99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff

By: Chris Horne |

We’ve discussed VirginiaSports.com reporter Jeff White’s podcast with Virginia football Director of Player Personnel Justin Anderson in an earlier “99 Thoughts,” but there are several noteworthy topics in that interview, so here we are once again. If you haven’t heard the audio, click here for a listen.

Virginia has 17 commitments in the class of 2019, which is Bronco Mendenhall’s third full recruiting class as Cavalier head coach. Mendenhall has acknowledged that each step in this rebuilding process is a learning curve. During White’s podcast with Anderson, White asked if there is a model for height, weight, and speed at certain positions while acknowledging there are exceptions to the rule.

“It’s been a little bit of a learning curve, for all of us,” Anderson said. “[Virginia has] been great. It’s a great place to recruit, but, yeah, I think we’ve changed a little bit, the model, and I think now we’ve really got a good feel for what we really need to compete in the ACC. We have ideal height, weight, speed standards we are looking for at each position.”

The speed aspect is my focus of this latest “99 Thoughts” piece.

99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff: No. 44 – The Need For (More) Speed

As Sabre Editor Kris Wright’s discussed in his June 8 “99 Thoughts” entry this year and possibly next may be the “Tight End Swan Song” at Virginia. He noted, “By and large, Virginia appears to be recruiting a combination of tall-rangy receivers and speedy slot-type receivers for the offense moving forward. That will put pressure on players in the mold of someone like Joe Reed or Hasise Dubois to block on the edge in the future. That’s not uncommon in college football these days with the spread option looks that have gained popularity and that’s the type of offense Mendenhall and company prefer.”

It seems true that the staff may be making a shift in terms of personnel offensively. Utilizing big receivers as opposed to tight ends. In general, though, there is a need to add more speed and quickness to the offense, regardless of size.

Olamide Zaccheaus is the model for a “speedy slot-type” player (5’8”, 190 pounds) making a big impact on the field. OZ has totaled 1,695 yards receiving, 468 yards rushing, and 15 touchdowns the past three seasons with the Hoos, including an 85-catch, 895-yard breakout campaign in 2017. Ever since he stepped foot on David A. Harrison III Field, his speed and game-breaking ability have been evident. As Virginia looks to increase its offensive capabilities, adding players who fit a similar mold as Zaccheaus – that is, while they may not standout size-wise, they do bring speed and/or quickness – appears to be a priority, at least in the short term.

Virginia’s incoming first-year class includes three wide receivers and one “H-Back,” which is the position Zaccheaus occupies. Three of those players are 5’10” or under, including wide receiver Tavares Kelly (5’9”), H-back Billy Kemp (5’9”), and wide receiver Wooby Theork-Youmans. The fourth is Ugo Obasi, a wide receiver measuring in at 6’1”, 180 pounds. In 2019 recruiting, UVA has commitments from 5’6” Seneca Milledge, who is a potential H-back, and 5’8” wide receiver Tiquest Terry. Sensing a theme here?

Milledge, Kelly, and Terry bring the speed. Kelly has posted a personal-best 100-meter time of 10.49 seconds. Milledge runs in the 10.6-second range in the 100, and Terry has posted a 6.51-second time in the 55 meters. Kemp and Theork-Youmans may be more quick than blazing speed-types; however, Theork-Youmans has run a 10.82-second 100 meters. Virginia isn’t solely targeting smaller, quicker players, but it’s evident the staff wants to add more speed and quickness on offense.

There are other positions where the staff is upgrading the athleticism, such as …

QB

In addition to the coming infusion of speed and quickness at receiver, the quarterback position is another position Virginia will have an upgrade in speed this season. Bryce Perkins, who has two years of eligibility, takes over as the dual-threat quarterback threat Mendenhall has wanted since he arrived at Virginia.

“There isn’t a play where when if he’s running the football, it can’t go all the way,” Mendenhall said of Perkins during the ACC Kickoff.

Virginia has brought in pro-style quarterbacks Lindell Stone (scholarship) and Matthew Merrick (walk-on), but moving forward look for the Cavaliers to primarily recruited dual-threats such as Perkins and Brennan Armstrong. UVA’s lone potential QB recruit is Luke Wentz, a dual-threat who posted a 4.53-second hand-timed 40 at Boston College earlier this year. Virginia is also in hot pursuit of speedy Peyton Powell, a dual-threat out of Texas who will announce his decision on August 13.

LB

Moving Jordan Mack from safety to linebacker has paid off in a major way. I think the athletic and speedy Zane Zandier will ultimately develop into a quality inside linebacker as well. Charles Snowden may be 6’7” but he can cover a lot of ground in a hurry and is extremely athletic. OLBs Noah Taylor and TC Harrison, two true freshmen, boast quality speed as well and size, but I also like how Mendenhall isn’t afraid to add speed to the linebacker spot if the size may not be the most ideal. True freshman Javar Garrett is a prime example, and class of 2019 recruit Chayce Chalmers fits a similar mold.

DB

Speedy former walk-on Brenton Nelson has obviously turned heads with his play. Nelson, Juan Thornhill, Bryce Hall, and Tim Harris are all excellent athletes with great potential in 2018. Class of 2019 cornerback Fentrell Cypress and class of 2020 cornerback Antonio Webb Jr. are known for their speed as well.
The “99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series has discussed much more. The previous articles are below. Click away.