THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060671
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 74 lines
The University of Virginia appeared to have met most of its major football recruiting needs when the national signing period began Wednesday.
High on the list of primary objectives was to replace kicker Rafael Garcia and punter Will Brice, a pair of three-year starters.
The Cavaliers signed punter Mike Abrams of Aiken (S.C.) High School and placekicker/punter Greg Owens of St. Edwards High School in Vero Beach, Fla.
The Cavaliers also did well in three other critical areas: defensive line, quarterback and linebacker.
Among the signees were quarterback Dan Ellis of Downingtown, Pa.; defensive lineman Darryl Sanders of Leonardtown, Md.; and linebacker Yubrenal Isabelle, a Parade All-American from Bluefield, W.Va.
Ellis and Isabelle were named players of the year in their states, and Sanders was a first-team All-Washington Metro selection.
Isabelle indicated early last week that he would sign with Virginia Tech, then announced on television last Thursday night that he would attend Virginia. He rushed for 4,450 yards and scored 72 touchdowns during his career.
After he announced for Virginia Tech, three Virginia coaches visited Isabelle the next day in Bluefield. Virginia Tech coach Billy Hite, visited him Wednesday.
Nebraska, Penn State, Tennessee and West Virginia were among teams that recruited Isabelle, who has qualified academically.
The Cavaliers won another recruiting battle with Virginia Tech for defensive back Devon Simmons of Highland Springs High School in Richmond.
Simmons, who has 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, is the first player from his high school to sign with the Cavaliers since Greg Taylor in the late 1970s.
Virginia also may have got a head start on the recruiting next year of Hampton High School star quarterback Ronald Curry by signing two of his teammates.
They were running back Darryl Smith, a first-team All-Group AAA player, and wide receiver Ahmad Hawkins, who caught 39 of Curry's passes last season for 1,129 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Among the others to sign with the Cavaliers were running back Tyree Foreman from Sherwood High School in Sandy Springs, Md. He was named the Player of the Year in Maryland for the second straight year after rushing for 1,883 yards and 35 touchdowns this past season.
The recruiting period continues through April 1. MEMO: Landmark News Service reporter Doug Doughty contributed to this
story. ILLUSTRATION: VIRGINIA SIGNEES
Players with U.Va. letters-of-intent:
Mike Abrams, 6-4, 225 p, Aiken, S.C.
Billy Baber, 6-5, 240 te, Crozet
Scooter Clark, 6-3, 195 wr-lb, Perth Amboy, N.J.
Bryce Cox, 6-4, 220 lb, Jacksonville, Fla.
John Duckett, 6-1, 215 lb, Great Mills, Md.
Dan Ellis, 6-3, 215 qb, Downingtown, Pa.
Tyree Foreman, 6-0, 215 rb, Sandy Springs, Md.
Ahmad Hawkins, 5-10, 188 wr, Hampton
Yubrenal Isabelle, 6-2, 225 lb, Bluefield, W.Va.
Josh Lawson, 6-5, 275 ot, Dale City
Chris Luzar, 6-8, 215 te, Williamsburg
Greg Owens, 6-0, 200 pk, Stuart, Fla.
Monsanto Pope, 6-4, 235 de, Hopewell
Evan Routzhan, 6-7, 286 ol, Middletown, Md.
Darryl Sanders, 6-4, 242 dl, Leonardtown, Md.
Devon Simmons, 5-11, 197 db, Highland Springs
Earl Sims, 6-2, 205 lb, Miami
Darryl Smith, 6-0 , 215 rb, Hampton
Ljubomir Stamenich, 6-3, 255 dl, McLean
Jared Woodson, 6-8, 250 ol-dl, Crozet.