Peach State Defensive Line Prospect Hugh Laughlin Commits To Virginia

The University of Virginia football program addressed the trenches with its latest class of 2021 commitment, Athens Academy (Athens, GA) 3-star Hugh Laughlin.

“First off, I would like to thank all of the coaches that gave me an opportunity to play for their school and spent their time and energy recruiting me,” Laughlin wrote in the tweet above. “Also, I would like to thank my parents and Coach Alexander for helping me through this recruiting process, as well as my other coaches and trainers for making me the player I am today! Thank you to all of my teammates for pushing me to be a better player everyday. Especially, thank you Coach Sintim and Coach Mendenhall for giving me the opportunity to be a Cavalier. With that being said, I would like to announce that I will be committing to the University of Virginia!!”

Laughlin, who becomes the 12th high school junior to commit to Virginia, is a good athlete with impressive size at 6’6”, 280 pounds. Rivals and 247Sports rank the talented junior as an offensive tackle – Rivals has him as the no. 67 tackle in the 2021 Class, while 247Sports ranks him the no. 90 tackle in his class. Laughlin certainly has the potential to play on the offensive line on the next level, and that’s what some schools were recruiting him to play, but the Cavaliers are recruiting him as a defensive lineman.

Virginia’s new Defensive Line Coach, Clint Sintim, led the Hoos’ pursuit of the Peach State star.

Co-Defensive Coordinator Kelly Poppinga added this tweet:

Laughlin saw his recruiting stock take off last month, when he landed 10 Power 5 offers, including one from Virginia on April 20. Arizona State, Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt round out those 10 Power 5 offers in April. Laughlin also considered scholarships from Air Force, Army, Central Florida, South Florida and Syracuse, among others, as well as Ivy League opportunities.

Virginia Football’s Class of 2021

EDGE Outlook

Laughlin has the potential to play on either side of the line at UVA, something to keep in mind when he arrives on Grounds. If he stays on the defensive line, Virginia adds yet another quality prospect to an already deep and talented group. Coach Mendenhall wants clear succession plans, meaning when one player leaves or gets injured, another is ready to step in and the level of play does not drop. I think Virginia is in great shape in that regard when it comes to the defensive line. Here is Virginia’s updated defensive line scholarship projection for the 2021 season:

Aaron Faumui (Sr), Jordan Redmond (R-Jr), Samson Reed (R-Jr), Jowon Briggs (Jr), Ben Smiley III (R-Soph), Su Agunloye (Soph or R-Fr), Jahmeer Carter (Soph or R-Fr), Nusi Malani (Soph or R-Fr), Hugh Laughlin (Fr), Lorenz Terry (Fr – 2020 commit who did not sign because he plans on attending FUMA for a postgrad semester this fall.)

Virginia Football’s Class of 2021

Here is Virginia’s total tally of class of 2021 commits, which now includes three prospects from the state of Georgia:

Jesiah Davis, Wide Receiver, Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
Malachi Fields, Athlete, Monticello (Charlottesville, VA)
Amaad Foston, Running Back, John Milledge Academy (Milledgeville, GA)
Micah Gaffney, Cornerback, Spanish Fort (AL)
Michael Green, Linebacker, Lafayette (Williamsburg, VA)
– Hugh Laughlin, Defensive Lineman, Athens Academy (Athens, GA)
Langston Long, Safety/Linebacker, Christ School (Arden, N.C.)
Josh McCarron, Outside Linebacker, Archbishop Murphy (Everett, WA)
Jacob Rodriguez, Dual-Threat Quarterback, Rider (Wichita Falls, TX)
William Simpkins III, Defensive Back, Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, MD)
West Weeks, Linebacker, Oconee County (Watkinsville, GA)
Jay Woolfolk, Dual-Threat Quarterback, Benedictine (Richmond, VA)