Charlottesville star likes the home team

Charlottesville, Va., athlete Devonta Brown is holding firm to one scholarship offer, and it looks like the Cavaliers are the team to beat for his services. Rated the No. 23 prospect on the Rivals.com Virginia Top 25 team, the 6-foot-2, 230 pound inside linebacker runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. Four other schools are still in the running, and he explains what he likes about all five.

So far this month Brown has received calls from Maryland, Virginia, Clemson, Duke, and North Carolina, and lists these schools as his favorites. What does he like about these schools?

Virginia: “The atmosphere is very nice, and it is around this area. It is one of the top schools in the nation, and they have a nice, young football team, so I could get a lot of playing time. Coach Groh sends a lot of linebackers into the NFL, too.”

Maryland: “I am from D.C. and I have always liked Maryland. I wanted to play there, but I really wanted to play basketball. I went to basketball camp there and they have a team coming up. I don’t know much about the football team, but I know they are pretty good and they have Swawne Merriman.”

Clemson: “Eric Coleman (junior defensive tackle from Charlottesville) plays there, and I talk to him a lot. They are a pretty good team. I haven’t kept up with them too much this year, but I hear they are supposed to be highly recruiting me.”

Duke: “I really don’t know. I just have them on my list, and I like the overall school. They are not high, just medium interest.”

North Carolina: “I haven’t heard too much from them, but a lot of good players have come out of school there. I might take an official visit there.”

So far Devonta’s only offer is from Virginia, and it appears that he has the same respect for the university. So is a commitment in the near future?

“I thought about it, but I don’t know if I am ready,” Brown commented. “I have gone to all the home games, but not officially. I went to the last game (a 27-24 victory over Wake Forest), and it was good.” He did not attend any camps over the summer and has not set up any official visits, so home-town Virginia is the only campus life he has experienced.

Charlottesville started the season out 0-3, but came back Friday night to win their first game–a game that brought them to 1-0 in the district. Brown totaled 25 tackles in the first three games, then added seven tackles and an interception in the first win of the season. As a junior he had seven sacks and two interceptions.

While Brown is hovering around the qualifying GPA mark, he has a little work to do on the SAT. He is scheduled to retake the exam next month.