Since the start of football season, mostly since the end of the season and Bronco Mendenhall’s resignation, the University of Virginia football program has seen 18 scholarship players enter the NCAA transfer portal. Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Olasunkonmi Agunloye has reportedly withdrawn from the portal and redshirt freshman quarterback Ira Armstead has transferred to Eastern Illinois. On Wednesday (December 22), Virginia confirmed decisions from two other Cavaliers have been made.
True freshman Jacob Rodriguez and redshirt junior defensive lineman Jordan Redmond will not be returning to UVA. Of the remaining portal entrants who have the opportunity to return to Charlottesville, Mendenhall has some advice.
“I hope every player that is considering elsewhere doesn’t, or won’t, make a decision until they see what happens at UVA,” Mendenhall said. “Not only from the head coaching perspective, which I’m really impressed (with Tony Elliott). Besides coach Elliott, I would like every person in the portal to see who’s going to coach them. And why … it’s UVA. Where would they go and why that could be better? Certainly the people matter, and so I’ve just asked them to wait as long as possible to see who will be the next version of UVA and then make sure that’s considered. The best decisions are made on the most information. Many times, outside sources try to have us rush and impose timeframes and they give us partial information that’s special interested, might benefit them, without seeing anything. I want them to see everything. I want them to know all their options and I prefer they all remain to continue on. However, they get to choose. Just like coaches get to choose. I think that’s fair, but my hope is they will not choose until they know exactly what happens here. I think it’s a powerful option.”
Mendenhall shared more player-related news ahead of the bowl game. Two starters on offense – left tackle Bobby Haskins (surgery), who is one of the student athletes in the transfer portal, and H-Back Billy Kemp IV (surgery) – are out. Reserve wideouts Demick Starling (broken arm suffered in the first bowl practice) and Luke Wentz won’t play either. On defense, true freshman linebacker West Weeks is out with a broken leg suffered in the Virginia Tech game.
As of Wednesday (December 22), Mendenhall says no players have opted out. Tight end Jelani Woods has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft but intends to play in the Fenway Bowl. Mendenhall stated he has no mandates in terms of the student athletes playing in the bowl game.
“Anyone that wants to and will, I’m glad to be their coach,” Mendenhall said.
Speaking Of The 2022 NFL Draft, What’s The Latest On Brennan Armstrong?
We know Virginia’s record-setting quarterback will be playing in the Fenway Bowl.
“Brennan will get as many (snaps) as he wants,” Mendenhall said.
We still don’t know what Brennan Armstrong’s status will be moving forward. He’ll either be returning to Virginia for another season or declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Mendenhall’s portion of the December 22 press conference ended with a question about Brennan Armstrong’s future and draft status. As Armstrong took the podium, the subject of his status was mentioned. Smiling, the redshirt junior answered, “I don’t know. Y’all will have to find out after the bowl game. I still haven’t decided myself, so I can’t tell you anything yet.”
Armstrong has asked for feedback from the NFL. He said at the press conference that he has not received the letter, which officially advises draft status (first round, second round, or return to school).
Armstrong says he has been active in recruiting teammates in the transfer portal back to UVA. Included in the potential transfer group are two full-time starting offensive linemen (center Olusegun Oluwatimi and right tackle Ryan Swoboda) and two offensive linemen who started multiple games (Haskins and guard Joe Bissinger).
“Just saying, you know, we’ve been here for a long time, why would you want to go,” Armstrong said. “There’s unknowns at other schools. There’s knowns here. There’s a new coach, but there’s still knowns here. You’re very cemented here compared to other places, so just kind of helping that out and asking if they want to play with me one more year. Maybe if that can swing ‘em one way or another. Try to get a lot of guys and see what their responses are. And then that makes my decision harder depending on what people do. There’s a lot of moving parts with that.”
“That’s why decisions haven’t been made yet,” Armstrong added.
Armstrong addressed other topics as well, including …
New head coach Tony Elliott
“We had a few meetings already,” Armstrong said. “Obviously we had the team meeting, and I just sat down with him, kind of talked about the offense and where that’s going to lead. He has credentials. He’s been there, done that. He’s coached the best of the best. He knows what a championship team looks like. And I think he’s a great fit for us. I think just kind of the next step this program needs. So, yeah, I’m excited to see where he takes it.”
If Elliott has given insight to his scheme?
“I’m more focused on what it’s going to look like,” Armstrong said. “Whatever the players look like, that’s the most important to me. I think having the players here to whatever scheme he wants to do, I think that’s going to be the most crucial part.”
Jason Beck serving as offensive coordinator in the Fenway Bowl
“It’s awesome,” Armstrong said. “For him, I thought that was the next step in whatever he was going to do. He has a young offensive mind. I’m excited to see him. He gets a chance to do it in the bowl game. I’m happy for him. It’s going to be fun for him.”
Shuffling Responsibilities On The Coaching Staff
Mendenhall will coach his final game as University of Virginia head football coach without the services of two coordinators, as neither offensive coordinator/tight ends/inside receivers coach Robert Anae nor special teams coordinator/cornerbacks coach Ricky Brumfield will coach the Fenway Bowl.
With Anae and Brumfield out, other coaches will step up with new or added responsibilities. They include:
– Quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, who will serve as offensive coordinator.
– Director of Football Analytics Matthew Edwards, who will coach the tight ends and inside receivers
– Football analyst for special teams Drew Meyer will coach special teams, with safeties coach Shane Hunter coaching coverage units and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga coaching return units.
Asked about Anae’s early departure from UVA, Mendenhall said, “Timing. A lot of times the timing and urgency to get to a place and establish and go is, yeah, sometimes that’s just what has to happen. We all control what we can to the best level that we can. But this provided a great opportunity for Jason, and for him to show his level of preparation and readiness. It can’t all be orchestrated. I don’t get to choose how it all works, but what I am comfortable is someone steps up and I’m happy for Robert. The offense … I’m not sure it’s not the best-ever here. And the friendship. And the loyalty. And the work. He’ll be missed by me and I’m totally supportive and a fan of where he’ll end up, whenever that announcement is.”
Is SMU’s team staggering too?