2027 4-star WR Demarcus Brown stays home, commits to the Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia has landed one of its top long-term priorities with the commitment of Demarcus Brown, a four-star wide receiver out of Roanoke (Va.) North Cross School. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound playmaker, ranked No. 289 in the Rivals300 for 2027, chose the Cavaliers over finalists Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and West Virginia.

Brown holds more than 20 offers and spent the fall on the road, attending games at Clemson, NC State, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and West Virginia. But in the end, his long-standing connection with the in-state ACC program stood tallest.

“I’ve been going to Virginia since I was in middle school,” Brown said. “I was back over the weekend, and I’ve been on that campus around six to eight times.”

Virginia’s approach in offering Brown was deliberate, and it was something he appreciated.

“Virginia was the eighth school to offer me. They took their time to evaluate me to make sure my offer was real and committable. I respect the way they recruited me. They showed me a lot of attention before they offered; they just wanted to be sure.”

The Cavaliers officially offered in May, and from that point forward, Brown said the intensity of their involvement skyrocketed.

“Since they offered, the love elevated,” he said. “The whole staff showed me love and it just picked up. They did a great job recruiting me.”

The staff at Virginia made a big impact on Brown

Wide receivers coach Adam Mims quickly became a central figure in Brown’s recruitment, but he said the relationship extended across the entire offensive side of the staff — including head coach Tony Elliott.

“Coach Mims and I have gotten close. The whole offensive staff has gotten to know me. Coach Elliott too. They were reaching out two to three times a week before I committed.”

A lengthy conversation with Elliott ultimately pushed things over the top.

“I had a long phone call with Coach Elliott about two weeks ago — we talked for two hours,” Brown said. “It was a great conversation. It touched me. I prayed on it and knew it was time. That’s when I knew it was Virginia. For him to give me that kind of attention, with everything he has going on as a head coach, meant a lot.”

Brown’s excited about the direction of the Virginia program

“Virginia is on the uprise. Coach Elliott is doing a great job. The program is only going to get better,” he said.

Elliott’s track record — on and off the field — helped seal the decision.

“Coach Elliott is a great guy with great experience,” Brown said. “He’s coached at Clemson and now he’s leading Virginia. He’s upfront, he keeps it real, and he’s going to lead his players the right way.”

Ultimately, the Cavaliers’ culture resonated the most.

“Virginia has a lot that I like, but one of the main reasons it’s right for me is their family culture,” Brown said. “They already make me feel like part of the family. Coach Mims’ history was big for me too — he has receivers in the NFL. And the way the team is built on faith and Christianity was another big reason I chose Virginia.”

Brown becomes one of the earliest key commitments in Virginia’s 2027 class, and a potential centerpiece of the program’s future.