Blessed to not only have an opportunity but also a home. Ready to compete at the top in 2#HoosRising #ACC pic.twitter.com/XAaE7Z6zaY
— Wayne Taulapapa (@WayneTaulapapa) February 3, 2016
The Virginia football program scored two recruits on National Signing Day to bring its 2016 Class total to 24, which includes four prospects who enrolled on Grounds in January of 2016 and 20 prospects who signed letters of intent today.
Earlier today, Punahou (Honolulu, HI) product Wayne Taulapapa chose the Hoos over Navy, while Suwannee (Live Oak, FL) lineman Trysten Hill picked UVA over Central Florida. Both players had committed to other schools earlier in the process, with Taulapapa originally committing to BYU while Bronco Mendenhall was still the Cougars coach and Hill committing to Georgia Tech before deciding to reopen his recruitment this past November.
The 5’11”, 200-pound Taulapapa, a running back recruit, rushed for over 3,200 yards and 52 touchdowns in three years on Punahou’s varsity squad. Hill, who measures in at 6’3″, 308 pounds, earned AP 5A first-team all-state honors as a senior for his play on the offensive line. Virginia, though, likes Hill initially as a defensive lineman.
UVA has one more verbal commitment in the class of 2016; however, he will not sign at this time. The player in question is William Fleming (Roanoke, VA) cornerback/wide receiver Darrius Bratton, who we have learned will attend Fork Union Military Academy next fall.
Check out highlights of Taulapapa and Hill below. You can also click here for a full listing of Virginia football’s first recruiting class with Bronco Mendenhall as its head coach. Stay tuned to TheSabre.com in the coming days for analysis and much more on this latest group of Cavaliers.
