The Virginia football program added another transfer to the offensive side of the ball on Thursday. The Cavaliers picked up Stanford tight end Charlie Hopkins, who will enroll as a graduate student in the Curry School of Education and become immediately eligible.
“Virginia was a good fit for what Charlie was looking for in terms of a graduate school program and we think he can be an asset to our tight end position and run blocking game,” said Virginia coach Mike London in an official news release. “I like his maturity and what he will bring to our team from being part of a very successful Stanford program.”
Hopkins is the second graduate student to join the program during the offseason from a Power 5 conference. Receiver T.J. Thorpe transferred from North Carolina and joined the program for spring practice. He was listed as a starting receiver on the post-spring depth chart.
Hopkins will have a chance to make a similar drive toward playing time because the Cavaliers are thin at tight end. UVa listed just three players at tight end on the spring roster with quarterback convert Brendan Marshall joining redshirt freshman Evan Butts and senior Rob Burns, last year’s lone holdover at the position. Marshall caught a touchdown pass in Virginia’s Spring Game.
The Cavaliers spent the spring trying to establish the “downhill-run part of the game” according to offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild and that’s where Hopkins could provide a boost. He played 17 games at Stanford, including all 14 games in 2013 when the Cardinal made it to the Rose Bowl, and much of that time was spent as a blocking tight end. He caught only two passes at Stanford.
Virginia needs to improve its running game in order to help the overall offense progress. Last season, UVa ranked 100th nationally with 137.75 rushing yards per game and 101st nationally (tie) at 3.67 yards per carry. With 13 rushing touchdowns, the Hoos tied for 104th nationally. In the red zone, the Cavaliers had 12 rushing touchdowns and that was 93rd nationally.
