ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 1996 TAG: 9607230048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
It's a good thing for Virginia's football program the school has a nationally rated business curriculum.
Dan Ellis, a 3.9 student who is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the East, confirmed Monday he has committed to UVa.
``I sat down with my guidance counselor and coach after the season and we went down a list of the best business schools in the country,`` said Ellis, from Downingtown, Pa. ``Virginia was my No.1 choice after that.''
Ellis visited UVa unofficially during the winter, when he had lunch with assistant coach Tom Sherman, quarterback Tim Sherman and All-ACC defensive back Ronde Barber.
``Until then, I hadn't heard much serious from anybody,'' he said.
The interest picked up to the point where Ellis received offers from UVa, North Carolina, Northwestern, Michigan State, Duke, West Virginia and Maryland. Carolina and Northwestern were in his final three.
Ellis (6 feet 3, 215 pounds) started at linebacker as a sophomore and was the reserve quarterback until last season, when he completed 110 of 203 passes for 1,921 yards and 17 touchdowns, with eight interceptions.
He is rated one of the top 10 prospects in Pennsylvania by SuperPrep magazine and is one of the top 32 quarterbacks in the country, according to the G&W Report.
``I obviously want to play as early as I can, which was another reason for choosing Virginia,'' Ellis said. ``I know they may sign two quarterbacks this year, but there would be only two other scholarship quarterbacks [Aaron Brooks and recruit David Rivers] in the program.''
Ellis' uncle, Mike Sherlock, played tailback for Virginia coach George Welsh when Welsh was at Navy. Virginia Tech signee Sean Ruffing was a teammate of Ellis last year and another Downingtown alumnus, Tora Suber, is a top women's basketball player for UVa.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB