Smith commits to UVa

Virginia landed a commitment on Thursday night and it comes at a big position of need. Decatur (Ga.) Columbia offensive tackle Eric Smith made the call to become UVa's 20th commit.

Eric Smith

"I just got off the phone with Coach (Mike) London and Coach (Vincent) Brown," said Smith. "I'm a Cavalier!"

Smith, who is rated three-stars by 247Sports.com, is the 20th commitment in Virginia's 2013 class.

"Coach London was so excited about the news. He screamed out and then caught himself because he didn't want to wake his kids and his wife. It was great hearing be so excited about it."

For the 6-foot-5, 280-pounder, Virginia was the perfect mix of athletics and academics.

"Virginia was one of the schools that stood out to me before they offered. It's a tremendous academic school and it's a program that's on the rise.

"Coach Brown, who recruited me, and Coach London really drove home the points of Virginia needing offensive linemen and the tremendous education I could get. It's late, but my mom is all smiles tonight."

Smith chose the Cavaliers over offers from Arkansas, FIU, UCF, Jacksonville State, and Georgia State among others. There was also rising interest in his services from Kentucky and Georgia Tech.

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