Strategy Session: UVA Addressing Line Needs

OL commit Crider, one of 10 prospects to commit to UVA this month, poses with UVA offensive line coach Garett Tujague
OL commit Crider, one of 10 prospects to commit to UVA this month, poses with UVA offensive line coach Garett Tujague

On National Signing Day 2016, around two months after being named head coach of the University of Virginia football program, Bronco Mendenhall provided his take on what the biggest team needs were heading into class of 2017 recruiting.

“Both interiors – offensive line and defensive line. I’m not saying quality, but in terms of the volume of players,” he said.

UVA has had a banner month of June on the recruiting front, pulling in 10 verbal commitments and a recruited walk-on pledge (Clayton Cheatham) who spurned scholarship offers from other schools. In total, coach Mendenhall and company now boast 16 verbal commitments in the class of 2017. Of those 10 recruits, two – Harry Crider and Bryson Speas — are offensive linemen while two others — Mandy Alonso and Ryan Thaxton — project to play on the defensive line. Virginia now has three offensive linemen and three defensive linemen committed in 2017.

UVA’s 2017 CLASS

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