Cross breaks down why he decided to commit to the Cavaliers
As Signing Day approaches, Parkland High School (PA) quarterback De’Vante Cross knew he had to make a decision about where to further his education and football career.
A little over a month after decommiting from Boston College, he was finally able to take his first visit to UVa this weekend as recruits headed to Charlottesville for their official visits.
Despite being in town for just a couple of days, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound dual-threat quarterback didn’t leave Grounds Sunday until he committed to play for head coach Bronco Mendenhall and the Wahoos.
“The visit itself was really fun,” Cross told CavsCorner. “Getting to go around the campus and meet the other commits, it was just a really good time. Meeting all of the coaches and seeing what everyone was about really drove my decision.”
Cross, who was recruited by Boston College to play defensive back, knew from the beginning that he didn’t want to give up playing the position he loved the most.
UVa currently has one signal caller committed in its class of 2016, three-star New Jersey native Sonny Abramson who committed to play for the Cavaliers before Mendenhall and the new staff took over back in December.
“It was nice to be around all of the coaches and the commits,” Cross said. “Everyone was pushing for me to commit there and it really felt like the guys really wanted me. It was nice to be at a place where the people want you to be there.”
Cross told CavsCorner that the opportunity to play quarterback, and going to school at a place he can call home, ultimately drove his decision.
“Everybody is really nice there and I really felt comfortable,” Cross explained. “Even though it was my first time down there, I felt right at home and Charlottesville is a cozy place and I love it.”
Cross will go down as the first commit under Mendenhall at Virginia and will provide a multifaceted skillset at the quarterback position that should work well in the team's spread offense.
The Keystone State playmaker, who started three seasons as Parkland’s quarterback, threw for nearly 3,000 yards as a senior and racked up 1,300 yards rushing while totaling 45 touchdowns.
"The coaches are expecting me to come down there and work hard and that is what I’m planning on doing,” Cross said. “It’s not going to be a cake walk and you’ll have to work for everything. I’m coming in with the mindset that I have to work for everything and nothing is given.”
Having not visited prior to his official visit, Cross said the final determining factor was just seeing where he would be spending the next phase of his life.
“It was really just seeing what the area was like,” Cross said. “It was mostly just about the community. Everyone knows UVa is a great school and I knew that Coach Mendenhall and the coaches were great, so for me it was just about what the place was like.”
Cross also said he’s thankful that the decision process is over after struggling with the process since decommiting from the Eagles.
“It has been a struggle,” Cross admitted. “Receiving calls everyday, having to do all of these things. Talking to coach after coach it has been really complicated but it’s all over now. After all of these months I finally get to relax now.”
Now that the decision has been made, Cross is just anticipating Signing Day and will keep a low-key profile on Wednesday.
“No big plans at all,” said Cross. “I’m a pretty simple dude so I won’t have anything like the whole camera crew or anything. I just want to sign my paper and be done with it."