Finishing up the 2023 class:
Signing day is less than two weeks away now, and the UVa staff are looking to close out what always looked like a smaller class, strong. UVa landed a pair of receiver commitments this week in Jaden Gibson (formerly committed to Georgia Southern) and Titus Ivy.
As Rivals reported yesterday, Virginia will receive a visit from Florida defensive end D.J. Jones this weekend. Also being recruited by USF, Kansas and others, it sounds like UVa has made a move here and it wouldn't be surprising to see Jones end up in the 2023 class.
UVa also has a couple other targets they are working on late in the cycle.
South Carolina native and 3-star athlete Suderian Harrison was on Grounds last weekend, and would be a solid addition to the 2023 class. Harrison is a versatile player that picked up a lot of late interest during the season, with offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt and others, in addition to UVa. Virginia sent Tony Elliott and Garett Tujague to check in on Harrison at his home in South Carolina on Thursday evening. Obviously there's some competition here, but getting Harrison on Grounds so close to signing day was a big win for the staff as they look to add him to the fold.
Miami area defensive tackle Jason Hammond is another player UVa is looking to land late in the cycle. The 6-foot-2, 283 pound defensive lineman decommitted from Iowa State after a visit to Charlottesville last weekend. Hammond, who plays at Saint Thomas Aquinas with Virginia commit Tekai Kirby, told Rivals that he also plans to visit UCF this weekend, and that UVa and UCF are currently at the top of his list. Colorado also re-offered Hammond this week, and we'll see if Coach Prime's pull can change the situation here. Hammond did take a visit to Boulder during the season.
Transfer Portal Updates:
Obviously, all eyes are on UVa's pursuit of a quarterback at this time, with Brennan Armstrong in the portal. We only know of one official offer from Virginia (though there are likely others) to a quarterback, and it went to Monmouth's Tony Muskett on Friday. UVa went to New Jersey to visit the Springfield, VA native after he entered the portal, and it's clear that the Cavaliers are very interested here. Right after UVa offered, Muskett was offered by Missouri as well. There will be other schools looking to jump in here, and Muskett likely wants to make a quicker decision if he's looking to enroll in January, which would be a big boost to a UVa program that could really use a potential starter on Grounds for spring practice. Things can change, but don't be surprised to see UVa get Muskett on Grounds very soon as the Hoos continue to make a push.
It's unclear if UVa wants to take one player to be QB1, or if they are looking to bring in a couple of QBs and either have them compete, or have a starter and a new backup as well. Beyond Muskett, other names to watch include Clemson walk-on Billy Wiles, who entered the portal over the weekend. Wiles is an Asbhurn native that had some offers coming out of high school, but ended up with the Tigers as as a walk-on. Wiles has picked up offers from ODU and Southern Miss this week. Wiles could be an option for UVa as a backup or in a competition, and obviously there's familiarity with Tony Elliott here. Though perhaps Wiles is interested in going somewhere that he can be the starter.
There will surely be other quarterbacks worth keeping an eye on, and we'll wait and see what UVa's strategy ends up being.
Virginia is also interested in Western Kentucky center Rusty Staats, and the Cavaliers had coaches in Bowling Green, KY yesterday. Staats was an all-conference player in 2021, and could factor in at center right away for UVa. Staats' QB, Austin Reed, is also in the portal, though we can't say for sure that Virginia is making a play there. Still, Reed led the nation in passing yards this season with 4,247 with 36 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, so he could be worth keeping an eye on.
Virginia is also making moves at wide receiver, a position group that has turned over almost completely after last month's tragedy and other attrition. UVa offered Eastern Kentucky wideout Jayden Higgins on Wednesday. The Cavalier staff were in Higgins' hometown of Miami on Wednesday, and officially got involved in this recruitment. The 6-foot-4 receiver was very productive in two years with EKU, and also has a relationship with UVa kicker Will Bettridge (see below).
Northwestern receiver Malik Washington is another player to watch for UVa, and his production in the slot would be a big boost to the Cavalier offense (61 rec for 694 yards this season).
UVa has been on cornerback Tywan Francis for some time now, and Rivals sources say that Francis will be on Grounds this weekend. The former Colorado State Ram entered the portal in September and has interest from Temple, Georgia Southern and others, in addition to UVa.
Signing day is less than two weeks away now, and the UVa staff are looking to close out what always looked like a smaller class, strong. UVa landed a pair of receiver commitments this week in Jaden Gibson (formerly committed to Georgia Southern) and Titus Ivy.
As Rivals reported yesterday, Virginia will receive a visit from Florida defensive end D.J. Jones this weekend. Also being recruited by USF, Kansas and others, it sounds like UVa has made a move here and it wouldn't be surprising to see Jones end up in the 2023 class.
UVa also has a couple other targets they are working on late in the cycle.
South Carolina native and 3-star athlete Suderian Harrison was on Grounds last weekend, and would be a solid addition to the 2023 class. Harrison is a versatile player that picked up a lot of late interest during the season, with offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt and others, in addition to UVa. Virginia sent Tony Elliott and Garett Tujague to check in on Harrison at his home in South Carolina on Thursday evening. Obviously there's some competition here, but getting Harrison on Grounds so close to signing day was a big win for the staff as they look to add him to the fold.
Miami area defensive tackle Jason Hammond is another player UVa is looking to land late in the cycle. The 6-foot-2, 283 pound defensive lineman decommitted from Iowa State after a visit to Charlottesville last weekend. Hammond, who plays at Saint Thomas Aquinas with Virginia commit Tekai Kirby, told Rivals that he also plans to visit UCF this weekend, and that UVa and UCF are currently at the top of his list. Colorado also re-offered Hammond this week, and we'll see if Coach Prime's pull can change the situation here. Hammond did take a visit to Boulder during the season.
Transfer Portal Updates:
Obviously, all eyes are on UVa's pursuit of a quarterback at this time, with Brennan Armstrong in the portal. We only know of one official offer from Virginia (though there are likely others) to a quarterback, and it went to Monmouth's Tony Muskett on Friday. UVa went to New Jersey to visit the Springfield, VA native after he entered the portal, and it's clear that the Cavaliers are very interested here. Right after UVa offered, Muskett was offered by Missouri as well. There will be other schools looking to jump in here, and Muskett likely wants to make a quicker decision if he's looking to enroll in January, which would be a big boost to a UVa program that could really use a potential starter on Grounds for spring practice. Things can change, but don't be surprised to see UVa get Muskett on Grounds very soon as the Hoos continue to make a push.
It's unclear if UVa wants to take one player to be QB1, or if they are looking to bring in a couple of QBs and either have them compete, or have a starter and a new backup as well. Beyond Muskett, other names to watch include Clemson walk-on Billy Wiles, who entered the portal over the weekend. Wiles is an Asbhurn native that had some offers coming out of high school, but ended up with the Tigers as as a walk-on. Wiles has picked up offers from ODU and Southern Miss this week. Wiles could be an option for UVa as a backup or in a competition, and obviously there's familiarity with Tony Elliott here. Though perhaps Wiles is interested in going somewhere that he can be the starter.
There will surely be other quarterbacks worth keeping an eye on, and we'll wait and see what UVa's strategy ends up being.
Virginia is also interested in Western Kentucky center Rusty Staats, and the Cavaliers had coaches in Bowling Green, KY yesterday. Staats was an all-conference player in 2021, and could factor in at center right away for UVa. Staats' QB, Austin Reed, is also in the portal, though we can't say for sure that Virginia is making a play there. Still, Reed led the nation in passing yards this season with 4,247 with 36 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, so he could be worth keeping an eye on.
Virginia is also making moves at wide receiver, a position group that has turned over almost completely after last month's tragedy and other attrition. UVa offered Eastern Kentucky wideout Jayden Higgins on Wednesday. The Cavalier staff were in Higgins' hometown of Miami on Wednesday, and officially got involved in this recruitment. The 6-foot-4 receiver was very productive in two years with EKU, and also has a relationship with UVa kicker Will Bettridge (see below).
Northwestern receiver Malik Washington is another player to watch for UVa, and his production in the slot would be a big boost to the Cavalier offense (61 rec for 694 yards this season).
UVa has been on cornerback Tywan Francis for some time now, and Rivals sources say that Francis will be on Grounds this weekend. The former Colorado State Ram entered the portal in September and has interest from Temple, Georgia Southern and others, in addition to UVa.
