ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 10, 1996 TAG: 9612100129
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
Virginia has received commitments from a pair of football prospects who would get the attention of most college basketball coaches.
The more prominent of the two is 6-foot-8, 215-pound tight end Chris Luzar, who had a school-record 114 receptions in three seasons at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg.
The other commitment was from 6-8, 250-pound offensive tackle Jared Woodson, a first-team all-region selection from Western Albemarle High School in Crozet.
North Carolina State, East Carolina and Marshall were recruiting Woodson, whose teammate, tight end Billy Baber, committed to the Cavaliers before the season.
``Jared separated his shoulder in a basketball tournament this summer and couldn't go to any camps,'' Western Albemarle coach Billy Haun said. ``Once he starts concentrating on football, he should get up to 280 or 290 [pounds]. And, he can run.''
Luzar was offered scholarships by UVa, Duke and Wake Forest, but he picked the Cavaliers over Division I-AA William and Mary, where his father, Rex, played for Lou Holtz.
``He was all for me playing at the highest level,'' said Luzar, who had 45 receptions for more than 500 yards and six touchdowns as a tight end. ``Plus, Virginia had only one tight end returning.''
Lafayette coach Brendon Komenda said Penn State and Tennessee also had made offers, although Luzar said he had not heard directly from the recruiters. Luzar was rated the No.13 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times before the season.
``He gets down the field, he can jump and he makes the tough catch,'' Komenda said. ``He's got such good speed (a reported 4.6 in the 40) to go with his size that I couldn't imagine playing him anywhere but tight end.''
Woodson was 36th on The Roanoke Times preseason list.
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