Virginia Football Recruiting: Important Decision, Visit Coming This Weekend

Virginia football opens its 2018 season Saturday, so of course the priority for Cavalier fans is seeing what Year 3 of the Bronco Mendenhall era looks like tomorrow evening in Scott Stadium. In addition to learning more about the on-field product Mendenhall and company have this season, there is also intrigue on the recruiting front this weekend.

UVA has amassed 18 verbal commitments in the class of 2019. This weekend, the Hoos will find out if one of their top offensive line targets will take his talents to Charlottesville. Virginia also reportedly will play host to a top running back target on an official visit.

The offensive line prospect ready to make his decision is JaQuay Hubbard, a 6’5” 320-pound senior out of Sharpsville (PA). Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Virginia are the finalists for the Rivals.com 4-star prospect; however, only Mississippi State and UVA received official visits.

Hubbard will announce his decision tomorrow evening, so Virginia fans will likely find out the pick while the Cavaliers are taking on Richmond in the 2018 opener. As of this writing, 247Sports’ Crystal Ball feature favors the Hoos.

Of UVA’s 18 high school senior commitments, three are projected to play on the offensive line. Hubbard would give the Hoos four offensive line commits, making it three straight classes in which Bronco Mendenhall has signed four or more prospects at a position he prioritized from the start of his Cavalier career.

University Lab (Baton Rouge, LA), which is currently ranked as the No. 21 high school football program in the nation by USA Today, has its share of talent. One of its top talents is senior running back Mike Hollins, who 247Sports reports will be in Charlottesville this weekend for an official visit.

Alabama, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, SMU and Virginia are among the schools that have offered the 5’11”, 215-pound Hollins, who is rated a 3-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports. LSU has expressed serious interest but has not offered as of yet.

A trip this weekend would be Hollins’ second visit to UVA this year. He headed to Charlottesville in April for an unofficial.

Feeling so blessed. Took Mike to Visit University of Virginia today. I don’t know who smiled more…Mike as he toured, my Mother as she looked at Mike or me looking at both of them. #priceless #thankyoufatherforthisday #family1st GODsplan pic.twitter.com/yE2Va158Y5

— Brenda Hollins (@MikesMother7) April 28, 2018

Hollins’ first and only official visit to date was to SMU back in June.

Special Place …#AGTG pic.twitter.com/9eWJVwiLS9

— Michael Hollins (@MikeHollins7) June 13, 2018

Virginia offered the talented tailback this past January and has maintained its hot pursuit ever since. The Cavaliers offered a preferred walk-on spot last week to Hollins’ teammate and classmate, quarterback John Gordon McKernan. Florida and LSU have also offered the 6’1”, 195-pound signal caller as a preferred walk-on while Southern has offered a scholarship.

At running back, UVA currently projects to have six scholarship players on the roster in 2019. This includes Chris Sharp (Sr in the 2019 season), Lamont Atkins (Jr), P.K. Kier (Jr), Jamari Peacock (Jr), Wayne Taulapapa (R/S Fr) and Seneca Milledge (Fr). Milledge, a Virginia class of 2019 commit with blazing speed, could play running back but could also end up in more of an H-Back role.