UVA leads for PA TE

Tight end Matt Balasavage out of Lancaster (Pa.) Lancaster Catholic appears to have one school leading for his services. The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder has received plenty of interest from the ACC, Big East and Big Ten, but one school stands above the rest.

"I think he really likes Virginia a lot," said Lancaster Catholic head coach Bruce Harbach. "He reminds me a lot of former Virginia tight end Heath Miller by the way he comes off the ball and makes plays in open space. I think it is also his natural ability too. Matt has shown a lot of potential."

Besides the Cavaliers, Balasavage is receiving mail from schools including Michigan State, Duke, Boston College, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia, Iowa, Purdue, North Carolina State and North Carolina among others.

As a junior, the tight end prospect hauled in 30 receptions for 315 yards and five touchdowns. He added 25 tackles, three for loss and two sacks on defense.

"Matt has great hands and speed for a guy his size and runs well with the ball after he catches it," he said. "Over the past year or so he has really improved on his blocking to be so much better at that and then he is just a great kid too. He is very coachable, hardworking and only recently has he focused his efforts on football specifically. Previously he was also concentrating on basketball, but now he knows that football is where he'll get a free ride in college."

Balasavage finished his junior year by being named first team all-conference and first team Class AA all-state.