Virginia Football Recruiting Notes: Hoos Extend New DL Offer In Class Of 2022

By: Chris Horne |

New Virginia football defensive coordinator John Rudzinski has extended a scholarship offer to Connor Lingren, a mammoth defensive tackle/nose guard prospect out of College Station, Texas. Lingren, a class of 2022 prospect who measures in at 6’6”, 325 pounds, shared the news on Twitter.

Lingren is familiar with Rudzinski, who offered the standout senior while at Air Force. The College Station product claimed an offer from the Falcons last May, visited in June, and claimed an official scholarship offer on August 1, the first day class of 2022 prospects could receive official offers.

In addition to Air Force and Virginia, Lingren claims offers from Arizona State, Incarnate-Word, Louisiana-Lafayette, Purdue and Vanderbilt. He took an unofficial visit to Vanderbilt last fall.

Based on an updated team roster that includes grad-transfer defensive end Jack Camper, Virginia projects to have nine scholarship defensive linemen in the 2022 season. The list also includes senior Aaron Faumui, who entered the transfer portal this offseason. The Hoos project to have four upperclassmen and five underclassmen on the defensive line. Virginia has no high school senior commits at the position, as both pledges – Anthony Holmes Jr. (Houston) and Keyshawn Burgos (Virginia Tech) decommitted when Bronco Mendenhall announced his resignation and have since chosen other schools.

As a senior, Lingren racked up 80 tackles including 23 tackles for loss and four sacks. He had 16 quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, one pass breakup and one blocked kick. His senior highlights are posted below and are courtesy of Hudl.com.

Hoover (AL) Standout Jones To Visit UVA

Sticking with defensive line recruiting, senior prospect Terrell Jones announced via Twitter that he plans to visit UVA this weekend. Jones is a 6’5”, 255-pound defensive end prospect out of Hoover High School in Alabama.

Jones originally committed to the University of Illinois, but in December he announced he had reopened his recruitment. Florida Atlantic, Tulane and Virginia are the other scholarship offers he is considering.

Junior Day Turnout

Tony Elliott and staff, most of whom are new to Charlottesville, got to work on establishing relationships with class of 2023 prospects and beyond during a Junior Day recruiting event this past weekend. King George (VA) class of 2024 wide receiver prospect Mekhai White provided his reflections on the weekend in this EDGE report, but he wasn’t the only young standout in attendance.

Here is a rundown of some of the notable prospects we have confirmed so far as attending UVA’s first Junior Day under Coach Elliott. These will certainly be names to remember moving forward.

Class Of 2023

– Tavorian Copeland, OLB, Appomattox (VA)
Claimed an offer from UVA on December 10. Currently is his only offer.

– Cal Grubbs, OL, Maryville (TN)
6’4”, 290-pound center/guard prospect has been reoffered by the Hoos.

–Logan Howland, TE/DE, The Hun School (Princeton, N.J.)
Claims offers from Maryland, Syracuse and Virginia (previous staff). Howland has great size at tight end or defensive end and could potentially grow into an offensive lineman in college.

– Aidan Leigh, OL, Pendleton (S.C.)
Father played running back at UVA. Older brother Tristan was heavily recruited by UVA in the class of 2021 before choosing Clemson, where he plays on the offensive line.

– Nolan McConnell, OL, Colonial Forge (Stafford, VA)
6’7”, 265-pound OL/DL was offered by UVA’s previous staff in 2020. Boasts double-digit FBS offers.

– Jonathan Pennix, DB, Appomattox (VA)
First-team all-state DB and RB boasts offers from UVA, Boston College, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

– Kamren Robinson, ATH, Essex (VA)
The 6’2″, 215-pound junior has landed offers from Boston College, Old Dominion and Virginia this month.

– Krystian Williams, WR/DB, Collegiate School (Richmond, VA)
Offered by previous staff.

Class Of 2024

– LJ Booker, WR, Collegiate School (Richmond, VA)
Was offered by previous UVA staff.

– Hevin Brown-Shuler, DL, Pace Academy (Atlanta, GA)
A player Chris Slade knows well, as Slade served as Pace head coach for nine seasons before resigning following the 2021 campaign. Since leaving Charlottesville, the standout lineman with the great nickname (“Hevy Duty” is on his Twitter profile) announced he has been offered by UVA.

– Mekhai White, WR/ATH, King George (VA)
The previous Virginia coaching staff was the first to offer White. The new staff reaffirmed his offer. Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and West Virginia have offered too.

– Chanz Wiggins, WR, King George (VA)
Boasts offers from Maryland, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

Class Of 2025

– Gideon Davidson, RB, Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg, VA)
Davidson is one of the top freshmen in the state. Was offered by the previous staff and reoffered by Coach Elliott.

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