The Strategy Session will be a bi-weekly, big-picture outlook of University of Virginia football recruiting in the class of 2021, providing you the latest scholarship numbers and relative news on the recruiting trail.

Let’s begin with a look at the projected scholarship numbers for the 2021 season.

Class Of 2021 Recruiting: The Numbers

Projected Scholarship Number (As of 02/24/20): 69. This number includes current roster players, first-years expected to enroll in the summer of 2020, class of 2020 verbal commit Lorenz Terry, and two class of 2021 verbal commitments.

A Football Bowl Subdivision program is allotted 85 scholarship players. Sixty-nine projected scholarships used leaves 16 scholarships available for the 2021 season. Attrition happens every offseason, however, so the coaches likely have more than 16 spots to work with in terms of class of 2021 recruiting.

At this point, I believe Virginia’s 2021 Class will end up with around 20 recruits in total. Keep an eye on the transfer market this spring, though. If Virginia takes a player or two with multiple years of eligibility, that could impact the numbers available in 2021.

Virginia’s Class of 2021

Jay Woolfolk, Quarterback/Athlete, Benedictine (Richmond, VA), 6’1”, 200 pounds

Rivals Ranking: 3 stars; No. 19 dual-threat quarterback; no. 19 Virginia

247Sports Ranking: 3 stars; No. 12 dual-threat quarterback; no. 14 Virginia

Quick Take: Good overall athlete with the arm strength to match. Fits the “Thorterback” mold Bronco Mendenhall wants at quarterback. I also like Woolfolk’s potential as a defensive back. At this point the multisport star plans to play football and baseball at UVA.

Amaad Foston, Running Back, John Milledge Academy (Milledgeville, GA), 6’0”, 200 pounds

Rivals: 3 stars; No. 29 running back; No. 48 Georgia

247Sports: 3 stars; No. 83 running back; No. 74 Georgia

Quick Take: Rugged, bruising back who reminds me in some ways of Jordan Ellis. Appears to have great work ethic, which is reminiscent of the former Cavalier star back.

Projected Scholarship Number For the 2021 Season, By Position

Below is a scholarship rundown by position, but first here are some notes regarding these numbers.

- Luke Wentz is listed at quarterback, his position on the official roster. However, it’s more likely he’ll end up at another position with wide receiver as a probable destination.

- Seneca Milledge is listed as a running back even though I expect him to be more of an Olamide Zaccheaus-type as an H-back.

- Prized class of 2020 recruit Andrew Gentry is not listed with the offensive linemen because he will be on his LDS mission to Argentina. The mission begins in June of 2020 and is expected to last two years, so look for him to suit up for the Hoos in 2022.

- I have slotted class of 2020 recruit Sam Brady as an inside linebacker, although he could well play outside linebacker. Brady reminds me of Zane Zandier coming out of high school because of his versatility and athleticism. If Brady plays outside, though, look for one of the other outside linebackers to move inside for more depth.

- Lorenz Terry, who committed to UVA in the class of 2020, plans to attend FUMA this fall with the hopes of enrolling on Grounds in January of 2021. I have included him as a scholarship player on the roster.

Quarterbacks (6 scholarship players) – Lindell Stone (R-Sr), Brennan Armstrong (R-Jr), RJ Harvey (R-Soph), Luke Wentz (R-Soph), Ira Armstead (Soph or R-Fr), Jay Woolfolk (Fr)

Running Backs (4) – Wayne Taulapapa (Sr), Mike Hollins (Jr), Seneca Milledge (R-Soph), Amaad Foston (Fr)

Wide Receivers (including H-Backs) (8) – Tavares Kelly Jr. (Sr), Billy Kemp IV (Sr), Ugo Obasi (R-Jr), Dontavyion Wicks (Jr), Nathaniel Beal III (R-Soph), Dorien Goddard (R-Soph), Lavel Davis Jr. (Soph or R-Fr), Demick Starling (Soph or R-Fr)

Tight Ends (2) – Grant Misch (R-Jr), Joshua Rawlings (Soph or R-Fr)

Offensive Linemen (16) – Tommy Christ (R-Sr), Tyler Fannin (R-Sr), Olusegun Oluwatimi (R-Sr), Ryan Swoboda (R-Sr), Gerrik Vollmer (R- Sr), Bobby Haskins (Sr), Ryan Nelson (Sr), Joe Bissinger (R-Jr), Derek Devine (R-Jr), Micah Mariteragi (R-Jr), Martin Weisz (R-Jr), Kariem Al Soufi (R-Soph), Ja’Quay Hubbard (R-Soph), Jonathan Leech (R-Soph), Zachary Teter (R-Soph), Jestus Johnson (Soph or R-Fr)

Defensive Linemen (9) – 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), Lorenz Terry (Fr)

Inside Linebackers (4) – TC Harrison (R-Jr), Nick Jackson (Jr), Josh Ahern (R-Soph), Sam Brady (R-Fr or Soph)

Outside Linebackers (6) – Noah Taylor (Sr), Jairus Satiu (Jr), D’Sean Perry (R-Soph), Hunter Stewart (R-Soph), Jonathan Horton (Soph or R-Fr), Brandon Williams (Soph or R-Fr)

Defensive Backs (13) – Darius Bratton (R-Sr), Darnell Pratt (R-Sr), Heskin Smith (R-Sr), Jaylon Baker (R-Jr), Joseph White (R-Jr), Antonio Clary (Jr), Tenyeh Dixon (Jr), Chayce Chalmers (R-Soph), Fentrell Cypress II (R-Soph), Major Williams (R-Soph), Elijah Gaines (Soph or R-Fr), Dave Herard (Soph or R-Fr), Donovan Johnson (Soph or R-Fr)

Special Teams (1) – Hunter Pearson, PK (Jr)

Class of 2021 Recruiting: Projected Top Needs

Virginia has addressed quarterback and running back so far, although if the coaches feel Woolfolk may be a better defender I wouldn’t be surprised to see another signal caller in this class. From a numbers standpoint, it appears the Hoos could use another running back as well.

Those positions aside, here are my top remaining needs in class of 2021 recruiting.

Virginia football coach Bronco Mendenhall described wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks as "dynamic." The Louisiana native flashed that potential during the 2019 season. Although there are some talented young prospects in place, UVA could use more dynamic potential at wide receiver in class of 2021 recruiting. ~ Photo courtesy of Virginia Athletics Media Relations

WIDE RECEIVERS

This is another position I expect Virginia to address with at least two prospects in the class of 2021, likely more. Based on the look of the current roster, I think the position needs some more dynamic players in the mix. There is certainly good size on the roster with the 6’7” Davis, the 6’5” Beal, the 6’3” Goddard, and Wicks, who is 6’1” but looks like a bigger receiver.

TIGHT ENDS

As was the case in 2020, tight end appears to be an immediate need for Virginia in the class of 2021. The Hoos are projected to have only two scholarship players on the roster at the position. Adding two promising prospects could solidify the position for the foreseeable future, but at least one seems to be a must. This could be another position the staff tries to address with current roster players, either scholarship players at other positions or a walk-on tight end developing into a contributor.

BUILDING UP THE OFFENSIVE LINE

What should be a stacked offensive line group in 2021 features seven seniors. A major drop off numbers-wise is in store for the position in 2022 (although Gentry is expected to return then), so look for three or more offensive line recruits to be a priority in 2021 and then again in 2022. Offensive line should not be an immediate need for the 2021 season, but it is a major need from a future depth standpoint.

INSIDE LINEBACKER DEPTH

Inside linebacker could be one of the more prominent positions in the immediate need category. The future is bright with Nick Jackson and Josh Ahern; however, as of now there is virtually no depth behind them outside of Harrison, who hasn’t played much in two seasons in the program. This issue could be addressed with Brady and/or a current roster player moving inside, but if not look for the Hoos to be in search of a few inside linebacker targets in 2021.

CORNERBACKS

Darius Bratton and Heskin Smith, cornerbacks who could figure prominently into the defense the next few seasons, will be in their final years of eligibility in 2021. There are some talented young players in the pipeline, including Fentrell Cypress II and Major Williams, but I see this as a position the staff needs to address in this class. Depending on how those young players are looking, it could be an immediate need position.

Class of 2021 Recruiting: Impact of Potential Transfer Rule

One week ago (February 17), the Atlantic Coast Conference voiced its unanimous support for “a one-time transfer opportunity for all student-athletes, regardless of sport.”

Barring a waiver or the student-athlete having graduated, Division 1 student athletes seeking to transfer to another Division 1 school have to sit out a year before they are eligible to compete. What the ACC favors here is the chance for every student-athlete to transfer once without having to sit a year.