Cavs land Phoebus High School linebacker/safety

Virginia’s in-state football recruiting roll continued on Tuesday when the Cavaliers gained a commitment from Phoebus High School linebacker/safety LoVante’ Battle.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder from the Hampton area is UVa’s 10th early commitment for the Class of 2009, and the eighth commitment from the state of Virginia.

“They offered me on Friday and I committed today,“ Battle told The Daily Progress, while en route to Georgia for his cousin’s graduation. “I am speechless.“

Battle said he chose the Cavaliers over Duke, Syracuse, East Carolina and Marshall.

His commitment came one day after Perry Jones, a linebacker/safety from Chesapeake’s Oscar Smith High School, told Virginia he would join the program.

Battle explained that he didn’t want Jones to be the lone player from the noted “757” (the Tidewater’s area code) on UVa’s commitment list.

“We are from the same neighborhood and we are two good teams and play each other every year,“ Battle said of Jones. “[Virginia] will probably have me at safety as well (where Jones is also expected to play in college). Hopefully, we have a good experience together in the secondary at Virginia.“

For more details, check out Wednesday’s editions of The Daily Progress and catch all your recruiting news on our website: http://www.cavalierinsider.com