Virginia gets 13th commitment, physical safety from South Carolina

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Currently sitting at No. 13 in the 14-team ACC football team recruiting rankings, Virginia could use some good news on that front and got it Thursday when a 3-star defensive back from South Carolina announced his commitment to the Cavaliers.

Landon Danley, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety from Irmo, S.C. (Dutch Fork H.S.), announced on his Twitter account that he committed to UVA. Coach Tony Elliott’s Cavaliers were the first Power 5 school to offer as Danley chose Virginia over Charlotte, Georgia State and Miami of Ohio.

He is UVA’s 13th overall commitment (second-lowest in the ACC as Syracuse has but nine) and the third defensive  back commitment. Last month, Trent Baker-Booker a defensive back out of Lawrence Central High School (Kyle Guy’s high school) in Indianapolis, Ind., committed to the Cavaliers.

It was interesting in how Elliott made his offer to Danley, who visited Charlottesville for the Louisville game last Saturday. The coach walked with Danley out to the middle of Scott Stadium pre-game and offered him the scholarship. He accepted after taking a few days to think over the proposition.

Ranked No. 124 among safeties in the 2023 recruiting class by 247Sports, he is the No. 30 prospect overall in the state of South Carolina.

In seven games this season for Dutch Fork, Danley has 18 tackles and two interceptions. The physical safety also plays running back and is averaging 8.9 yards per carry with 31 rushes for 276 yards and three touchdowns.