Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501060088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Shivers, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound lineman from Hallandale, Fla., told Cavaliers' coach George Welsh on Thursday that he wanted to go to UVa, but that's when things started to get sticky.
``He tried to cancel his visit to Florida,'' Hallandale coach Chris Hipsley said, ``but, when he got off the phone, it sounded like he still might be going up there [for a trip].
``No one wants to drop off until the last day. And, it might go until the last day [Feb. 1]. He's such a good player that he won't be left out in the cold.''
Shivers has taken visits to Boston College, Miami and Virginia. His final two trips were scheduled for Florida and Notre Dame.
``He's a 17-year-old kid without a father in the home,'' Hipsley said. ``It's just him and his mom, and they're very poor. They've made a decision, but they're having a tough time telling people.
``I'm just his coach, and I'm not making the decision. I've told him what I think - that Virginia's the best place for him.''
Shivers, who has scored close to 800 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, was named a preseason All-American at offensive tackle but is being recruited by Virginia as a defensive tackle. He has been timed in 4.95 seconds for 40 yards.
``He's a prospect on either side of the ball,'' Hipsley said. ``The Notre Dame recruiter said, `He'll play offense on Sundays [in the NFL], but we'll let him play defense for us.'''
Shivers was named first-team all-state on defense and is one of the top 10 prospects in Florida.
In other recruiting:
Darnell Alford has become the 19th player off the Roanoke Times & World-News Top 25 to make an oral commitment and the sixth to choose Boston College. Alford, a 6-5, 305-pound lineman from Chancellor High in Fredericksburg, picked the Eagles over Virginia and Virginia Tech.
by CNB