When UVa hired Bronco Mendenhall, no one questioned whether the 11-year veteran could coach. His record at BYU spoke for itself. But some fans and observers wondered aloud how his new staff, led by a group of coaches almost exclusively from the west, would recruit players in this region.
Mendenhall’s main task with the class of 2017 is to add depth to the roster, specifically at the running back and offensive line positions. The Cavaliers must also find players that fit their new schemes on both sides of the ball.
Thus far, the new staff seems to be doing just that.
As of July 6, the Wahoos have 16 commitments from high school prospects in the 2017 class, thanks in large part to a streak of commits to end June. Many of their commits address specific roster needs while also adding potential and depth to a team that desperately needs it in certain areas.
As the summer winds on and Mendenhall’s first UVa recruiting class keeps taking shape, let's take a look at what the staff has accomplished to date and preview some commits that may be on the horizon.
Success in the Commonwealth
Mendenhall’s coaching staff might not feature many assistants with roots in the Commonwealth but to date, eight of UVa's 16 commits in 2017 are in-state prospects. Although the Cavaliers have yet to grab any prospects from the 757 and 804 area codes this cycle, they have found a good deal of success recruiting in their own back yard, particularly in northern Virginia. The Hoos have four commits from the D.C. suburbs (and another from Winchester in the northwest corner of the state), and its NOVA recruits are some of the best in the class to date. Though UVa didn't have as much success over the past couple of cycles recruiting in the 703 but with guys like Tommy Christ, Lamont Atkins, P.K. Kier, and Ryan Thaxton, the Cavaliers are off to a promising start.
UVa is also doing well with a certain in-state program that historically has seen its top talent head elsewhere. The Wahoos have three commits from Woodberry Forest School, a private school less than an hour from Grounds that matriculates many students to Charlottesville each fall. But the football program had largely struck out on guys like former Stanford safety Ed Reynolds and former Notre Dame running back C.J. Prosise, both currently in the NFL. With Lindell Stone, Terrell Jana, and John Kirven in the fold, it seems that the Hoos have some significant traction at Woodberry Forest, which should be full of players looking for great football and great academics year after year.
Building in the Trenches
The offensive and defensive lines are the two positions where UVa needs to add the most depth. The OL, under-recruited under the previous regime, has clearly been prioritized in this cycle. That strategy is evident in that the Hoos have already reeled in three linemen with more sure to come.
In addition to UNC transfer Jared Cohen, who comes to UVa with three years left to play, the Cavaliers have added a trio of linemen who are both athletic and versatile. Tyler Fannin, one of the first commits for Mendenhall in 2017, could play center or guard at the next level. Bryson Speas, one of Virginia’s more recent additions, is likely a tackle but could play elsewhere as well. The same goes for Indiana native Harry Crider, a player the staff likes a great deal because of his versatility on the interior of the line. Virginia will also look to close on priority four-star Rivals250 target Mekhi Becton from Richmond, a massive offensive tackle who would be a cornerstone signee in this class should he decide to play for the Hoos.
The defensive line is just as important to this year’s recruiting class, as the Cavaliers switch to the 3-4. UVa will need bigger defensive ends that might be able to slide down the line and play tackle, as some of their 4-3 edge rushers transition to outside linebacker roles.
So far the Cavaliers have added three adaptable defensive linemen to the class led by Christ, their first commit of the cycle. The Ashburn native is listed in the Rivals database at DE but the already 255 pounder is being recruited by UVa at tackle. Thaxton, meanwhile, was another solid pickup for the Hoos on the D-line. The Alexandria native, who picked UVa last month over offers from Tennessee and Vanderbilt, is a rangy athlete who is a great fit at end in Mendenhall’s 3-4 scheme. Finally, Armando Alonso is a very good addition for the Hoos at tackle and could end up being a really solid anchor on the line down the road. UVa will also look to add four-star Rivals250 defensive end Jordan Williams to the class. If Williams, a Virginia Beach product, chooses the Cavaliers he will probably finish as their highest-rated recruit in this class.
Adding Depth at Running Back
Lastly, the staff has made it clear that adding depth in the backfield is a top priority as well. The Cavaliers currently have five scholarship running backs listed on the roster, and really only four, with Olamide Zaccheaus playing more of a “swiss army knife” role in the offense. Two of those backs, Taquan Mizzell and Albert Reid, are on track to exhaust their eligibility at the end of this upcoming season. UVa also lost early enrollee Tre Harbison to transfer following spring practice, making the need for additional rushers even more obvious.
Thus far, the Hoos have added two RBs with another potentially joining the fold later this fall. Atkins, the three-star all-purpose back, brings some versatility to the position in that he can run between the tackles as well as catch passes out of the backfield. UVa also picked up a commitment from Kier, a speedy three-star back from Winchester who could be used in the slot as well as at RB. To balance those skillsets, the Hoos will look to add Florida native and bruising three-star back Jamari Peacock to the fold down the stretch. At this point, he isn't saying much publicly about his status other than he is very, very high on UVa after visiting Charlottesville in June. Peacock, who plans to enroll early, is a great compliment to the speedier, shiftier backs the Hoos already have in the fold in Atkins and Kier.
