The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of football recruiting scoop! As we continue to get deeper into the summer, we though it would be a good idea to check back in on the 2017 recruiting board to get a feel for where things stand with the most important recruits on UVa's radar. Once again, we'll go position by position and talk to you not only about the various prospects and the latest one each of them but also about numbers in the class and how we ultimately see things playing out in this cycle.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Revisiting the 2017 board
About a month ago in this space, we dedicated just about the entire football section of the War Room to breaking down how things shaped up for Bronco Mendenhall and his staff going into the summer. The Wahoos are set to hold their final camp of the summer this weekend so we thought it would be a good idea to revisit this feature and check in on where things are right now.
To recap: What we've done is broken down each position group based on the top targets and the projected numbers. In the interest of full disclosure, the total number of commits in this class is likely to range from 17 to about 22. We've tried to be as realistic as possible with the numbers but do so with the caveat that any attrition adds more room in the class. As we said last month, our projections are based on both past history but also realities of each position and should be used merely as guideposts.
Quarterback (One projected, one committed):
With Lindell Stone already in the fold, it appears that QB recruiting in 2017 is wrapped up.
Offensive line (Six projected, two committed):
Mekhi Becton- With the addition of Harry Crider this week, the Cavaliers are roughly a third of a way to done with recruiting on the OL. And Becton is clearly the biggest target. The four-star Rivals250 standout is coming off another good trip to Charlottesville and though he says he's looking to decide closer to NSD, our gut tells us he's likely to make a decision before that. UVa should be viewed as the heavy favorite right now with Georgia, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and USC trailing. Don't be surprised to see him take some more unofficial visits this summer leading into what we expect will be a list cut later next month or in early August. We really, really like UVa's chances here.
Bryson Speas- The three-star tackle from Greensboro (NC) Dudley might be the next prospect to come into the fold for UVa. And frankly, it's a little surprising that he hasn't already. Coming off of his visit experience, it's safe to say that the Wahoos have a pretty large lead and the only question is if NCSU comes through with the offer. If so, that might delay his timeframe some. We'd give it maybe another week before we think he moves on and shuts down his recruitment for good.
Andrew Stueber- UVa remains in the fray for the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Darien (CT) offensive lineman. We said last month that the key would be getting him on Grounds and we still believe that. At this point, we haven't heard anything in the way of visit plans but we'll check in with him to see where things stand. Though he's not claiming favorites publicly, Michigan seems to be in the early lead.
Johnny Jordan- It seemed for a while early this spring like UVa was the potential favorite for the Gonzaga standout but then there was a lull after Tyler Fannin chose UVa. But the staff warmed up to the idea of Jordan playing guard and so things picked up again. The three-star lineman from D.C. is coming off of visits to UVa, Tech, and Maryland and we wouldn't be surprised if his choice comes down to those three.
Nick Brahms- UVa was in on the 6-foot-5, 280 pounder early and it seems like as he's garnered more attention, the Hoos have fallen off gradually more as time has gone on. At this point, Auburn and North Carolina seem to have really surged for the now four-star Florida native.
Running back (Three projected, two committed):
Jamari Peacock- We've talked a lot about Peacock in this space and that was before UVa picked up a commitment last week from three-star Winchester native P.K. Kier. Peacock said he wasn't saying anything publicly about his commitment following his visit a couple of weeks ago and that hasn't changed. He's still going to take some visits, though, so that piece muddies the water somewhat. Let's call him a heavy UVa lean for now but given that the Hoos already have two quality backs in the fold, recruiting in this class at this position is trending in the right direction.
Michael Carter- While the three-star Sunshine State RB has said in the past that he had Virginia at the top of his list, he's coming off a very strong visit to UNC. Which is why it's perfectly timed for him to come to Charlottesville this weekend. We said last month that getting him back on Grounds again would be crucial so this is big for UVa to keep chase.
Wide receiver (One projected):
Jeremiah Holloman- With Nykeim Johnson off the board to Syracuse, UVa doesn't have many guys on the board at WR that make much sense. And with his teammate Jaquan Henderson off the board to Tennessee, Holloman should be considered an even longer shot.
Defensive end (Three projected):
Jordan Williams- As we've said, the four-star Rivals250 standout from Virginia Beach is likely UVa's top target on the defensive side of the ball. And he's planning to be back in Charlottesville this weekend for a visit, which is great, great news. While we think Virginia is a big favorite for Becton, the Cavaliers will have to contend with a big push from both Clemson and Tennessee to get Williams.
Tyran Hunt: As we did last month too, we're including the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Southampton native with the DL for this piece but he could easily play on the offensive line as well. As we posted earlier this week, Hunt is planning to be back in Charlottesville this weekend for a visit and we wouldn't be totally shocked to see him come off the board. That being said, this one could get interesting between UVa and Virginia Tech.
Ryan Thaxton- Speaking of guys that could realistically pull the trigger soon, the St. Stephens & St. Agnes defensive end was in Charlottesville for a visit this week and left extremely impressed. Earlier this week, the 6-foot-5, 250 pounder said he'd like to stay closer to home and noted that in addition to planning a trip to UVa, he was also looking at trips to several schools including Tennessee, Tech, UNC, and Duke. We'll have a full update for you this week but we see the Cavaliers as the favorite right now.
Jacob Lichtenstein- UVa made the final six for the 6-foot-5, 235-pound defensive end out of Weston (FL) Cypress Bay, which was a bit of a surprise. He was one of the hottest prospects on the trail this spring but is now down to Alabama, Cal, Georgia Tech, Pitt, and USC in addition to the Cavaliers. While many might see UVa as a long shot, be careful with that. We wouldn't say the Hoos have a lead or anything but sources we trust reiterated to us this week that Virginia's chances shouldn't be discounted.
John Kirven- What a long, strange trip its been, huh? After having decommitted from UVa following the coaching change, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound tight end is back on Virginia's radar after the Hoos offered him a defensive end. If he eventually landed back with the Cavaliers, it would be the first time we can remember a situation like it. But that's not to say the Woodberry Forest standout doesn't have plenty of interest at TE, though. It should be an interesting couple of months for him starting this weekend with a return trip to Charlottesville, the first since the DE offer.
Zeke Brandle- UVa likes the 6-foot-5, 250-pound end from Forest City (NC) Chase even though he seems set on waiting things out and seeing what happens in his recruitment. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Brandle has great size to fit into UVa's scheme.
Defensive tackle (Two projected, one committed):
Malcolm Robinson- UVa continues to recruit the 6-foot-2, 280-pound three-star tackle hard. The key will be staying at the top of his list. He enjoyed his visit to Charlottesville this spring and he's planning to come back at some point this summer. We still see UVa as the favorite.
Marcus Coleman- The 6-foot-5, 290-pound tackle from Baltimore has picked up a host of new interest this spring, as we profiled earlier this month. One thing that stuck out was that UVa liked him on the DL versus the OL, which is where a lot of schools have him on their boards. The Cavaliers believe he can play either end or tackle, which means he could bring a lot of versatility to this class.
Seth Harrell- UVa was the first to offer the three-star lineman from Grassfield and that appears to still be his lone FBS offer. The interesting part is that while most everyone else likes him on the O-line, UVa is recruiting him as a NT per his high school coach. He's getting interest from the likes of Duke, NC State, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. With Crider on board to play on the interior of the OL, Harrell makes a lot of sense on the defensive side of the ball.
Linebacker (Three projected, one committed):
Levi Jones- It's not often that UVa gets a strong look from a four-star linebacker from Texas with an offer list like the one Jones has but that's the situation here. In fact, the 6-foot-2, 215 pounder from Austin (TX) Westlake was in town this week and there's plenty of reason to believe the Hoos have a genuine shot. While the competition is crazy (UF, FSU, Houston, LSU, OU, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M have all offered), Ruffin McNeill coached Jones' father Robert at ECU before he went on to play for the Cowboys. McNeill also brought in Jones' older brother, Zay, at ECU. Either way, it'll be interesting to see what kind of staying power the Cavaliers have in this one.
Levani Damuni: What's been interesting here is that the four-star from Utah is planning to take a mission after high school, so he won't be making an immediate impact regardless of where he goes. And some schools haven't been as receptive to that as others. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Hyrum (UT) Mountain Crest standout is likely to stay closer to home, making BYU and Utah tough to beat. UVa and Oregon State are probably the schools most likely to pull him out of state at this point unless Stanford comes through with an offer.
Chris Pierce- Listed in the database as a receiver, UVa likes the Smithfield native at linebacker and the Hoos aren't alone, as he's picked up an offer from Maryland at LB as well. Still, we've got a good feeling about Virginia's chances with him but the question will be which position he likes most and what kind of timeframe he wants to be on.
Ellis Brooks: After picking Duke in March, Brooks opened things back up last month and it made a lot of sense that the Cavaliers would want to get back in with the 6-foot-2, 240-pound four-star linebacker from Benedictine. We haven't heard too much since then, though, as it seems the Richmond native is trying to ease back into the process somewhat.
Defensive back (Four projected, three committed):
Jeremiah Owusu- We said last month that the three-star safety from Bethel was likely waiting for bigger offers and he apparently got a golden opportunity earlier this month at the Florida/JMU satellite camp. The 6-foot-2, 188 pounder has a lot of skills and he'll have a chance to see Charlottesville up close again this weekend.
Terrell Jana- We still think this is a recruitment that just makes too much sense. Virginia was one of the first to offer the 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback from Woodberry Forest. Given the connections, one would think the Cavaliers will be tough to beat.
Tye Freeland- As we said last month, UVa likes the Dinwiddie playmaker at corner, though he shined at WR at the Rivals Camp in Charlotte. We still get the sense that Wake Forest holds the edge.
Chaz Ah You- The Provo (UT) Timpview safety is among the guys we hope to get in touch with soon because there hasn't been too much out there lately about his recruitment. But that hasn't stopped his stock from rising, as the 6-foot-1, 185-pound four-star recruit jumped into the Rivals250 recently. Regardless, this one will be a lengthy battle since he's not looking to make a decision until after his senior season. UCLA and Stanford seem to have the edge by a good margin.
Jermani Brown- A four-star cornerback who moved to Midlothian this year, the one time Arizona State commit picked up a lot of interest this spring. At one point it seemed like UVa might have some solid footing here but that traction has evaporated significantly. We wouldn't say UVa is out of the mix but without a visit and a renewed since of interest, the writing appears to be on the wall.
New offers this week
Lastly, we wanted to touch on a couple of new offers that are out.
UVa has offered 6-foot-1, 265-pound defensive tackle Sammy Ochoa out of Austin (TX) Lake Travis. He's a two-way lineman but the Hoos like him at NT.
The Cavaliers also offered another 2017 DT in the past week or so, Axel Nyembwe. The 6-foot-2, 283-pound DL from Gaithersburg (MD) Avalon School also has offers from Duke, Rutgers, and Wake Forest, among others.
Lastly, the Wahoos also offer Nyembewe's teammate, 2018 LB Noah Taylor. UVa is the second offer for the 6-foot-4, 180 pounder along with Pitt.
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!
Revisiting the 2017 board
About a month ago in this space, we dedicated just about the entire football section of the War Room to breaking down how things shaped up for Bronco Mendenhall and his staff going into the summer. The Wahoos are set to hold their final camp of the summer this weekend so we thought it would be a good idea to revisit this feature and check in on where things are right now.
To recap: What we've done is broken down each position group based on the top targets and the projected numbers. In the interest of full disclosure, the total number of commits in this class is likely to range from 17 to about 22. We've tried to be as realistic as possible with the numbers but do so with the caveat that any attrition adds more room in the class. As we said last month, our projections are based on both past history but also realities of each position and should be used merely as guideposts.
Quarterback (One projected, one committed):
With Lindell Stone already in the fold, it appears that QB recruiting in 2017 is wrapped up.
Offensive line (Six projected, two committed):
Mekhi Becton- With the addition of Harry Crider this week, the Cavaliers are roughly a third of a way to done with recruiting on the OL. And Becton is clearly the biggest target. The four-star Rivals250 standout is coming off another good trip to Charlottesville and though he says he's looking to decide closer to NSD, our gut tells us he's likely to make a decision before that. UVa should be viewed as the heavy favorite right now with Georgia, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and USC trailing. Don't be surprised to see him take some more unofficial visits this summer leading into what we expect will be a list cut later next month or in early August. We really, really like UVa's chances here.
Bryson Speas- The three-star tackle from Greensboro (NC) Dudley might be the next prospect to come into the fold for UVa. And frankly, it's a little surprising that he hasn't already. Coming off of his visit experience, it's safe to say that the Wahoos have a pretty large lead and the only question is if NCSU comes through with the offer. If so, that might delay his timeframe some. We'd give it maybe another week before we think he moves on and shuts down his recruitment for good.
Andrew Stueber- UVa remains in the fray for the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Darien (CT) offensive lineman. We said last month that the key would be getting him on Grounds and we still believe that. At this point, we haven't heard anything in the way of visit plans but we'll check in with him to see where things stand. Though he's not claiming favorites publicly, Michigan seems to be in the early lead.
Johnny Jordan- It seemed for a while early this spring like UVa was the potential favorite for the Gonzaga standout but then there was a lull after Tyler Fannin chose UVa. But the staff warmed up to the idea of Jordan playing guard and so things picked up again. The three-star lineman from D.C. is coming off of visits to UVa, Tech, and Maryland and we wouldn't be surprised if his choice comes down to those three.
Nick Brahms- UVa was in on the 6-foot-5, 280 pounder early and it seems like as he's garnered more attention, the Hoos have fallen off gradually more as time has gone on. At this point, Auburn and North Carolina seem to have really surged for the now four-star Florida native.
Running back (Three projected, two committed):
Jamari Peacock- We've talked a lot about Peacock in this space and that was before UVa picked up a commitment last week from three-star Winchester native P.K. Kier. Peacock said he wasn't saying anything publicly about his commitment following his visit a couple of weeks ago and that hasn't changed. He's still going to take some visits, though, so that piece muddies the water somewhat. Let's call him a heavy UVa lean for now but given that the Hoos already have two quality backs in the fold, recruiting in this class at this position is trending in the right direction.
Michael Carter- While the three-star Sunshine State RB has said in the past that he had Virginia at the top of his list, he's coming off a very strong visit to UNC. Which is why it's perfectly timed for him to come to Charlottesville this weekend. We said last month that getting him back on Grounds again would be crucial so this is big for UVa to keep chase.
Wide receiver (One projected):
Jeremiah Holloman- With Nykeim Johnson off the board to Syracuse, UVa doesn't have many guys on the board at WR that make much sense. And with his teammate Jaquan Henderson off the board to Tennessee, Holloman should be considered an even longer shot.
Defensive end (Three projected):
Jordan Williams- As we've said, the four-star Rivals250 standout from Virginia Beach is likely UVa's top target on the defensive side of the ball. And he's planning to be back in Charlottesville this weekend for a visit, which is great, great news. While we think Virginia is a big favorite for Becton, the Cavaliers will have to contend with a big push from both Clemson and Tennessee to get Williams.
Tyran Hunt: As we did last month too, we're including the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Southampton native with the DL for this piece but he could easily play on the offensive line as well. As we posted earlier this week, Hunt is planning to be back in Charlottesville this weekend for a visit and we wouldn't be totally shocked to see him come off the board. That being said, this one could get interesting between UVa and Virginia Tech.
Ryan Thaxton- Speaking of guys that could realistically pull the trigger soon, the St. Stephens & St. Agnes defensive end was in Charlottesville for a visit this week and left extremely impressed. Earlier this week, the 6-foot-5, 250 pounder said he'd like to stay closer to home and noted that in addition to planning a trip to UVa, he was also looking at trips to several schools including Tennessee, Tech, UNC, and Duke. We'll have a full update for you this week but we see the Cavaliers as the favorite right now.
Jacob Lichtenstein- UVa made the final six for the 6-foot-5, 235-pound defensive end out of Weston (FL) Cypress Bay, which was a bit of a surprise. He was one of the hottest prospects on the trail this spring but is now down to Alabama, Cal, Georgia Tech, Pitt, and USC in addition to the Cavaliers. While many might see UVa as a long shot, be careful with that. We wouldn't say the Hoos have a lead or anything but sources we trust reiterated to us this week that Virginia's chances shouldn't be discounted.
John Kirven- What a long, strange trip its been, huh? After having decommitted from UVa following the coaching change, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound tight end is back on Virginia's radar after the Hoos offered him a defensive end. If he eventually landed back with the Cavaliers, it would be the first time we can remember a situation like it. But that's not to say the Woodberry Forest standout doesn't have plenty of interest at TE, though. It should be an interesting couple of months for him starting this weekend with a return trip to Charlottesville, the first since the DE offer.
Zeke Brandle- UVa likes the 6-foot-5, 250-pound end from Forest City (NC) Chase even though he seems set on waiting things out and seeing what happens in his recruitment. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Brandle has great size to fit into UVa's scheme.
Defensive tackle (Two projected, one committed):
Malcolm Robinson- UVa continues to recruit the 6-foot-2, 280-pound three-star tackle hard. The key will be staying at the top of his list. He enjoyed his visit to Charlottesville this spring and he's planning to come back at some point this summer. We still see UVa as the favorite.
Marcus Coleman- The 6-foot-5, 290-pound tackle from Baltimore has picked up a host of new interest this spring, as we profiled earlier this month. One thing that stuck out was that UVa liked him on the DL versus the OL, which is where a lot of schools have him on their boards. The Cavaliers believe he can play either end or tackle, which means he could bring a lot of versatility to this class.
Seth Harrell- UVa was the first to offer the three-star lineman from Grassfield and that appears to still be his lone FBS offer. The interesting part is that while most everyone else likes him on the O-line, UVa is recruiting him as a NT per his high school coach. He's getting interest from the likes of Duke, NC State, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest. With Crider on board to play on the interior of the OL, Harrell makes a lot of sense on the defensive side of the ball.
Linebacker (Three projected, one committed):
Levi Jones- It's not often that UVa gets a strong look from a four-star linebacker from Texas with an offer list like the one Jones has but that's the situation here. In fact, the 6-foot-2, 215 pounder from Austin (TX) Westlake was in town this week and there's plenty of reason to believe the Hoos have a genuine shot. While the competition is crazy (UF, FSU, Houston, LSU, OU, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M have all offered), Ruffin McNeill coached Jones' father Robert at ECU before he went on to play for the Cowboys. McNeill also brought in Jones' older brother, Zay, at ECU. Either way, it'll be interesting to see what kind of staying power the Cavaliers have in this one.
Levani Damuni: What's been interesting here is that the four-star from Utah is planning to take a mission after high school, so he won't be making an immediate impact regardless of where he goes. And some schools haven't been as receptive to that as others. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Hyrum (UT) Mountain Crest standout is likely to stay closer to home, making BYU and Utah tough to beat. UVa and Oregon State are probably the schools most likely to pull him out of state at this point unless Stanford comes through with an offer.
Chris Pierce- Listed in the database as a receiver, UVa likes the Smithfield native at linebacker and the Hoos aren't alone, as he's picked up an offer from Maryland at LB as well. Still, we've got a good feeling about Virginia's chances with him but the question will be which position he likes most and what kind of timeframe he wants to be on.
Ellis Brooks: After picking Duke in March, Brooks opened things back up last month and it made a lot of sense that the Cavaliers would want to get back in with the 6-foot-2, 240-pound four-star linebacker from Benedictine. We haven't heard too much since then, though, as it seems the Richmond native is trying to ease back into the process somewhat.
Defensive back (Four projected, three committed):
Jeremiah Owusu- We said last month that the three-star safety from Bethel was likely waiting for bigger offers and he apparently got a golden opportunity earlier this month at the Florida/JMU satellite camp. The 6-foot-2, 188 pounder has a lot of skills and he'll have a chance to see Charlottesville up close again this weekend.
Terrell Jana- We still think this is a recruitment that just makes too much sense. Virginia was one of the first to offer the 6-foot-1, 185-pound cornerback from Woodberry Forest. Given the connections, one would think the Cavaliers will be tough to beat.
Tye Freeland- As we said last month, UVa likes the Dinwiddie playmaker at corner, though he shined at WR at the Rivals Camp in Charlotte. We still get the sense that Wake Forest holds the edge.
Chaz Ah You- The Provo (UT) Timpview safety is among the guys we hope to get in touch with soon because there hasn't been too much out there lately about his recruitment. But that hasn't stopped his stock from rising, as the 6-foot-1, 185-pound four-star recruit jumped into the Rivals250 recently. Regardless, this one will be a lengthy battle since he's not looking to make a decision until after his senior season. UCLA and Stanford seem to have the edge by a good margin.
Jermani Brown- A four-star cornerback who moved to Midlothian this year, the one time Arizona State commit picked up a lot of interest this spring. At one point it seemed like UVa might have some solid footing here but that traction has evaporated significantly. We wouldn't say UVa is out of the mix but without a visit and a renewed since of interest, the writing appears to be on the wall.
New offers this week
Lastly, we wanted to touch on a couple of new offers that are out.
UVa has offered 6-foot-1, 265-pound defensive tackle Sammy Ochoa out of Austin (TX) Lake Travis. He's a two-way lineman but the Hoos like him at NT.
The Cavaliers also offered another 2017 DT in the past week or so, Axel Nyembwe. The 6-foot-2, 283-pound DL from Gaithersburg (MD) Avalon School also has offers from Duke, Rutgers, and Wake Forest, among others.
Lastly, the Wahoos also offer Nyembewe's teammate, 2018 LB Noah Taylor. UVa is the second offer for the 6-foot-4, 180 pounder along with Pitt.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
