UVA, Tech on top for DE

John Graves out of Richmond (Va.) Meadowbrook still holds two offers and took a visit to one of those schools for junior day weeks ago.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder has offers from Virginia and Virginia Tech and visited Virginia's junior day some weeks past.

"It was really great, I got to listen to Eugene Monroe who's a real great speaker," he said. "I also learned a lot more about the campus and met some really great people and also got to talk to the coaches Mike and Al Groh. They're great guys and talked to me a lot about the campus and really not too much about football, they really want to help you out with you're life."

Graves also touched on the other school that has offered, Virginia Tech.

"I've talked to Frank Beamer and he's a class act guy," he said. "Virginia Tech is a really great school and I'm looking forward to visiting them this summer. They've got a great recruiting class coming in and they have a lot of great people down there."

Besides holding offers, Graves has received a lot of mail from schools including Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Penn State and Florida.

What does he think about the new staff at Florida and Urban Meyer?

"I'm really interested in Florida and they're really good," Graves said. "The new staff is great, my coach has told me about this staff and Meyer and I've heard he's a really good coach. They are also a good school too and they have a good recruiting class coming in."

Currently, Graves has no favorites and said he's wide open in recruiting.

During the offseason, Graves is weight lifting and running in preparation for upcoming combines.

"I'm lifting about five or six times a week," he said. "I'm also taking a weight lifting class and lifting after school. I run sprints doing 200's also."

All this preparation has him gearing for a solid senior campaign.

"I just want to maximize my potential and do the best I can," he said. "There's only one team goal and that's to win the state title, if we're not competing for that then we mine as well get out right now."

Graves plans to take in the Virginia Tech Nike Camp in April.

As for this summer, he's planning to take in a team camp at the University of Richmond.

Last season, Graves recorded 10 sacks as he was named first team all-metro defense, first team all-region defense and offense, second team all-state defense and offense, all-district defense and offense and defensive player of the year Division-5.