UVA snags linebacker recruit from North Carolina

By Jay Jenkins
Charlottesville Daily Progress
Published: May 14, 2008

In baseball terminology, assistant coach Mike Groh would get the win and fellow assistant Wayne Lineburg would earn the save.

Virginia football fans are hopeful that the latest commitment landed translates into a complete game victory.

Over the weekend, rising senior Tucker Windle, from Charlotte Catholic (N.C.), picked Virginia over three other ACC schools and Wisconsin, electing to follow in his father’s footsteps as a Cavalier linebacker.

“I had it down to Wake Forest and UVa for the past two months and I went back and forth and finally I just decided it was time,” Windle said. “My heart told me to go with Virginia, so I said why not.”

In 1977, Windle’s dad, Al, lettered as a linebacker at Virginia, which added to the irony of the decision.

“Virginia has tradition,” Windle said. “They have been doing it for so long and since my dad went there and played linebacker, I thought it would be special if I went there and played that same position.”

Windle, who had 64 tackles and eight sacks last season, also plays tight end and could play there or even be moved into a backfield weapon for short-yardage situations. But he will get his first audition at outside linebacker.

He has drawn a lot of attention, including offers from North Carolina State and Virginia Tech, because of his speed and size — Windle ran a 4.6 40-yard dash despite standing at 6-foot-2 and 227 pounds.

“My dad has been working out with me since I was 8 or 9 years old. I think that is one of the advantages that I have on the field,” Windle said. “I am able to just overpower people.”

An excellent student, Windle has already qualified and maintains a 3.0 grade point average. That also played a part in the decision leave the Tar Heel State.

“Virginia’s academics are above and beyond everybody else,” he said. “It was an easy decision in that regard.”

The decision itself, however, would never have occurred without the legwork of Groh, the program’s offensive coordinator, and a deal-clinching visit last week from Lineburg.

“[Groh] is one of the coolest guys I have ever talked to. He is young, he knows how to relate to players and this whole situation can be stressful, but he told me to make it fun,” Windle said. “He’s the man. I can’t say anything bad about him at all.”