Three takeaways from the close of the 2018 recruiting cycle for UVa

After wrapping up what has to be one of the more unique recruiting cycles ever and certainly in recent memory, Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall met with assembled media members to talk about his class on Wednesday. But because almost all of the pieces were already officially announced two months ago, much of his press conference focused on other matters pertaining to a football program that still feels like it's in the midst of transition.

The Wahoos will go into spring ball needing to replace not only their record-setting signal caller but they'll do so in the midst of changing styles on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, on defense, Mendenhall must move forward without easily his three best players overall and future pros at each level of the defense, two of whom were named to multiple All-ACC teams and left their names scattered throughout the UVa record book.

Here are three key takeaways from Mendenhall's roughly half-hour session where he discussed a multitude of things, from UVa's recruiting to roster changes to global changes to how college football identifies and goes after talented players.

Not only did UVa lose guys like Kurt Benkert, Quin Blanding, Andrew Brown, Micah Kiser, and Andre Levrone, the Hoos have also lost a host of players via injury or transfer/discipline since the end of the season that would've provided depth going into the fall. The situation on the defensive line is most tenuous given the losses, such that Richard Burney (who started three games during the regular season in 2017 at tight end) was moved to DE prior to the bowl game and now appears to be in line to potentially start there.

So, while some positions have the sort of succession one would expect in Year 3 of a new regime, others do not. "Different positions," Mendenhall said, "are in different phases in our program, which is leading to some of the depth issues and inconsistencies that happen through the course of the year."

While the staff will likely look for a grad transfer addition on the defensive line, there is some good news for Virginia. Both CB Tim Harris and OLB Malcolm Cook will be "good to go" for spring ball and a return to action in the fall for their senior season. In addition, Mendenhall said he has been very pleased with his two dual-threat quarterback prospects in Arizona State transfer Bryce Perkins (who will go into spring as QB1) and early enrollee Brennan Armstrong.