Recruits are largely sticking with U-Va.

Most recruits unbowed despite Groh's uncertain future

Virginia Coach Al Groh remains publicly unaffected by the mounting unrest surrounding his future with the program, referring to a sign on the back of his nameplate given to him by his friend, Bill Parcells: "Just coach the team."

A major part of those coaching responsibilities is recruiting, a task that often becomes difficult when speculation about a coach's future intensifies. However, several players who have either committed to Virginia or who are seriously considering a scholarship offer did not express concern about Groh's future during interviews this week. Most are taking a wait-and-see approach while pledging confidence in Groh's coaching staff.

"It hasn't really affected my decision," said Good Counsel wide receiver E.J. Scott, who was one of the first players to commit to Virginia from the class of 2010. "I'm staying positive that they can turn this around. But U-Va. was a good fit for me when I committed this summer, and it's still a good fit for me."

One Virginia target, Good Counsel cornerback Louis Young, said opposing coaches are using the perceived uncertainty of Groh's future against the Cavaliers. Although they do not explicitly tell Young that Groh could lose his job, they question his stability.

"Just kind of throwing it out there, a little hint here, hint there, like: 'Do you know the situation there? What's going on with the season?' " Young said. "I can read between the lines a lot, with the coaches and their antics about trying to recruit players. I think over this period of going through the process, you're able to understand certain techniques of coaches."

The Cavaliers' number of verbal commitments remains small for this late in the year. Virginia has 11 oral commitments from the class of 2010, the lowest total in the ACC according to the recruiting service Rivals.com. By comparison, Maryland has 18 commitments and Virginia Tech has 20. Recruits may not sign letters-of-intent until the first Wednesday in February.

The small number of recruits who have committed to Virginia could be attributed to the available scholarships next season. The Cavaliers have only 11 outgoing scholarship seniors, although several more scholarships became available after offseason transfers.

Nonetheless, Virginia has missed out on some top recruiting targets. Quarterback Tyler Brosius from Waynesville, N.C., de-committed from Virginia and pledged to North Carolina State earlier in the season, although his public comments suggest the decision had more to do with the lure of the in-state Wolfpack than the Cavaliers' record.

Virginia has scholarship offers out to some of the notable available players in the region, such as Young and Woodberry Forest linebacker Aramide Olaniyan, a Bowie native.

Both emphasized that academics are among the priorities in their decision, which would keep Virginia near the top of the list regardless of the coaching situation.

"It factors into my decision somewhat," Olaniyan said about Groh's future. "It's something I'll take into consideration, but before anything, I'll look at the academics first."

Defensive end-linebacker Christopher Brathwaite from Holy Cross in Flushing, N.Y., who committed to Virginia during the summer, said that he has no interest in other programs. He said he would listen to other schools only if there were to be a coaching change.

DeMatha defensive back Kyrrel Latimer said he's been trying to keep Virginia's coaching staff optimistic as much as the coaching staff is keeping him confident about Virginia. Latimer said he tells the coaching staff that they may have lost tough games but still have an outside shot of winning the ACC.

"They're not looking bad. They're there," Latimer said. "But I don't really think about a coaching change. I like Coach Groh a lot, and all the coaches there. I hope and wish the best for them."

On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage will make a decision on Groh's future at the end of the season. In the meantime, the coaching staff is maintaining the status quo, this week offering a scholarship to Gwynn Park running back Khalek Shepherd, who accepted. And for high school players who pay no mind to a college team's grumbling fan base, the team's lack of success can even be construed as a positive.

"I don't really pay attention to that," Shepherd said. "I just like the University of Virginia. The whole point of picking the school is that I can come in, and the other recruits can come in, and hopefully make an impact and turn the program around. I look at it as a challenge, as a good chance to come in and get playing time and hopefully turn the program around."