Cavalier Stars Await Draft Fates

D'Brickashaw Ferguson is projected as a top 10 pick in this weekend's NFL Draft.

They've been measured, weighed, and timed. They've been interviewed, quizzed, and tested. Scouting combines, pro days, and individual workouts have come and gone. The last part - the waiting game - ends this weekend when NFL Draft hopefuls will find out where their shot at pro football will start.

Virginia's draft hopefuls include offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, considered a certain top 10 pick, quarterback/receiver Marques Hagans, running back Wali Lundy, offensive tackle Brad Butler, offensive lineman Brian Barthelmes, receiver Ottowa Anderson, defensive lineman Brennan Schmidt, kicker Connor Hughes, kicker Kurt Smith, linebacker Bryan White, linebacker Kai Parham, and defensive lineman Kwakou Robinson.

It looks like Ferguson, Lundy, and Parham are certain draft picks, while Hagans, Butler, Schmidt, and Barthelmes are possible second-day picks. White, Robinson, Hughes, Anderson, and Smith likely will have to go the free agent route. Ferguson is the only potential Cavalier draftee that is easy to peg: he's considered a top 10 lock and likely the No. 4 pick for the New York Jets.

Marques Hagans may get a chance to break some tackles as a receiver or returner.

Rob Rang, Senior Analyst at NFLDraftScout.com, answered some questions about Virginia's draft hopefuls. Here's one of Rang's thoughts concerning Hagans:

"There have been several collegiate quarterbacks turned receivers in recent years. Pittsburgh has enjoyed the most success with Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward and Antwan Randle-El, obviously, but other teams have made similar transitions with players, including Tennessee, San Francisco, and to a lesser extent, Seattle," Rang said. "Certainly New England has shown the outside-of-the-box mentality to try this transition, as well. These teams, because of their prior success, would be among those that Hagans could get a shot. At this point, we don't feel that he is necessarily a draftable prospect, though his size, athleticism, and intangibles certainly make him an intriguing prospect."

All of Rang's responses on most of the Cavalier hopefuls are included this Sabre EDGE story: Ferguson, Other Cavs Eye Draft Weekend.

It has been a terrific week for the UVa 2007 football recruiting efforts, as three players who visited for the spring game last Saturday have since verbally committed to the program. Those players include top in-state prospects Peter Lalich and J'Courtney Williams as well as Mount Carmel (PA) tight end recruit Mark Ambrose, with more commitments possible in the coming weeks.

J'Courtney Williams, a 6-3, 218-pound prospect out of Christchurch High School, actually committed to UVa on the day of the Spring Game. He chose the Hoos over offers from Clemson, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, UNC and Virginia Tech. Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Kansas State and LSU were among the programs showing heavy interest as well.

An outside linebacker last season as a junior, Williams is being recruited as a safety by the UVa staff. Very athletic, he also plays basketball and lacrosse for Christchurch.

West Springfield QB Peter Lalich committed to the Hoos on Tuesday, just one day after seven UVa staff members showed up at his high school. Like Williams, the 6-5, 230-pound Lalich is one of the prospects the staff offered last fall and has been a top target in this recruiting class. He is a highly regarded signal caller who also boasted offers from Miami, Michigan, N.C. State, Pitt and UCLA, among others.

As a junior last season, Lalich completed 189 of 331 passes (57%) for 2,671 yards with 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was named first-team All-Patriot district and honorable mention Washington Post All-Metro for his performance. Lalich also earned first-team all-combine honors at the National Junior combine in San Antonio in January 2006.

Thursday, Mark Ambrose became the sixth player overall to commit to Virginia for the 2007 recruiting class. The 6-6, 223-pound tight end prospect had favored the Hoos after visits on consecutive weekends (April 15 and 22), but initially expressed that he would wait and decide next month. He and his parents decided on Tuesday to go ahead and make a commitment.

Ambrose is an excellent athlete for his size. In addition to football, he plays center on the varsity basketball squad and participates in track and field (including the 110-meter hurdles and the 400 meters). He played wide receiver and defensive end in his junior season.

Video .

Sabre EDGE subscribers, be sure to check out video on Lalich and Williams on their respective player recruiting cards. We expect to receive and post video on tight end Mark Ambrose in the near future.

Basketball recruiting .

The AAU circuit comes to Charlottesville next weekend in the form of the Southern Invitational. TheSabre.com will be on hand for coverage of UVa basketball recruiting targets, so stay tuned for coverage on those players and more. Boo Williams Summer League, which boasts several UVa targets, will be at the event.

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License Plate section is up in Wahoowa!

A few weeks ago, SabreMail made a request for anyone who had license plates that reflected your status as a Hoo fan. The responses have started to trickle in and the Plates Photos are up and running the Wahoowa! section of the site. The Wahoowa! section of the Sabre is dedicated to all things associated with UVa Fan-dom. There are various fan-related areas including desktop wallpaper, Fan of the Week photos, V-Sabres Worldwide, and more. If you have suggestions for new and interesting things in the Wahoowa! section, please email us at [email protected] with the header: Wahoowa! suggestion.

We'd like to keep adding photos to the section so if your license plate shows that you're a Hoo fan, let us know so we can include you in our gallery. All you need to do is snap a picture of your license plate and email a jpeg version of the photo to [email protected] with the email header: License Plate Photo.

DMB at the JPJ ticket swap

For anyone out there heading to the Dave Matthews Band concerts at Charlottesville's John Paul Jones Arena this fall, there are some Sabre-ites out there looking to swap seats. Since the venue limited people to purchasing 2 tickets at a time, pairs of friends may not be seated close together at all. If you want to try to swap your tickets to get closer to your friends, just visit our Ticket Exchange messageboard and see if anyone has tickets that they are willing to swap with you!

Post of the Week

Subject: Scoring in lacrosse this year
Posted by: UVaDieHard on Tue Apr 25 2006 9:41:39 PM
Message: Somebody posted these stats on LaxPower.com:

344 games played (through Sunday)
75 decided by 1 goal (24 in OT) - 21.8% of all games
39 decided by 2 goals - 11.3%
31 decided by 3 goals - 9.0%
38 decided by 4 goals - 11.0%
37 decided by 5 goals - 10.8%
25 decided by 6 goals - 7.3%
15 decided by 7 goals - 4.4%
20 decided by 8 goals - 5.8%
16 decided by 9 goals - 4.7%
48 decided by 10 or more goals - 13.9%

Here is how UVA compares with the rest of the lax world right now:
12 games played (through Sunday)
1 decided by 1 goal (0 in OT) - 8.3% of all games
0 decided by 2 goals - 0.0%
0 decided by 3 goals - 0.0%
0 decided by 4 goals - 0.0%
1 decided by 5 goals - 8.3%
2 decided by 6 goals - 16.7%
1 decided by 7 goals - 8.3%
2 decided by 8 goals - 16.7%
0 decided by 9 goals - 0.0%
5 decided by 10 or more goals - 41.7%

- In D1 men's lacrosse, the final scoring margins are 4 goals or less 53.1% of the time. UVA has only one time all season been held to a scoring margin smaller than 5 goals.
- In D1 men's lacrosse games where the final margin of victory was 10 goals or more, UVA accounts for 10.4% (5 of 48) of those games.
- In D1 men's lacrosse games where the final margin of victory was 5 goals or more, UVA accounts for 6.9% (11 of 161) of those games.
- UVA is ranked #1 in the country in scoring offense (16.00 goals scored per game)
- UVA is ranked #11 in the country in scoring defense (7.42 goals allowed per game)
- UVA is ranked #1 in the country in scoring margin (8.58 goals per game differential)
- UVA is ranked #7 in the country in face-off win percentage (60.1%) - UVA is ranked #3 in the country in man-up offense (scoring 26 goals on 50 attempts, 52.0%)

Just thought I'd share what I found.

Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Vote for Dawn Staley: Former Cavalier Nominated for WNBA's All-Decade Team: Virginia alumna Dawn Staley (1989-92) is one of 30 nominees for the inaugural WNBA All-Decade Team, the WNBA announced on Thursday. Voting for the WNBA All-Decade Team will begin on April 28, and will be conducted among fans, select national and WNBA-market media, and current WNBA players and coaches.

Danny Glading has been named the ACC Freshman of the Year for men's lacrosse.

• Five Cavaliers Named All-ACC: Five University of Virginia players were named to the 11-man All-Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse squad announced at the league championship banquet in Baltimore, Md. The honorees were Michael Culver, Matt Ward, Kyle Dixon, Ben Rubeor, and Drew Thompson. Also receiving recognition were Danny Glading, the ACC Freshman of the Year, and Dom Starsia, the ACC Coach of the Year.
• Four Cavaliers Earn All-Conference Honors: Virginia's Blair Weymouthhas been named the ACC Freshman of the Year. She joined teammates Nikki Lieb, Tyler Leachman, and Kim Connors on the All-Conference Team, as announced by the league office at the ACC Tournament banquet held in Baltimore, Md. Weymouth is Virginia's fifth Rookie of the Year in program history.
• Virginia Men's Basketball Players Honored: J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary were named co-recipients of the University of Virginia men's basketball team's Bill Gibson Cavalier of the Year Award for 2005-06 on Thursday (April 27). Reynolds and Singletary were recognized at the team's awards picnic.
• Virginia Women's Soccer Announces 2006 Recruiting Class: The Virginia women's soccer program has announced that four players have signed letters of intent to join the Cavalier program this fall. Megan Ashforth (New Canaan, Conn.), Kristin Bowers (Burke, Va.), Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.), and Caitlin Miskel (Boca Raton, Fla) will form the first year class for the 2006 Virginia women's soccer team.
• UVa Golfers Prepare to Host Cavalier Classic: The Virginia men's golf team will host the 19th annual Cavalier Classic at Birdwood Golf Course April 29 and 30. The 54-hole tournament will feature 36 holes of play on Saturday and a single round on Sunday. Both rounds will begin at 8:30 a.m. from the first and 10th tees.

Fore more information on Virignia athletics, check out Virginiasports.com.

Sabre articles from the past week

Ferguson, Other Cavs Eye Draft Weekend
They've been measured, weighed, and timed. They've been interviewed, quizzed, and tested. Scouting combines, pro days, and individual workouts have come and gone. The last part - the waiting game - ends this weekend when NFL Draft hopefuls will find out where their shot at pro football will start. For Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson, considered a certain top 10 pick, the waiting game is limited to where he'll end up on draft day. For other Cavaliers, like Marques Hagans, Wali Lundy, Brad Butler, and others, the question is more ambiguous: will they be drafted at all?

Best Seat in the House: D'Brickashaw Ferguson
The NFL Draft is set for this weekend and Virginia star D'Brickashaw Ferguson seems to be a lock in the top 10 picks. The offensive tackle is already in New York, but he caught up with Jed Williams on The Best Seat in the House to talk about the upcoming draft, the NFL, and more.

Best Seat in the House: Chip Smith
Ahmad Brooks has hired an agent and is headed for the NFL's supplemental draft this summer. Jed Williams confirmed the news with Chip Smith, Brooks' Atlanta-based personal trainer, on The Best Seat in the House. Check out this audio interview with Smith, who talks about Brooks' progress in preparing for the NFL.

Rock Weir Winners Show Potential
Improve in the dictionary carries a handful of definitions: to raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality, to increase the productivity or value of, to become better, or to make beneficial additions or changes. On the football field, improvement is a measurable quantity: better technique, greater understanding of concepts, additional moves, or increased production. Every spring, the Cavaliers hand out their Rock Weir Award, given to the most improved players during spring practice. The offensive honoree was running back Mikell Simpson, while two defensive players - linebacker Clint Sintim and defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald - shared the recognition.

Photo Gallery: Virginia Spring Game
The Virginia football program's Spring Game survived a late rainstorm to complete a four-quarter scrimmage Saturday. The Orange team defeated the Blue team, 10-7, when Noah Greenbaum hit a game-winning kick as time expired. Check out this photo gallery for pictures of Vic Hall, Fontel Mines, Chris Long, Marcus Hamilton, and more!

What's Hot, What's Not: Spring Game
In a channel-flipping daze, I stumbled across The Simple Life reruns on E! earlier this week. It took only about 5 seconds for Paris Hilton to utter her famous words: "That's Hot." After Saturday's Spring Game at Virginia, I started thinking how that applies to the Cavaliers' football team this spring. So, now that UVa has wrapped up its spring practice period, here's What's Hot and What's Not.

Orange Wins Spring Game
Charlottesville couldn't hold off the rain for the entire length of the Virginia football team's Spring Game on Saturday. Similarly, the Blue team couldn't hold off the Orange team for the whole afternoon either. The Orange team drove down the field in the final minute of a rainy fourth quarter to win the Spring Game 10-7 on a Noah Greenbaum 44-yard field goal.

Best Seat in the House: Al Groh
When you want to talk Virginia football, you can't do it without hearing from Al Groh along the way. After all, he is the head coach and self-proclaimed mouthpiece of the Cavalier program. Groh joined Jed Williams on the Best Seat in the House on Friday to talk about this weekend's Spring Game, Christian Olsen, and all the other hot topics surrounding UVa football.

'Young Guns' Playing Key Roles
When No. 17 Virginia (32-9, 11-7) and No. 19 Miami (26-13, 11-7) meet this weekend in Florida, it will not only be a battle for sole possession of second place and possibly a top four seed in the ACC Baseball Tournament, it will also be a battle between two of the youngest clubs in the conference. Among the 65 players on the two rosters, 25 are freshmen (14 -Miami, 11-Virginia) and 13 are sophomores (5- Miami, 8-Virginia). That's 58 percent. Also, a combined seven of the 25 freshmen are everyday starters.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Burd Lands First Official Offer
Matoaca (Chesterfield, VA) wide receiver/safety Kris Burd has boasted three verbal offers - from Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech, respectively - for quite some time. Last week, he finally landed his first official offer when the official letter from the University of Virginia arrived in the mail. What was his reaction to his first official offer?

Eleven Offers for Cloy
6-4, 260-pound Mason Cloy saw time at the center and tight end positions in his junior season last year. He did very well at both positions and, although most programs see him as a center on the 1A level, he is getting a few looks to play tight end. "Mason Cloy is a center and we moved him to tight end out of necessity," Spring Valley head coach Jimmy Noonan said. "That tells you how athletic this kid is. He runs a sub 5.0 in the 40. He's the area's best lacrosse player."

Ambrose Discusses Commitment
Mount Carmel (PA) tight end prospect Mark Ambrose decided on Tuesday night that he wanted to go ahead and make a verbal commitment to the University of Virginia. He waited a few days to make sure he was making the right decision and, Thursday afternoon, called head coach Al Groh to make his pledge.

Athletic Mount Carmel Star Picks Virginia
Earlier this week, TheSabre.com did a feature article on Mount Carmel (PA) tight end Mark Ambrose. At the time, the 6-6, 223-pound standout was favoring UVa and thinking about a decision next month. He certainly didn't wait that long, as he has become the latest verbal commitment for Al Groh and company.

Q&A with J'Courtney Williams
Last Saturday, UVa picked up a verbal commitment from one of its top targets in Christchurch (VA) safety J'Courtney Williams. The 6-3, 218-pound prospect recently took time out for a Q&A to reflect on his decision, discuss what position he will play at Virginia and give his thoughts on UVa's program.

Jobe with Something to Prove
Staton Jobe has his chance and he's looking to make the best of it. The Westlake (Austin, TX) senior wanted the chance to play for the University of Virginia and earned a spot as a recruited walk-on. He plans to work hard and hopes to show anyone who doubted his ability to play on the 1A level that he can indeed make it.

Lalich Commits!
Last fall, UVa became the first school to offer West Springfield (Springfield, VA) quarterback Peter Lalich and has continued to recruit him heavily ever since (including sending 7 coaches to WSHS yesterday). Today, the staff's efforts paid off when the 6-5, 235-pound highly touted signal caller verbally committed to the 'Hoos. Lalich becomes the fifth player - the fourth from the state of Virginia - to commit to Virginia for the 2007 recruiting class.

Ambrose Earns UVa Offer
Mr. Versatility. Likely a very good nickname for Mark Ambrose, a 6-6, 223-pound tight end prospect out of Mount Carmel High School in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. His versatility and ability on the field has attracted an offer from the University of Virginia and two other 1A programs heading into the Evaluation period.

Hallick Eyeing Two
Pottsville (PA) standout OL Brad Hallick's visit to UVa on Saturday was his second in as many weeks. The 6-6, 282-pound prospect, who visited UVa for spring practice on April 8th, seemed to enjoy his return visit as much if not more than the previous one.

In-State Schools Battle for Fells-Danzer
6-2, 230-pound Culpeper (VA) standout linebacker prospect Terence Fells-Danzer was another prospect to visit both the Virginia Tech and Virginia spring games. Virginia was the first and only program to offer before these recent visits, but things changed before Tech's spring game began.

Lalich Visits for Spring Game
West Springfield (Springfield, VA) quarterback Peter Lalich made yet another trip to Charlottesville on Saturday, as he was one of many recruits in attendance for the spring game. The UVa staff will return the favor today, as Lalich expects the entire staff to be at West Springfield High School.

Tyrod Taylor Takes in VT, UVa Spring Games
Hampton (VA) star quarterback Tyrod Taylor visited both Virginia Tech and Virginia over the past two weekends - first to Virginia Tech for its spring game on April 15th and then to Virginia on the 22nd for its spring game. According to his father Rodney, Tyrod enjoyed both experiences and both in-state programs appear in serious contention for the all-state performer.

Cavs Land Big Time Commitment!
Virginia landed its fourth verbal commitment of the 2007 recruiting class today, and it's from one of the top recruits in the state of Virginia. Christchurch (VA) 6-3, 218-pound prospect J'Courtney Williams verballed during today's spring game over offers from Clemson, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

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