Da'Shawn Hand: Nation's Top Prospect Narrowing Options

Northern Virginia may not be as much of a college football recruiting hotbed as Texas or Florida, but Woodbridge Senior High School’s Da’Shawn Hand is starting to change all that.

Hand, a strong side defensive end and tight end for the Vikings, is widely regarded as the top college prospect in the country for 2014 and he’s been fervently recruited by a variety of major football powerhouses.

Although he has scholarship offers from 38 different BCS schools, Hand is mainly considering Alabama, Michigan, and Florida after recently eliminating Virginia Tech and South Carolina from contention.

“He’s certainly a ways away from deciding, but right now I’d say it’s a coin flip between Alabama and Michigan,” said JC Shurburtt, national recruiting director for 24/7 Sports. “Florida is a bit of a dark horse, since he has yet to visit there, and that could really change things.”

Regardless of where he ends up going to school, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Hand is a truly elite prospect.

“He’s a player that has outstanding measurables and is an elite athlete, but he’s also a five star person,” Shurburtt said.

For talent evaluators that are often forced to choose between a variety of elite athletes, Hand’s character sets him apart from the rest.

“It helps that you don’t have to worry about Da’Shawn’s work ethic or academics,” Shurburtt said.

Hand is the third defensive end to earn the top overall ranking in recent years with South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney and Mississippi’s Robert Nkemdiche, and he’s already started to earn comparisons to the blue chip prospects.

“He may not be better athletically than Clowney right now, but he’s probably pound for pound stronger than Clowney was as a prospect,” Shurburtt said. “He’s physically ready for the next level.”

Now it all comes down to which school can land Hand. He’s placed a recent emphasis on academics, even eliminating Virginia Tech from contention because the school doesn’t have a sports marketing program, but it’s clear that his relationship with each school’s coaching staff also plays a large role.

“Comfort level is what it all really comes down to for every recruit,” Shurburtt said. “He’ll have to be affiliated with this institution for the next 40 to 50 years, so it’s going to be important that he’s comfortable there.”

Hand will make a huge impact with any school he signs with, and should boost the reputation of the Northern Virginia region by association.