THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602080550
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Virginia went looking for speed during the football recruiting season. Wednesday, coach George Welsh seemed confident the need had been fulfilled with the signing of 18 high school players.
``Our needs definitely were in the skill positions and over half of the (recruiting) class is composed of them,'' Welsh said.
``We hope they have speed. That is the key that separates a lot of teams today, and we need to replinish speed on our football team.''
Six recruits were listed as wide receiver-defensive back, one as quarterback-defensive back, and three others as running backs-defensive backs.
The Cavaliers lost three starting defensive backs and both starting wide receivers from last season's ACC co-championship team.
The most highly publicized recruit is Thomas Jones, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound running back from Powell Valley High school in Appalachia.
He set a single-season state records for yards rushing (3,314 yards) and touchdowns (44) as a junior. He rushed for 1,273 yards and 36 touchdowns in the regular season as a senior.
Jones, who also was recruited by Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and North Carolina, was one of five SuperPrep high school All-Americans signed by the Cavaliers.
Others were Bryon Thweatt, a linebacker from Matoaca, Va.; Brad Barnes, an offensive linemen from Grafton; Demetrius Dotson, a wide receiver from Staton Island, N.Y.; and Tim Spruill, a wide receiver-defensive back from Columbia, Md.
The Cavaliers signed five tight end/linebacker/defensive ends, but only two interior linemen.
Welsh said there would be opportunities for some true freshmen to play next season.
``Thinking about our needs at wide receiver and especially defensive back, you could see three or four skill people playing for us this year,'' Welsh said.
Welsh said during the recruiting period that his team's victory over Florida State had brough attention from throughout the nation, and that also was evidenced in the signings.
The recruits are from nine different states and the District of Columbian.
Jason Small, a running back-defensive back from San Pedro, Calif., is the first recruit from that state since (Gov.) George Allen Jr., a transfer from UCLA.
The signing period does not end until April 1, but Welsh indicated he doesn't expect many, if any, more signings.
Virginia went looking for speed during the football recruiting season. Wednesday, coach George Welsh seemed confident the need had been fulfilled with the signing of 18 high school players.
``Our needs definitely were in the skill positions and over half of the (recruiting) class is composed of them,'' Welsh said.
``We hope they have speed. That is the key that separates a lot of teams today, and we need to replinish speed on our football team.''
Six recruits were listed as wide receiver-defensive back, one as quarterback-defensive back, and three others as running backs-defensive backs.
The Cavaliers lost three starting defensive backs and both starting wide receivers from last season's ACC co-championship team.
The most highly publicized recruit is Thomas Jones, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound running back from Powell Valley High school in Appalachia.
He set a single-season state records for yards rushing (3,314 yards) and touchdowns (44) as a junior. He rushed for 1,273 yards and 36 touchdowns in the regular season as a senior.
Jones, who also was recruited by Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and North Carolina, was one of five SuperPrep high school All-Americans signed by the Cavaliers.
Others were Bryon Thweatt, a linebacker from Matoaca, Va.; Brad Barnes, an offensive linemen from Grafton; Demetrius Dotson, a wide receiver from Staton Island, N.Y.; and Tim Spruill, a wide receiver-defensive back from Columbia, Md.
The Cavaliers signed five tight end/linebacker/defensive ends, but only two interior linemen.
Welsh said there would be opportunities for some true freshmen to play next season.
``Thinking about our needs at wide receiver and especially defensive back, you could see three or four skill people playing for us this year,'' Welsh said.
Welsh said during the recruiting period that his team's victory over Florida State had brough attention from throughout the nation, and that also was evidenced in the signings.
The recruits are from nine different states and the District of Columbian.
Jason Small, a running back-defensive back from San Pedro, Calif., is the first recruit from that state since (Gov.) George Allen Jr., a transfer from UCLA.
The signing period does not end until April 1, but Welsh indicated he doesn't expect many, if any, more signings. by CNB