Virginia Football Gains Commitment From Top Running Back Target Mike Hollins

By: Chris Horne |

The University of Virginia football program hasn’t offered many running backs in the class of 2019. Of the ones the staff did offer, University Lab (Baton Rouge, LA) standout Mike Hollins was high on the wish list, as head coach Bronco Mendenhall and company have been in hot pursuit of the 5’11”, 205-pound senior since extending a scholarship offer on January 16, 2018.

The Virginia staff’s hard work paid off on Sunday (October 28), when Hollins announced his commitment to the Cavaliers over SMU and Utah, as well as reported offers from Alabama, Army, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Houston, Kentucky, Memphis, Missouri, New Mexico, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa and Vanderbilt, among others. UVA, SMU and Utah hosted the promising backfield prospect on official visits prior to today’s commitment.

“I’d like to start by thanking my mom and the rest of my family who have been there for me throughout this whole process and who have supported me fully along the way,” Hollins wrote in the tweet below. “I’d also like to thank my friends and teammates who have become family over the past 4 years. Most importantly I’d like to thank GOD, who has stuck by my side through the ups and downs. The recruiting process has truly been one of the best experiences of my life up until this point. However, it is time to make a decision. I’d like to thank all the coaches and schools who offered me an opportunity to attend their university. This is not only a 4 year decision, but a 40 year decision. With that being said, I will be committing to the University of Virginia. Please respect my decision #gohoos.”

Virginia special teams coach Ricky Brumfield, who was hired by Coach Mendenhall back in January of 2018, is a native of New Orleans (LA) and a graduate of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero (LA). UVA has made Louisiana more of a focus since Brumfield came on board, and it appears he may have had a significant role in luring Hollins to Charlottesville.

Hollins visited UVA unofficially last spring before making an official visit on Grounds the weekend of August 31 – September 2, which is when the Cavaliers defeated Richmond in the 2018 season opener.

In addition to earning 2017 LFCA Composite All-State First Team honors and being named Most Outstanding Player in the 2017 Division II state championship game (University Lab won the title), Hollins is rated a 3-star prospect by Rivals and 247Sports.com. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 41 running back and No. 24 in Louisiana in the 2019 Class, while Rivals ranks him the No. 50 running back and No. 29 in Louisiana in his class.

University Lab is 9-0 this season and currently ranked No. 14 in USA Today’s Super 25, a national ranking of high school football programs. Check out highlights below (courtesy of House of Yards) of the school’s hard-fought win earlier this season over Zachary. The video contains several highlights of UVA’s newest commitment (see Hollins at the 1:03, 1:41, 1:50 and 2:15 marks).

With Hollins in the fold, UVA’s 2019 season running back corps now projects as follows (scholarship players only):

– Chris Sharp (SR)
– Lamont Atkins (JR), P.K. Kier (JR), Jamari Peacock (JR)
– Wayne Taulapapa (R/S Fr. or Soph.)
– Seneca Milledge (Fr., H-Back), Mike Hollins (Fr.)

Virginia football’s 2019 Class now includes 22 commitments. The Hoos have added four new recruits since the 2018 season started, including offensive lineman Ja’Quay Hubbard, defensive lineman Ben Smiley, linebacker Nick Jackson and Hollins. Virginia’s haul includes six Florida recruits, four in-state recruits, three prospects who attend high school in Europe, two prospects from Georgia, and one prospect each from Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Washington (D.C.).

Virginia Football’s 2019 Class Commitments

– Josh Ahern, Linebacker, Lake Braddock (Burke, VA)
– Kariem Al Soufi, Offensive Lineman, Germany
– Emil Bo Andersen, Defensive Lineman, Denmark
– Jowon Briggs, Defensive Tackle, Walnut Creek (Cincinnati, OH)
– Chayce Chalmers, Linebacker/Safety, Stonewall Jackson (Manassas, VA)
– Antonio Clary, Athlete, Sandalwood (Jacksonville, FL)
– Fentrell Cypress, Cornerback, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
– Dorien Goddard, Athlete, Greeneville (TN)
– Robert Harvey, Jr., Dual-Threat Quarterback, Edgewarter (Orlando, FL)
– Michael Hollins, Running Back, University Lab (Baton Rouge, LA)
– Ja’Quay Hubbard, Offensive Lineman, Sharpsville (PA)
– Nick Jackson, Linebacker, The Lovett School (Atlanta, GA)
– Jonathan Leech, Offensive Lineman, Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA)
– Seneca Milledge, H-Back, Dunbar (Fort Myers, FL)
– DSean Perry, Linebacker/Defensive End, Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL)
– Jairus Satiu, Linebacker, Fork Union Military Academy (VA) via Lehi, Utah
– Ben Smiley, Defensive Lineman, Indian River (Chesapeake, VA)
– Hunter Stewart, Linebacker, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
– Tiquest Terry, Wide Receiver, Blacksburg (VA)
– Zachary Teter, Offensive Lineman, Lake Gibson (Lakeland, FL)
– Luke Wentz, Quarterback/Athlete, Germany
– Major Williams, Defensive Back, Dunbar (Fort Myers, FL)