Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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BY BRAD FRANKLIN A FTER BRINGING IN A PAIR of quality re- cruiting classes the past two cycles that fea- tured a trio of five-star signees and four four-star prospects, head coach Mike London and the Cava- liers are focusing on needs in the class of 2015. In so doing, the Cavaliers have cast a wider net, particularly on the offensive line. There's no question that there will be more signees in this class. The Wahoos only lost seven fourth-years from their 2013 roster, which meant there weren't as many scholarships to fill in this past recruiting cycle. Now, with the fourth-year class a more normal size, the spots to fill once they leave Charlottesville will likely be more than 20 if not closer to 25. Entering August, the Cavaliers had 12 commits in the class of 2015 with an expectation of adding around 10 more. QUARTERBACK Need: 1 Commitments: 1 — Nick Johns, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga. The biggest commit for the Cavaliers in this class, the talented player — who is ranked as a three-star recruit, the No. 4 player in the District of Columbia and the No. 17 pro-style quarterback nationally — picked UVa over NC State and Maryland. "He's a strong-armed, tough kid who can see the field well," Rivals.com's recruiting analyst Adam Friedman said. "Once he works on consistently delivering the ball amid pressure, he's going to be a very good QB at Virginia." Perhaps the biggest attribute that Johns brings to the table outside of his physical ability is his leadership. "He's a natural," Friedman said of Johns, who continues to recruit as hard for UVa as any player in recent memory. "He's a good character guy who is a great influence on those around him. He's a natural leader." Top Targets: UVa focused on Johns for eight months before he chose the Wahoos this spring. As such, they are done recruiting signal-callers in the 2015 class. RUNNING BACK Need: 1-2 Commitments: 0 Top Targets: The Cavaliers signed Jordan Ellis in 2014 and played three true first-year running backs last sea- son, meaning it's not necessarily a position of great need in this class. The top target on the board is Christopher Sharp, a 6-2 195-pound prospect from Princeton (N.J.) Hun School that most schools are recruiting as a line- backer. He is currently unrated by Rivals.com, but has re- ceived offers from Boston College, Iowa, Kansas, Rutgers and Virginia. The Cavaliers also were set to host four-star Texas na- tive Chris Warren, the son of former UVa running back and three-time Pro Bowler Chris Warren Sr. The younger Warren (6-2, 223) is listed as the No. 16 running back and uva recruiting A POSITION-BY-POSITION OVERVIEW OF FOOTBALL'S TOP 2015 TARGETS Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga product Nick Johns, who is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 17 pro-style quarterback nationally, re- warded UVa for its eight-month pursuit of him with a commitment in early May. PHOTO BY BRAD FRANKLIN