Will Virginia be destination for nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle, Zach “Big Nasty” Rice?

By Jerry Ratcliffe

A week from today, the nation’s No. 1-ranked offensive tackle will announce his commitment to one lucky school.

Zach Rice, a five-star prospect from Lynchburg’s Liberty Christian Academy, has made up his mind and will reveal his choice between five finalists: Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Some analysts believe that UVA, UNC and Notre Dame are the leaders, but there have been no hints from the Rice camp.

His mom, Mary Rice, told 247Sports recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong that her son has already made up his mind.

Rice, who is a 6-foot-6, 282-pound beast of a lineman, nicknamed “Big Nasty,” said that in the end, it wasn’t that difficult a decision.

“The biggest thing was a place where I can be myself,” Rice told Wiltfong. “A place where I felt other people had the same mindset as me. The offensive coaching, the experience, my future teammates on the offensive line, are they producing, do I have chemistry with the team.”

From the outside, it would appear that Virginia has everything to offer that Rice said was important to him. In an interview with Rivals.com, Rice seemed impressed with what he’s observed from UVA.

“I would say the biggest thing is [Virginia] is playing to a different level, the offensive line is doing really good, and I have a good relationship with Coach (Garett) Tujague (the Cavaliers’ offensive line coach),” Rice said.

He pointed out that his grandfather went to UVA, his grandmother worked in Charlottesville and obviously his mother lived in Charlottesville.

“I obviously feel wanted (by UVA), and it’s just an hour away,” Rice said.

One of Rice’s Liberty Christian teammates has already committed to Virginia, quarterback Davis Lane, which certainly can only help the Cavaliers’ chances of landing the nation’s premiere offensive lineman.

“He’s the best quarterback I’ve ever played with,” Rice said of Lane. “I could definitely play with him another three or four years.”

Rice also told Rivals that he really likes UVA offensive coordinator Robert Anae and the system he is using this year.

“I heard from some other coaches that [UVA’s offensive weapons] it’s hard to guard them,” Rice said.

Big Nasty will be graduating early from Liberty and enrolling early at the school of choice. He could become the next great offensive tackle for Virginia like College Football Hall of Famer Jim Dombrowski, and All-Americans and NFL stars Ray Roberts and D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

Rice is ranked the No. 7 overall prospect at any position in the nation by 247Sports composite, a composite ranking of all the major recruiting services. Rice is also projected as a future first-round NFL Draft choice.

Rice visited UVA and UNC for games already this season and has visited both of those programs numerous times. He took official visits to four of the five finalists, but not Carolina.

He has been selected to play in the Under Armour All-American game and also the Polynesian All-American Bowl.