Jennings, Terrell part of a class full of speed
When Mike London took over as coach at Virginia, he threw open the doors to his program. He encouraged high school coaches to attend his practices. He agreed to an all-access TV show. He arranged an intrasquad scrimmage at Old Dominion University. He spoke of the importance of recruiting in-state players.
On Wednesday, London’s glasnost policy bore fruit as Virginia received commitments on national signing day from two of the region’s most coveted prospects, speedsters Darius Jennings of the Gilman School in Baltimore and Dominique Terrell of Osbourn High in Manassas.
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With the signing of Jennings, who picked Virginia over Ohio State, and Terrell, who opted for Virginia over Miami and West Virginia, it’s clear the Cavaliers have made significant strides as a recruiting force under London, who also landed nine prospects from Virginia’s talent-rich Tidewater area.
“What I wanted to address was speed and athleticism,” London said. “You see guys who have the ability to play on both sides of the ball. … There’s a sense of skills and ability. It’s our job now to fit it into the process of making us a better football team.”
With running and receiving skills, London hopes Jennings (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) fills his need for a playmaker. Terrell (5-10, 165), a spread option quarterback at Osbourn, has potential as a wideout, cornerback and return man. Both are likely to play immediately.
“If you attract that type of talent, you need to get them on the field,” London said.
Jennings and Terrell are two of five four-star recruits (Rivals) signed by Virginia. The others — running back Clifton Richardson (6-1, 195) from Newport News, defensive back Demetrious Nicholson (5-11, 170) from Virginia Beach and defensive back Brandon Phelps (6-0, 175), from Damascus — will inject more speed into the Cavaliers’ lineup.
London scored a major coup with his domination of the Tidewater area, previously a stronghold of Virginia Tech, which signed just one player from the area. In all, Virginia inked 18 in-state players. Of the state’s top 45 prospects (Rivals), Virginia signed 12, twice as many as the Hokies (six).
Much of the success can be attributed to the legwork London put in immediately after he was hired.
“We’re trying to do things to be accessible and available,” London said. “Don’t talk about it; be about it. What you do speaks louder than what you say.”
London also recruited the Washington area well, signing Good Counsel defensive tackle Vincent Croce (6-4, 260), T.C. Williams offensive tackle Jay Whitmire (6-7, 285) and DeMatha offensive tackle Kelby Johnson (6-8, 285).
ESPN ranked Virginia’s class 19th in the nation.
“You spend time around anyone who’s been around Mike London, they’re impressed,” ESPN’s Bruce Feldman said. “When people get to know this guy, there’s a wow factor.”
VIRGINIA
QB-David Watford (6-2 180) Hampton, VA; RB-Clifton Richardson (6-1 195) Menchville (Newport News) VA; RB-Darius Jennings (6-1 180) Gilman (Baltimore) MD; WR-Adrian Gamble (6-2 175) Independence (Charlotte) NC; ATH-Kevin Green (6-3 195) Petersburg, VA; ATH-Anthony Harris (6-2 185) Bird (Chesterfield) VA; ATH-Dominique Terrell (5-10 165) Osbourn (Manassas) VA; OL-Tim Cwalina (6-7 290) Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh) PA; OL-Kelby Johnson (6-8 285) DeMatha (Hyattsville) MD; OL-Jay Whitmire (6-7 285) T.C. Williams (Alexandria) VA; OL-Ross Burbank (6-5 300) Cox (Virginia Beach) VA; DE-Rob Burns (6-8 225) Stone Bridge (Ashburn) VA; DE-Diamonte Bailey (6-3 220) Hermitage (Richmond) VA; DE-Daquan Romero (6-0 210) Phoebus (Hampton) VA; DE-Marco Jones (6-4 245) Boys Latin (Baltimore) MD; DE-Thompson Brown (6-4 220) St. Christopher’s (Richmond) VA; DT-Vincent Croce (6-4 260) Good Counsel (Olney) MD; DT-David Dean (6-1 285) Green Run (Virginia Beach) VA; LB-D.J. Hill (6-1 215) Newton (Covington) GA; LB-Caleb Taylor (5-11 230) Phoebus (Hampton) VA; LB-Darius Lee (6-1 205) St. Stephen’s/SA (Alexandria) VA; DB-Brandon Phelps (6-0 175) Damascus, MD; DB-Kyrrel Latimer (5-10 200) Fork Union, VA; DB-Demetrious Nicholson (5-11 170) Bayside (Virginia Beach) VA; DB-Kameron Mack (6-5 200) Norcom (Portsmouth) VA; DB-Mason Thomas (6-1 195) Kempsville (Virginia Beach) VA. MARYLAND
RB-Brandon Ross (6-0 200) Charter School of Wilmington, DE; FB-Tyler Cierski (6-1 240) Mill Creek (Hoschto) GA; WR-Nigel King (6-3 200) Oak Ridge Military Academy, NC; WR-Tyrek Cheeseboro (6-0 180) Fork Union, VA; WR-Marcus Leak (6-0 200) Parkwood (Monroe) NC; OL-Ryan Doyle (6-6 265) Wake Forest (Rolesville) NC; OL-Stephen Grommer (6-5 285) Spartanburg, SC; OG-Andrew Zeller (6-5 280) Red Lion, PA; OL-Nathaniel Clarke (6-5 310) Fork Union, VA; OL-Evan Mulrooney (6-4 280) Salesianum (Wilmington) DE; DE-Quinton Jefferson (6-4 225) Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh) PA; DT-Keith Bowers (6-2 260) Dwyer (West Palm Beach) FL; LB-Lukas Foreman (6-4 195) Naples, FL; LB-Cole Farrand (6-3 235) Pope John XXIII (Sparta) NJ; LB-Alex Twine (6-1 200) Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg) MD; DB-Jeremiah Hendy (6-1 185) Bowie, MD; DB-Makinton Dorleant (5-11 170) Lely (Naples) FL; DB-Undray Clark (5-11 185) Felix Varela (Miami) FL; DB-Michael Williams (5-11 175) DeMatha (Hyattsville) MD; P-Nathaniel Renfro (6-2 200) Brentwood (Nashville) TN.
VIRGINIA TECH
RB-Michael Holmes (6-0 200) Harrisonburg, VA; WR-Kevin Asante (6-0 175) Mallard Creek (Charlotte) NC; WR-Robert Lockhart (6-1 180) West Boca (Boca Raton) FL; ATH-Chris Hall (6-4 230) Dinwiddie, VA; ATH-James Farrow (6-0 180) Minnetonka, MN; ATH-Demitri Knowles (6-1 175) Liberty Christian (Lynchburg) VA; TE-Ryan Malleck (6-5 230) Point Pleasant, NJ; TE-Darius Redman (6-4 240) H.D. Woodson (Washington) DC; TE-Christian Reeves (6-3 215) Eagle’s Landing (McDonough) GA; OL-Jake Goins (6-5 290) Manchester, VA; DE-Matt Roth (6-4 225) Nease (Ponte Vedra) FL; DE-Corey Marshall (6-2 240) Dinwiddie, VA; DE-Dewayne Alford (6-3 220) Nansemond River (Suffolk) VA; DE-Wedley Estime (6-4 215) Atlantic (Delray Beach) FL; DE-Justin Taylor (6-3 225) Hargrave Military (Chatham) VA; DT-Kris Harley (6-2 265) Warren Central (Indianapolis) IN; DT-Luther Maddy (6-2 275) Atlantic (Delray Beach) FL; DB-Adeboye Aromire (6-0 190) H.D. Woodson (Washington) DC; DB-Michael Cole (6-3 200) Cave Spring (Roanoke) VA; DB-Ronny Vandyke (6-3 200) South County (Lorton) VA; DB-Kyshoen Jarrett (6-1 180) East Stroudsburg, PA.
NAVY
Service academies do not officially release the names of their recruits until Induction Day.
QB-Rafi Montalvo (6-0 195) LaSalle (Coral Gables) FL; QB-John Hendrick (6-1 185) Sickles (Tampa) FL; QB-Jordan Moore (6-1 190) Aldine (Houston) TX; QB-Brendan Dudeck (6-0 190) Peddie (Highstown) NJ; RB-Quentin Ezell (6-0 210) Walkersville, MD; RB-Will Huntsman (5-10 185) Judge Memorial (Salt Lake City) UT; RB-Chris Swain (5-11 220) Mount deSales (Macon) GA; RB-Colin Osborne (5-10 185) Glenelg, MD; WR-Michael Mey (6-5 190) J.R. Tucker (Richmond) VA; RB-Maika Polamalu (6-0 200) Pottsgrove (Pottstown) PA; WR-Don Pearson (6-3 205) Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) NV; WR-Devin Crayton (6-2 170) Brandeis (Helotes) TX; WR-Bryson Garcia (6-5 200) Ramona, CA; SB-Ed Royds (5-10 200) Shawnee (Mt. Laurel) NJ; SB-Jamaal Williams (5-9 180) Hillside (Durham) NC; SB-Demond Brown (5-9 200) Old Mill (Annapolis) MD; SB-Marc Meier (5-10 180) Great Bridge (Chesapeake) VA; SB-Aaron Daniels (5-11 205) Webster (St. Louis) MO; SB-Colin Osborne (5-9 185) Glenelg, MD; TE-Allen Caldwell (6-3 250) Crestview, FL; OL-Luke Smith (6-3 255) South Fort Myers, FL; OL-William Strauss (6-5 215) Heritage (Brentwood) CA; OL-Greg Eason (6-2 300) Mays (Atlanta) GA; OL-Bernie Sarra (6-1 290) Greenburg Central (Monessen) PA; OL-Travon Earl (6-0 240) Dekaney (Spring) TX; OL-Joey Gaston (6-5 250) Catholic (Knoxville) TN; OL-Zachary Laniewski (6-2 275) Lemon Bay (Englewood) FL; DE-Sean Reaver (6-3 245) Catoctin (Thurmont) MD; DE-Sean Kamela (6-2 250) Chaparrel (Scottsdale) AZ; DE-Peter Igras (6-3 240) Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale) AZ; DE-William Anthony (6-1 245) Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) FL; DE-Jude Akpunku (6-3 225) Cedar Hill, TX; DE-T.J. Dougherty (6-0 237) Bayard Rustin (West Chester) PA; DE-Daniel Ring (6-2 270) Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) FL; DT-Ryan Smith (6-0 300) Henry Clay (Lexington) KY; DT-Isaiah McElrath (6-2 280) Pace, FL; DT-Bernie Sarra (6-1 320) Greensburg Central Catholic, PA; LB-Trevor Smyth (6-2 225) Valencia, CA; LB-Grant Clifton (5-11 220) Katy, TX; LB-Chris Johnson (6-1 205) Cape Coral, FL; LB-Nick Martinez (6-2 230) Reicher Catholic (Waco) TX; LB-Tyler Lehrke (6-1 190) Mira Mesa (San Diego) CA; LB-Jordan Drake (6-4 210) Chapel Hill (Douglasville) GA; LB-Obinna Uzoma (6-3 215) Knightdale (Wake Forest) NC; LB-Marcus Mack (6-2 210) North Atlanta, GA; LB-Anthony Lewis (6-0 210) Cottonwood (Ogden) UT; LB-Michael Peek (6-2 215) Grayson (Loganville) GA; LB-Brandon Williams (6-2 210) Hargrave Military (Chatham) VA; DB-Shelley White (5-10 190) Spalding (Severn) MD; DB-Parrish Gaines (6-2 185) Smyma, TN; DB-Demari Boswell (5-9 160) Ben Smith (Greensboro) NC; DB-Myer Krah (5-11 175) Hillside (Durham) NC; DB-Michael Markovsky (6-1 185) Orange Lutheran (Costa Mesa) CA; DB-J.J. Rutledge (5-10 180) Northeast (Clarksburg) TN; DB-Togasii Peko (6-0 175) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) NV; DB-Evan Kendrick (5-10 180) St. Frances DeSales (Gahanna) OH; DB-Quincy Adams (5-11 195) Brandeis (San Antonio) TX; DB-William Beaird (5-11 190) Brentwood (Nashville0 TN; DB-Shakir Robinson (5-10 190) Brunswick, GA; DB-D.J. Beard (6-0 180) Ola (McDonough) GA; DB-Brandon Boyd (5-11 190) La Marque, TX; DB-Jimmy Britton (6-2 210) Heritage (Rogers) AR; K-Nick Sloan (6-0 180) Scripps Ranch (San Diego) CA.
