Virginia Football Recruiting Notes: March Football Check-In & More

By: Chris Horne |

Although they are only three or four months away from enrolling on Grounds, some Virginia football class of 2021 signees are going through their senior seasons this February and March. Here is a look at how the soon-to-be Cavaliers are performing.

– Malachi Fields, Wide Receiver (Projected Position at UVA), Monticello (Charlottesville, VA)

Led by its 6’4”, 200-pound signal caller, Monticello picked up a 31-28 win over Orange County last week to even its record at 2-2 heading into a March 19 matchup with Charlottesville. Fields, a versatile, dynamic athlete and head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s pick to be the sleeper of the class, uploaded the below touchdown run to Hudl.

Monticello opened the season with a 17-10 win over Western Albemarle before dropping games against Albemarle (32-15) and Louisa (35-7).

– Michael Green, Outside Linebacker, Lafayette (Williamsburg, VA)

Green and his Ram teammates are undefeated through three games, handling Tabb by a score of 35-7, Jamestown 44-6, and Warhill 42-0. Green, who will join Kelly Poppinga’s linebacker unit as an outside ‘backer next season, plays wide receiver and linebacker at Lafayette. He posted one of his receptions on Hudl.

Lafayette does not take the field again until March 26, when they meet New Kent.

– Josh McCarron, Outside Linebacker, Archbishop Murphy (Everett, WA)

Archbishop Murphy opened its season with a 26-7 loss to Lake Stevens but rebounded with a 35-6 win over Meadowdale. McCarron and company look to make it two wins in a row when they face Glacier Peak on March 19.

– Aidan Ryan, Safety, James Monroe (Fredericksburg, VA)

Ryan plays multiple positions for James Monroe, including starting quarterback. The Yellow Jackets lost their first two games of this shortened season by a combined four points, falling to Eastern View in the opener, 14-13, and King George in overtime the following week. A 14-point loss to Spotsylvania has James Monroe at 0-3 heading into a home game against Chancellor on March 19.

Via Hudl, Ryan posted highlights from two games.

Ryan picked up a big win prior to football season, capturing the Class 3 state championship in long jump in indoor track.

– Jay Woolfolk, Dual-Threat Quarterback, Benedictine (Richmond, VA)

The Cadets are 2-0 after a blowout win over St. John Paul The Great and a 27-20 victory over Trinity Episcopal. In the latter, Woolfolk tossed a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another.

The spring could get a lot busier for Woolfolk as Benedictine’s varsity baseball team kicks off its schedule on March 20 with a matchup against Cape Henry Collegiate. Woolfolk, who wants to play football and baseball at UVA, plays both sports in high school and is listed on the baseball squad.

Official Visits!

A recruiting dead period in place for over a year because of the coronavirus may be coming to an end soon. According to CBS Sports and the Associated Press, the NCAA is eyeing May 31 as the final day of the dead period.

If this comes to fruition, prospects would be allowed to make unofficial visits (with in-person contact with coaches) as well as official visits, something they have not been able to do during this dead period. Count 3-star rising senior offensive line prospect Jake Maikkula as one of the prospects who intends on taking an official to UVA when he can.

Maikkula attends Valor Christian High School (Highlands Ranch, CO), the same school that produced former UVA offensive lineman Dillon Reinkensmeyer. The 6’6”, 265-pound prospect has been offered by the Hoos as well as Baylor, California, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon State, San Diego State and Virginia Tech.

Hoos Land Recruited Walk-On Commitment

Clover Hill (Midlothian, VA) senior Kendall Cross, a 6’1”, 220-pound linebacker prospect who carries a 3.9 GPA, has announced his intentions to attend the University of Virginia. Cross, who also played running back on the high school level, will be a recruited walk-on.

Foston Getting To Work

Amaad Foston, one of six class of 2021 signees who enrolled on Grounds in February, was known for his work ethic coming out of high school. It appears the talented running back prospect is making an early impression off the field to start his Cavalier career.