6-6, 270-pound offensive line prospect Hutch Eckerson , fresh off an outstanding performance during the Shrine Bowl week and feeling refreshed from the recent recruiting dead period, will head back out on official visits beginning next weekend. And it may not be long before the Lumberton (N.C.) star will make a decision.

“Everything’s pretty much the same with me,” Eckerson said. “I was thankful for the dead period, because it gave me some time to collect my thoughts. It was a nice break. I’ve been talking to Coach Beamer a whole lot and Coach Spurrier just called [last night] and left a message. Coach Belin from Virginia was here [yesterday] visiting my house.”

While Virginia has not been eliminated, it remains on the outside looking in following the departure of Ron Prince.

“Coach Belin said he was feeling like Virginia was out of the race,” Eckerson said. “Virginia isn’t out of it, but I’m definitely considering other schools a lot. Virginia’s been great to me throughout, so it’s hard to have to tell it like it is.”

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