Virginia picks up valued DB Gaines after Penn State decommitment

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s football-recruiting momentum continued through the weekend when the Cavaliers gained a commitment from one of the state’s top 16 players, defensive back Elijah Gaines from Episcopal School in Alexandria, on Sunday.

Gaines, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety, had previously committed to Penn State back in September but decommitted on Dec. 6, citing “unfortunate circumstances,” without further explanation. Instead, Gaines visited UVA this weekend with his mother and sister and committed to Coach Bronco Mendenhall on Sunday morning before returning to Northern Virginia.

While rated a 3-star by recruiting services, Gaines had a much higher profile among his list of offers: Penn State, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Pitt, Purdue and North Carolina. Those same services rated Gaines anywhere from the No. 11 to No. 16 overall prospect in the state.

Virginia was actually Gaines’ first college offer, and it was then that he began to build a solid relationship with the Cavaliers’ coaching staff. Essentially, his decision came down to Penn State and Virginia, and not long after he visited the Nittany Lions’ campus for the Penn State vs. Pitt game, he committed.

Having second thoughts, UVA was a no-brainer choice for the long, lean athlete. He never returned to the Penn State campus after that first visit. He was one of three safeties committed to the Lions.

AGTG! 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/bs2OgGwTJa

— Elijah Gaines (@Elijah11Gaines) December 15, 2019

Gaines is originally from New York, his family deciding on him attending Episcopal for studies and to play football.

He is UVA’s second high-profile commit over the weekend. On Saturday, the Cavaliers gained 4-star offensive tackle Andrew Gentry from Littleton, Colo. Gentry is ranked among the top 100 prospects at any position in the nation by various services.

Gentry is 6-8, 310, and had 32 offers from Power 5 football programs, including Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, and Penn State.

Both Gentry and Gaines have indicated they will sign with Virginia on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.