New Kind Of Spotlight Focuses On Offensive Line At Virginia

Virginia returns all 5 starters on the offensive line.
Olu Oluwatimi earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition last fall. ~ Photo Courtesy Jim Daves/Virginia Athletics Media Relations

For the first four years of the Bronco Mendenhall era with the Virginia football team, the offensive line has been in the spotlight. At first it was due to emergency level concern with numbers at the position that made even outlining practice challenging. Along the way, the focus turned to the addition of frequent graduate transfers.

Last fall, a lot of the attention dialed in on the execution of the offensive line and early season struggles. The O-Line received proverbial pointed fingers as the weak link of the offense. As the season progressed and the team worked its way to the ACC Coastal Division title, however, the offensive line improved its play and observers noticed.

With everyone back in the fold for 2020, the spotlight is now on the linemen for an entirely different reason. UVA is replacing key producers at receiver, tight end, and, of course, quarterback. So the offensive line could be a point of strength and stability for the offense.

“I’m really excited,” Cavalier senior Dillon Reinkensmeyer said. “I think there’s a lot of potential for growth right now and definitely returning a lot of people with starting experience is huge. This is the first time we’ve had a really cohesive line and consistent line since we’ve been here. I think we definitely have to take advantage of that.”

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