Cavalier Corner

August 2014

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Top Targets: The biggest target on the board is likely UVa's top overall remaining target, and that's four-star line- backer Ricky DeBerry of Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's. With more than three dozen scholarship offers to his credit, DeBerry was working towards cutting his list down again in late July, and he's told Rivals.com that UVa will be one of the teams that make it. Rivals.com ranks DeBerry as the No. 7 recruit in Virginia, the No. 9 outside linebacker in the land and the No. 123 overall player nationally. In addition, the Cavaliers are continuing to recruit four- star Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes standout Jahvoni Simmons, who recently released a top 10 that included the Cavaliers, and Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep three- star Jordan Fox also has Virginia in his top group and is planning a visit. Simmons is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 4 inside linebacker and No. 105 overall prospect in the country, while Fox is listed as the No. 47 outside linebacker nationally. DEFENSIVE BACK Need: 3-4 Commitments: 3 — Kareem Gibson, Johnstown (Pa.) High; Juan Thornhill, Altavista (Va.) High; and David Curry, Buford (Ga.) High. Curry, a two-star recruit who picked UVa over interest from UNC in late July, will be a safety in Virginia's defense. That's also where Thornhill, who is rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 15 player in Virginia and the No. 21 safety nationally by Rivals.com, projects as well. "He's got that 'it' factor," Friedman said of Thornhill. "He's always around the ball, and he just knows how to make plays. He's not playing the best competition, but he's al- ways where he needs to be. He's going to go through a big change when he gets to Virginia. I'd expect him to get into the mix on special teams first." Gibson, meanwhile, looks to be a cornerback once he arrives on Grounds. "He's really, really fast," Friedman noted. "He's got great speed, and one of things I look for from him is his ability to close when the ball is in the air. He's always there to make the tackle. Now, he needs to make that next step and keep the receiver from making the catch. You can't knock him for his speed." Top Targets: UVa remains in the hunt for a number of quality defensive backs, including Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes three-star Jahque Alleyne, who has the Cava- liers in his top six and is listed as the No. 17 player in Vir- ginia and the No. 33 safety in the land by Rivals.com. The Wahoos are also one of the top teams — along with Pitt, Wake Forest, and possibly Penn State — for Pittsburgh native John Petrishen, a 6-2, 197-pound two-star safety who is expected to return to Charlottesville for a visit this fall. ◆ 2015 FOOTBALL COMMITMENTS As of July 29 Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Ryan Bischoff OL 6-5 305 Plymouth Meeting, Pa. (Plymouth Whitemarsh) Richard Burney TE 6-4 230 Chesapeake, Va. (Hickory) Tanner Cowley TE 6-4 210 Manasquan, N.J. (Manasquan) David Curry DB 6-1 190 Buford, Ga. (Buford) David Eldridge WR 6-0 165 Nokesville, Va. (Kettle Run) Kareem Gibson DB 5-10 160 Johnstown, Pa. (Johnstown) Nick Johns QB 6-3 226 Washington, D.C. (Gonzaga) Grant Polk OL 6-5 292 Punta Gorda, Fla. (Charlotte) RJ Proctor OL 6-4 320 Bealeton, Va. (Liberty) C.J. Stalker LB 6-2 223 West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West) Juan Thornhill DB 6-1 175 Altavista, Va. (Altavista) James Trucilla DT 6-1 267 Erie, Pa. (Cathedral Prep School)

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