ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 21, 1997 TAG: 9701210094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
In its search for a successor to two-time All-ACC punter Will Brice, Virginia took advantage of an informed source.
Johnny Rascoe, who coached Brice at Lancaster (S.C.) High School, told the Cavaliers they could have the next-best thing by recruiting Mike Abrams. Abrams, from Aiken, S.C., was named all-state this year for the third year in a row and had three punts of 65 yards or longer.
Abrams, offered a scholarship by the Cavaliers on Friday, was one of two players who committed to Virginia during their recruiting visits this past weekend.
UVa also landed Earl Sims, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker from Killian High School in Miami.
Sims was named first-team all-state in Class 6A, the classification with the largest schools in Florida.
Sims' other visits were to Virginia Tech and Ohio State, and he canceled a trip to Cincinnati this coming weekend. He also was offered a grant in aid by Iowa State.
``Ohio State was No.1 until I went up to Virginia,'' Sims said. ``Also, [the Cavaliers] will be losing both of their outside linebackers. It's one of my goals to play as a true freshman.
``I just hope it isn't always as cold [in Charlottesville] as it was last weekend. They told me it isn't.''
Abrams (6-4, 225) is listed as a tight end on many early recruiting lists and was recruited by Wake Forest as a position player and a specialist.
``Toward the end, I wasn't getting a lot of interest from larger schools as a tight end,'' Abrams said, ``but my coaches and I felt I had the ability to punt in college.''
Abrams said he rarely punted for more than five minutes each day during practice, but he plans to specialize in college.
``I knew Virginia had a good punter,'' Abrams said. ``I didn't realize he was an All-American [in 1995]. I've got some big shoes to fill. I know people will be watching me.''
* Sources say Penn State has an oral commitment from Chantilly defensive back Bhawoh Jue, rated the No.7 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times. Jue, who also considered Virginia and Michigan, is the fourth prospect among the top seven to commit to the Nittany Lions.
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