Cavalier Corner

April 2015

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Trucilla, a three-star who was one of the early commits in the class, is a 6-1, 265-pounder from Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep who had 40 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior on his way to earning all-state recognition. Lastly, three other members of the group seem destined for the defensive backfield including one of the most decorated player in Virginia High School League history, Altavista's Juan Thornhill. A five-time state champion between the foot- ball field and basketball court, the 6-1, 180-pound three-star was the first member of London's 2015 class after having committed to the Cavaliers on Nov. 7, 2013. The potential heir apparent to Anthony Harris at safety, Thornhill was the Group 1A Virginia Player of the Year in addition to earning all-state accolades at both quarterback and defensive back. He helped the Colonials to back-to-back state titles on the gridiron and scored the game-winning 40-yard touchdown to seal the second of those championships. "He might be the most successful recruit I've ever seen," London said of Thornhill, who is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 19 player in the state and the No. 37 safety in the land. "He's a guy who knows how to win and who expects to win. That mentality is contagious. "You want guys like him in your program. You want players who expect to win. He'll come in here and he'll show us what he's got at safety." In addition, UVa also added cornerbacks Ka- reem Gibson and T.J. Griffin to the fold. Gibson, a 5-11, 160-pound two-star from Johnstown (Pa.) Greater Johnstown, had 23 tackles and one inter- ception this past season while adding 27 recep- tions for 353 yards and three scores on offense. He Jahvoni Simmons — a four-star talent, the No. 9 inside linebacker in the land and the country's No. 137 overall player according to Rivals.com — picked UVa over offers from, among others, inau- gural College Football Playoff participants Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon. PHOTO BY BRAD FRANKLIN

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