The WAR ROOM is back and this edition is full of football recruiting scoop! Though UVa has done most of the recruiting it needs in the class of 2018, there are a handful of scholarships left and we'll dive back into where things stand. This week, we'll tell you about who all is expected to be in town tomorrow when the Cavaliers kick off the 2017 season and we'll also go position by position to break down what needs remain in this class and which prospects seem like the most likely to fill those spots.
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Revisiting the class of 2018
As we've said in the past, by this point in the cycle UVa's recruiting classes are generally almost finished up and once the season starts, there are typically just a few left to close. And the lack of football news over the past month or so (coupled with the dead period that ended last night at midnight) has been driven by that reality. Sitting at 20 commitments since early last month (plus 2016 signee Wayne Taulapapa coming in following his Mormon mission), Bronco Mendenhall and his staff have basically done what they've needed to in 2018.
But they do have a few spots left and needs to address. As of now, we'd peg that number at four. It's clear from the way the staff has recruited certain positions that they are closed up in this class. So what remains in play?
This week, we're going to return to our format of going position by position to discuss where things are in this class and what spots might still be available. But first, let's get to the first list of prospects expected at Scott Stadium this season.
Visitors expected tomorrow
Given where UVa's class is, the opponent the Cavaliers will be playing tomorrow, and the expected rain, it's not going to be a very busy one on Saturday in terms of recruiting. But there are some names worth diving into.
Here's what we've heard the list looks like:
Among that group, the biggest recruit by far is Kelly, who also visited UVa recently for a practice. Given his offer list thus far and where things are going in his recruitment, this is a pretty interesting development for the Cavaliers. He's going to be one of the top players in the Commonwealth in 2019 and it would see the staff has made an impact on him.
It's also important to note two others on that list in Ravenel and Robinson. Ravenel had a great game last night in his season opener as North Stafford rolled over Briar Woods 45-6. He had a 50-yard TD run, a 39-yard TD run, and a 25-yard TD run in the win. This visit, right on the heels of his offer last weekend, bodes well for UVa's chances of possibly bringing him into the fold. As of now, they're recruiting him as an athlete. And Robinson, another athlete who could play a variety of positions, is someone the staff has been on for a while and another we wouldn't be surprised to see pull the trigger, though not necessarily this weekend.
Breaking down where things stand
Quarterback: Three-star Florida standout Wyatt Rector continues to be the man here. Given what UVa's roster situation is, we still wouldn't count out the Cavaliers bringing in someone else for depth purposes, though. It would make a lot of sense. As of now, they don't appear to be on the verge of doing that.
Running back: Even with Taulapapa in the fold, Virginia has been recruiting this position pretty hard in this cycle. With Ronnie Walker now off the board to IU, it would see the most likely target left is Blacksburg three-star Coleton Beck but all indications are that, now that the Hokies have finally offered, he'll land at Tech. Realistically, it would not surprise us at all if UVa is done at this position in 2018.
Wide receiver: The Cavaliers did some solid work at this position in the summer and now, with three commits likely to end up at wideout, you'd have to think the inn is about full. The bigger challenge might be holding on to the three they've got, particularly the two Florida kids.
Tight end: This position continues to be a conundrum for the Wahoos. Four-star Georgia native John FitzPatrick, who eventually committed to UGA, was easily their best at adding a quality playmaker here and the one tight end UVa has is headed for offensive tackle. Overall, we could see senior film helping someone land an offer at this spot but it certainly doesn't seem imminent.
Offensive line: Okay, let's talk numbers. As everyone knows, UVa's situation in the trenches was pretty dire before the staff signed five in 2017 and added two grad transfers. Mendenhall has said he'd like to do something similar with the 2018 class. Thus far, five of UVa's commits are expected to be slotted on the O-line. Does that mean they're done in 2018? Possibly but it's also possible that one of the final few spots goes to a linemen. We'd say the chances are less than 50 percent, though.
Defensive end: Technically speaking, the dream of landing four-star Rivals250 DL and Gilman standout Thomas Booker is still out there but for all intents and purposes, we know the way that is likely to go for the Hoos. To this point, UVa has one defensive end in this class and this is a spot where we could see the staff using one of those remaining slots. There are also several linebackers who could wind up at DE.
Defensive tackle: UVa casted as wide a net here as any year in recent memory and eventually landed tw0 in late June. We expect the staff to try and close out one more before NSD. Three-star Woodbridge lineman Henry Chibueze could make some sense here but we haven't heard much on Virginia's pursuit of him in some time.
Linebacker: When the Wahoos closed out Grant Misch early last month, that very likely meant the close of LB recruiting in this class. And it's arguably their deepest position in 2018. The five commits bring a lot of size, athleticism, and speed to the table and can play a variety of different spots among the four in the scheme.
Defensive back: This is where UVa's attention needs to be with a couple of these final spots. Aside from what we highlighted above, the two names to keep in mind here are likely Graham's Taymon Cooke and Converse (TX) Judson three-star with an offer, Chris Mills. Cooke could certainly play on either side of the ball but word for some time has been that UVa liked him best at corner. Mills, meanwhile, is planning to take an official visit to Virginia this fall.
Punter/Kicker: Finally, with South Carolina PK Hunter Pearson in the fold, it would appear that UVa is done here as well. We could still see them adding someone but it would almost certainly be a preferred walk-on situation.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
As always, what's said in the War Room, stays in the War Room. Let's go!
Revisiting the class of 2018
As we've said in the past, by this point in the cycle UVa's recruiting classes are generally almost finished up and once the season starts, there are typically just a few left to close. And the lack of football news over the past month or so (coupled with the dead period that ended last night at midnight) has been driven by that reality. Sitting at 20 commitments since early last month (plus 2016 signee Wayne Taulapapa coming in following his Mormon mission), Bronco Mendenhall and his staff have basically done what they've needed to in 2018.
But they do have a few spots left and needs to address. As of now, we'd peg that number at four. It's clear from the way the staff has recruited certain positions that they are closed up in this class. So what remains in play?
This week, we're going to return to our format of going position by position to discuss where things are in this class and what spots might still be available. But first, let's get to the first list of prospects expected at Scott Stadium this season.
Visitors expected tomorrow
Given where UVa's class is, the opponent the Cavaliers will be playing tomorrow, and the expected rain, it's not going to be a very busy one on Saturday in terms of recruiting. But there are some names worth diving into.
Here's what we've heard the list looks like:
- Alan Alvarez, a 5-foot-110 defensive back from Lexington (SC) White Knoll.
- Charles Boxley out of Patrick Henry in Roanoke.
- Khaydon Brooks out of Dematha.
- Jahmeer Carter, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound offensive lineman out of Severn (MD) Archbishop Spalding in the class of 2020.
- Jack and Parker (a walk-on linebacker commit) Chenault out of Hanover.
- Micah Crowell out of Hernersville (NC) East Forsyth.
- Joshua Davidson out of Liberty Christian in Lynchburg.
- Broughton Hatcher out of Pageland (SC) Central.
- Logan Hawkins from Frankfort (KY) Western Hills.
- Curtis Jacobs out of the McDonogh School.
- Cam'Ron Kelly, the four-star Rivals250 junior cornerback from Oscar Smith.
- Cole Lyte, a safety walk-on commit from York.
- Brady Ours from Keyser in West Virginia.
- Devin Ravenel, the 6-foot, 160-pound athlete from North Stafford who is committed to JMU but was offered by UVa last weekend.
- Bo Ressler, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound offensive lineman from Cary (NC) Green Hope
- Wandale Robinson a 5-foot-8, 171-pound three-star junior athlete from Frankfort (KY) Western Hills.
- Amir Siders from Fauquier.
- Chris Tyree, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound running back from Thomas Dale in the class of 2020.
Among that group, the biggest recruit by far is Kelly, who also visited UVa recently for a practice. Given his offer list thus far and where things are going in his recruitment, this is a pretty interesting development for the Cavaliers. He's going to be one of the top players in the Commonwealth in 2019 and it would see the staff has made an impact on him.
It's also important to note two others on that list in Ravenel and Robinson. Ravenel had a great game last night in his season opener as North Stafford rolled over Briar Woods 45-6. He had a 50-yard TD run, a 39-yard TD run, and a 25-yard TD run in the win. This visit, right on the heels of his offer last weekend, bodes well for UVa's chances of possibly bringing him into the fold. As of now, they're recruiting him as an athlete. And Robinson, another athlete who could play a variety of positions, is someone the staff has been on for a while and another we wouldn't be surprised to see pull the trigger, though not necessarily this weekend.
Breaking down where things stand
Quarterback: Three-star Florida standout Wyatt Rector continues to be the man here. Given what UVa's roster situation is, we still wouldn't count out the Cavaliers bringing in someone else for depth purposes, though. It would make a lot of sense. As of now, they don't appear to be on the verge of doing that.
Running back: Even with Taulapapa in the fold, Virginia has been recruiting this position pretty hard in this cycle. With Ronnie Walker now off the board to IU, it would see the most likely target left is Blacksburg three-star Coleton Beck but all indications are that, now that the Hokies have finally offered, he'll land at Tech. Realistically, it would not surprise us at all if UVa is done at this position in 2018.
Wide receiver: The Cavaliers did some solid work at this position in the summer and now, with three commits likely to end up at wideout, you'd have to think the inn is about full. The bigger challenge might be holding on to the three they've got, particularly the two Florida kids.
Tight end: This position continues to be a conundrum for the Wahoos. Four-star Georgia native John FitzPatrick, who eventually committed to UGA, was easily their best at adding a quality playmaker here and the one tight end UVa has is headed for offensive tackle. Overall, we could see senior film helping someone land an offer at this spot but it certainly doesn't seem imminent.
Offensive line: Okay, let's talk numbers. As everyone knows, UVa's situation in the trenches was pretty dire before the staff signed five in 2017 and added two grad transfers. Mendenhall has said he'd like to do something similar with the 2018 class. Thus far, five of UVa's commits are expected to be slotted on the O-line. Does that mean they're done in 2018? Possibly but it's also possible that one of the final few spots goes to a linemen. We'd say the chances are less than 50 percent, though.
Defensive end: Technically speaking, the dream of landing four-star Rivals250 DL and Gilman standout Thomas Booker is still out there but for all intents and purposes, we know the way that is likely to go for the Hoos. To this point, UVa has one defensive end in this class and this is a spot where we could see the staff using one of those remaining slots. There are also several linebackers who could wind up at DE.
Defensive tackle: UVa casted as wide a net here as any year in recent memory and eventually landed tw0 in late June. We expect the staff to try and close out one more before NSD. Three-star Woodbridge lineman Henry Chibueze could make some sense here but we haven't heard much on Virginia's pursuit of him in some time.
Linebacker: When the Wahoos closed out Grant Misch early last month, that very likely meant the close of LB recruiting in this class. And it's arguably their deepest position in 2018. The five commits bring a lot of size, athleticism, and speed to the table and can play a variety of different spots among the four in the scheme.
Defensive back: This is where UVa's attention needs to be with a couple of these final spots. Aside from what we highlighted above, the two names to keep in mind here are likely Graham's Taymon Cooke and Converse (TX) Judson three-star with an offer, Chris Mills. Cooke could certainly play on either side of the ball but word for some time has been that UVa liked him best at corner. Mills, meanwhile, is planning to take an official visit to Virginia this fall.
Punter/Kicker: Finally, with South Carolina PK Hunter Pearson in the fold, it would appear that UVa is done here as well. We could still see them adding someone but it would almost certainly be a preferred walk-on situation.
That is it for this week, and as always, what's said here, stays here!
