Cavalier Corner

all 6-5 or taller. Guards Jack McDonald of Dorches- ter (Mass.) Boston College High and Brad Henson of Toms River (N.J.) Monsignor Donovan High committed June 25 and June 26 over a litany of East Coast offers. Tackle Sadiq Olanrewaju of Salisbury (Conn.) School rounds out the group and picked the Cavaliers March 20. Rivals.com ranks the 6-5, 275-pound Henson as the No. 20 guard in the country and the No. 11 player in New Jersey. He picked the Cavaliers over Miami, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and Rut- gers, among others. "I think Henson could be a guard, but he could also play tackle because he has that kind of versatil- ity," Farrell said. "He is a physical run blocker, sort of a mauler." McDonald is more of a finesse blocker at 6-5 and 275, and is ranked as the No. 41 guard in the nation and the fourth-best player in Massachusetts. McDonald picked UVa over offers from Boston College, UConn, Duke, Maryland, Miami and North Carolina. "I think he's going to grow into his body and has good feet," Farrell said. "He could also play right tackle for them." Olanrewaju is full of potential at 6-6 and 280 pounds, and is ranked as the No. 42 tackle in the country and the No. 3 prospect in Connecticut by Rivals.com. "He is a potential home run," Farrell said. "You aren't going to find a better looking offensive tackle prospect in the country this year. He has all the skill athletically to be amazing. He just has no idea what he's doing and the competition isn't very good. He knows how to kick-slide and to extend his arms, but not at the same time. He needs to be coached up." The Cavaliers have seven verbal commits on de- fense with two defensive linemen, two linebackers and three defensive backs. Defensive tackle Donta Wilkins and defensive end Jack English were two of seven players who picked Virginia since May 31. The 6-3, 315-pound Wilkins from Dumfries (Va.) Potomac Senior High selected UVa over offers from Boston College, Miami, NC State and Penn State. The rangy English, who is 6-6 and 250 pounds, hails from Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's High and is unrated. "There are other [recruiting analysts] that are higher on Wilkins than we are, but we want to see him a little bit more," said Farrell, who ranks Wilkins No. 30 overall in Virginia. "What we've seen is potential, and he's definitely a big kid. I think he'll need to play a little bit lighter, but he can be stout at the point of attack. "English is a big kid who they like. He can play that end position at the five technique, right over the tight end. They need guys who can hold up blockers in that scheme. He might be a little bit of a reach, but those reaches could be a surprise down the line." LaChaston Smith of Statesville (N.C.) South Ire- dell High joins Micah Kiser of Baltimore Gilman School at linebacker. The 5-11, 214-pound Smith picked Virginia May 31 over offers from Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Minnesota, Wake Forest and East Carolina. Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 31 outside linebacker in the land and No. 17 in North Carolina. "He's short, weighs around 215 and he's not super fast, but he's instinctual and really good in cover- age," Farrell said. "He doesn't run a 4.5 40, but he can flip his hips and run very well. I think he'll be the type of guy who will do well in his drops and disrupt the passing game." The 6-1, 215-pound Kiser is more athletic than Smith, and Rivals.com ranks him as the No. 20 in- side linebacker in the nation and the No. 13 prospect in Maryland. "He's a long rangy kid, who might not be tall, CAVALIER CORNER ◆ AUGUST 2012 ◆ 49

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