Virginia football signed an average of 24 prospects per class in Bronco Mendenhall’s first three full recruiting classes as head coach. The class of 2020 figures to be significantly smaller, Mendenhall noted during his February 6 press conference, with the final tally of scholarship recruits taken likely coming in the low teens.

“Our next class we don't have the same numbers, so the numbers will be fewer, anywhere between 12 and 15,” Mendenhall said. “This will be our fourth class basically that we've chosen, and so that's about right. By the time you hit class four, the numbers should have come down and the emphasis on quality and specificity has a chance to go up, and that will really determine the outcome for this class.”

Mendenhall, who guided UVA to its first bowl victory in 13 years this past season, seems pleased with where the program is in terms of personnel. While there are certainly some areas the staff will target more than others, there aren’t any glaring deficiencies – like, say, offensive line has been in the past three classes – as we dive fully into 2020 recruiting.

“There aren't many needs,” Mendenhall said, discussing what areas he may focus on in 2020. “There might be one linebacker total. There might be one defensive lineman total. It won't be hard to look at our roster and say, okay, there the needs are, but we already have our formula completely dialed in. I've been recruiting to it. Got another commitment [on Tuesday (Feb. 5)] already.”

We knew UVA had one high school junior already committed in defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter, a consensus 3-star standout out of Archbishop Spalding in Severn, Maryland. Thanks to Mendenhall, we now know the Cavaliers boast two commitments in the class, although as of this writing the pledge has not been made public.

“You think about that,” Mendenhall continued. “That commitment could have been to a position, that that would be that commitment to that position for that class, and we're talking about a day before the second signing of the year before. So anyway, when we take a commitment going forward, as our numbers shrink, the certainty of that player and us that that will fill the need we have at a high enough level to then continue to improve the program, that now starts to shift the paradigm that we're operating within.”

Seventy-four current scholarship players are projected to be on Virginia’s 2020 season roster. The number of scholarship players allowed on a Division 1 football team in a given season is 85, meaning 11 spots are currently available. If Mendenhall is saying the program will take 12 to 15 players in 2020, that tells me he doesn’t expect much attrition at all between now and next December, when the class of 2020 can make their commitments official.

So how about those needs? Let’s get to where Mendenhall and company may be targeting their scholarships with a breakdown of each position. (Note that the below information is based on how the roster is projected to look in terms of scholarship players in the 2020 season.)

QUARTERBACK

Projected scholarship players - Four

SENIORS – Lindell Stone
SOPHOMORES – Brennan Armstrong
CLASS OF 2019 RECRUITS – Robert Harvey, Jr., Luke Wentz

EDGE Recruiting Outlook For 2020
Despite the promise of Brennan Armstrong, who impressed as a true freshman this past season and looks highly likely to be the starter when Bryce Perkins departs after next season, quarterback is a position I fully expect to be addressed in 2020. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Stone, who has played in only one game the past two seasons, move on before the 2020 season. As for the soon-to-be first years Harvey and Wentz, both are talented athletes. It’s certainly possible that both stay at quarterback, but both also have the athletic skills to perform well at other positions, too. So there are some questions outside of Armstrong, and at least one quarterback seems like a definitive need to me.

RUNNING BACK

Projected Scholarship Players - Six

SENIORS – Lamont Atkins, P.K. Kier, Jamari Peacock (Big Back)
JUNIORS – Wayne Taulapapa
CLASS OF 2019 – Mike Hollins, Seneca Milledge

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
I think Virginia potentially hit a home run in 2019 running back recruiting, landing a workhorse back in Hollins – think a more explosive Jordan Ellis – and speedy gamebreaker Seneca Milledge, who can make plays as a runner and receiver. With this talent in place along with the upperclassmen, is running back really a need in the class of 2020? I think so, given the fact that three of the six scholarship players should be departing after 2020. Look for the Hoos to take one running back in this class.

WIDE RECEIVER

Projected Scholarship Players - Eight

SENIORS – Terrell Jana
JUNIORS – Tavares Kelly, Billy Kemp, Ugo Obasi, Darnell Pratt, Jr.
CLASS OF 2019 – Nathaniel Beal III, Dorien Goddard, Dontayvion Wicks

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
If Virginia can land a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining in this offseason, the projection here changes. For now, though, I see UVA aiming for two receiver prospects in the class of 2020. Tight end is a position that could be addressed as well. Clearly a traditional tight end is not a major priority in this offense, but if a good one is available and fits what Anae wants in this offense, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Hoos take one.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Projected Scholarship Players - 16

SENIORS – Alex Gellerstedt, Chris Glaser, Dillon Reinkensmeyer
JUNIORS – Tyler Fannin, Bobby Haskins, Ryan Nelson, Ryan Swoboda, Gerrik Vollmer
SOPHOMORES – Joe Bissinger, Derek Devine, Micah Mariteragi, Martin Weisz
CLASS OF 2019 – Kariem Al Soufi, Ja’Quay Hubbard, Jonathan Leech, Zachary Teter

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
Center Victor Oluwatimi is not a scholarship player as of this writing; however, given the buzz surrounding the former DeMatha Catholic standout, he seems well on his way to earning one by the time 2020 rolls around. Assuming this group develops well, Virginia finally appears to be in good shape on the offensive line numbers-wise. However, the offensive line is typically a position you want to add two or three to in each class because of how difficult it is to project from the high school level. I’ll say this. The position will be addressed in this class, but I don’t expect the staff to take four or five as they have in each of the previous three hauls (5 each in 2017 and 2018, and 4 in 2019. This does not include the grad-transfers).

DEFENSIVE LINE

Projected Scholarship Players - 11

SENIORS – Mandy Alonso, Osiris Crutchfield
JUNIORS – Isaac Buell, Tommy Christ, Aaron Faumui, Jordan Redmond
SOPHOMORES – Grant Misch, Samson Reed
CLASS OF 2019 – Jowon Briggs, Ben Smiley III
CLASS OF 2020 COMMITS – Jahmeer Carter

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
Grant Misch arrived on Grounds as a linebacker before moving to defensive end. Coach Mendenhall says Misch is working hard to add weight, a sign that he is likely to stay on the defensive line. Keeping Misch here and factoring in class of 2020 commit Jahmeer Carter, the Hoos appear to be in good shape in terms of talent and numbers. Carter is a nice continuation of what UVA was able to do in 2019, landing Jowon Briggs and Ben Smiley III, but I do think UVA will take at least one more d-line prospect in 2020.

LINEBACKER

Projected Scholarship Players - 13

SENIORS – Elliott Brown (OLB), Matt Gahm (OLB), Charles Snowden (OLB), Rob Snyder (ILB), Zane Zandier (ILB)
JUNIORS – Noah Taylor (OLB)
SOPHOMORES – Javar Garrett (ILB), T.C. Harrison (ILB)
CLASS OF 2019 – Josh Ahern, Nick Jackson, D’Sean Perry, Jairus Satiu, Hunter Stewart

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
When you run a base 3-4 defense, linebackers are a “need” almost every year. With that in mind, adding at least another prospect or two in every class is a safe bet, even if the depth looks good as it does in 2020.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Projected Scholarship Players - 14

SENIORS – Joey Blount (S), Darrius Bratton (CB), De’Vante Cross (S), Nick Grant (CB/S), Brenton Nelson (S)
JUNIORS – Jaylon Baker (CB), Germane Crowell (CB), Heskin Smith (CB)
SOPHOMORES – Joseph White (DB)
CLASS OF 2019 – Chayce Chalmers (S), Antonio Clary (S), Fentrell Cypress (CB), Tenyeh Dixon (CB), Major Williams (DB)

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
Safety/linebacker Chris Moore missed the entire 2018 season with an injury. He had not used a redshirt year before, so I’m assuming there is a chance he could be on the roster as a fifth-year scholarship player in 2020. We’ll see about his status this offseason and heading into next year. Aside from Moore, Virginia has recruited the defensive backfield in good numbers the past three class, including five in 2019. Cornerback could be a concern given the injury history of Germane Crowell and the inexperience outside of Bratton, so if there is a need position in the defensive backfield in 2020 I’d say corner is it.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Projected Scholarship Players - 2

SENIORS – Brian Delaney (PK/P)
SOPHOMORES – Hunter Pearson (PK)

EDGE Recruiting Outlook
It’s doubtful UVA will use a scholarship on a special teams player in this class, but you never know.

FEBRUARY 9 JUNIOR DAY

The aforementioned Jahmeer Carter will return to Charlottesville on Saturday, February 9, for a “Junior Day” that is expected to draw top prospects from the class of 2020 and beyond. Here are a few 4-stars headed to Charlottesville for the event.

Maury (Norfolk, VA) 4-star wide receiver KeAndre Lambert, who includes UVA in his top 10 along with Clemson, Duke, Florida, Michigan, Penn State, South Carolina, Southern Cal, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.