6-foot, 199-pound three-star pro-style quarterback who is now at Bishop Sullivan as well. If you'll recall, UVa has had a deep history with DeSue dating back to when he was just an eighth grader. The word lately is that he's planning to announce his college choice soon, so this is an interesting visit given the timing. We feel like the Hoos are playing from behind WVU in this one.
Also from the 2018 class, UVa is expecting to host Matthew Hall, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle from Marietta (GA) Walton, and Alex Howie, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive lineman from Canton (MI) Salem. Getting back to the in-state targets, Virginia will have Billy Kemp, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound wideout from Highland Springs, Josh King, a 6-foot, 220-pound linebacker from Battlefield, Dasamir Spriggins, a 6-foot, 160-pound cornerback from Kempsville, and Mondo Walker, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound three-star safety from Bethel and younger brother of former Wahoo Rijo Walker, in town as well.
Finally, the Hoos will host a pair of Tar Heel State products in Jalen Weddington, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound athlete from Charlotte (NC) Vance, and Payton Wilson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker from Hillsborough (NC) Orange who already has offers from Duke, Maryland, UNC, NC State, Penn State, and Wake Forest.
There will be several other intriguing prospects on Grounds tomorrow. From the class of 2019, UVa is expecting to host Chayce Chalmers, a 6-foot, 185-pound safety from Stonewall Jackson, and from the class of 2020 the Hoos will have Altique Barlow, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman from Bishop Sullivan who already has an offer from Virginia Tech, and Gaberiel Fuster, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker, who also has an offer from the Hokies, in town as well.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
