Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia Cavaliers

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Date:
Jowon Briggs - DL - Cavaliers

Virginia received a verbal commitment from four-star 2019 DT Jowon Briggs.

It's a bit of an upset, as many projected Briggs (6'2/290) to end up at his hometown school of Cincinnati, or perhaps to end up at Notre Dame at Ohio State. Instead, he makes his early pledge to the Cavaliers, and it's a big get for the Hoos. He ranks fifth among defensive tackles on 247 Sports composite rankings, and 59th overall among all positions in the class. He could be a candidate to play early for Virginia when he enrolls in 2019.
Source: Streaking The Lawn
Jun 22 - 6:00 PM
Hunter Stewart - LB - Cavaliers

247Sports analyst Brian Dohn writes that Virginia three-star 2019 verbal LB commit Hunter Stewart is "physical (and) athletic)" and "runs well downhill."

"[Stewart] is flexible and able to get low to make a hit. He does a good job with leverage when he is shedding a block, and his added strength will allow him to get off blocks more quickly," Dohn writes. The analyst also hits on the intelligence of the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder throughout his scouting breakdown of the newest baby Cavalier, noting that he's adept at reading offenses and putting himself in the proper position to make plays. Dohn believes that a freshman redshirt would be beneficial to Stewart and sees him developing into a multi-year starter as his career unfolds.
Source: 247Sports
Jun 22 - 1:57 PM
Chayce Chalmers - DB - Cavaliers

Virginia received a verbal commitment from three-star 2019 S Chayce Chalmers.

Chalmers (6'1/205) lands as Virginia's 10th overall pledge in the 2019 class. Three of those 10 -- including Chalmers himself -- are in-state commitments. Depending on how he develops physically over the next few years, he could potentially work as a safety, a linebacker or in more of a hybrid role at the collegiate level.
Source: 247Sports
Jun 19 - 11:48 AM
Emil Bo Andersen - DL - Cavaliers

Virginia received a verbal commitment from 2019 DT Emil Bo Andersen.

Andersen isn't ranked right now, but he's worth bringing up if only because he's one of the more interesting stories to commit so far. He'll be joining the Cavaliers from Europe, as Andersen is Danish and impressed Virginia during their summer camp. At 6-foot-5, 280-pounds, he certainly has the size to be a college football player, and he reportedly showed impressive athleticism from that frame. Football continues to become a global game, as seen in this commitment.
Source: College Football Talk
Jun 17 - 2:22 PM
Warren Craft - WR - Cavaliers

Virginia redshirt junior WR Warren Craft announced his retirement.

Craft was recovering from his fifth career concussion when he decided to hang up the cleats. He totaled only 152 yards and a touchdown in his three seasons with the Cavaliers, another factor which likely aided his decision to step away from football.
Source: Daily Progress
Jun 14 - 3:09 PM
Bronco Mendenhall - C - Cavaliers

Virginia HC Bronco Mendenhall believes that the Cavaliers are still in rebuilding mode.

"I believe we have 27 ACC-caliber football players on our roster today," Mendenhall said in a story by The Daily Progress. Considering you're allowed to have 85 scholarship players on a roster, that's not a very big number. The Cavaliers did not earn rave reviews with their recruiting class in 2018, either, ranking 13th out of 14 ACC schools. They also will have a new quarterback under center with Kurt Benkert graduating and off to the NFL. This could be a long year in Charlottesville. The question is just how long a leash Mendenhall has to build up the roster to where it needs to be to compete in the ACC.
Source: College Football Talk
Jun 11 - 4:00 PM
Cassius Peat - DL - Cavaliers

JUCO redshirt junior DE Cassius Peat transferred to Virginia.

Peat (6'3/264) has had a somewhat chaotic first few years in the collegiate ranks since initially signing with Michigan State as a four-star recruit in February of 2015. Following a freshman redshirt, he was released from the program (perhaps due to academic concerns) and transferred to Pima Community College for the 2016 season before transferring again to Scottsdale Community College for the most recent campaign. 247Sports currently ranks Peat as the No. 4 JUCO defensive end in the country. He will have two years of eligibility remaining with Virginia. Presumably, this will be his final transfer.
Source: 247Sports
Jun 2 - 12:26 PM
Jowon Briggs - DL - Cavaliers

Rivals analysts Adam Friedman and Josh Helmholdt predict that uncommitted four-star 2019 DT Jowun Briggs will pledge to Cincinnati.

Briggs (6'2/275) is fresh off busting up the Rivals 3 Stripe regional in Columbus, earning position MVP honors along the way. Helmholdt earlier referred to the defensive tackle as a "real-life Incredible Hulk." Beyond his pure physical abilities, he's a different cat. Briggs did not follow or watch college football growing up -- it just didn't interest him -- and he's not even planning on truly focusing on his recruitment until the fall. This path-less-traveled approach might sour some programs, something that may well end up boosting a smaller school (such as Cincinnati) in the process.
Source: Rivals
May 10 - 3:38 PM
Jowon Briggs - DL - Cavaliers

Rivals analyst Josh Helmholdt referred to uncommitted four-star 2019 DT Jowon Briggs as a "real-life Incredible Hulk."

"He’s also a walking contradiction, throwing around 300-pound-plus offensive linemen one day, singing in his school choir the next," Helmholdt writes of Briggs, whom he refers to as a "true renaissance man." The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder showed off the terrifying physical side of the equation at the Rivals 3 Stripe camp in Columbus over the weekend, winning the position group MVP for his fine work. Notre Dame, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan State and Alabama are among those pining for Briggs' pledge. Rivals ranks him as the No. 107 overall prospect in the 2019 class.
Source: Rivals
May 8 - 1:23 PM
Kurt Benkert - QB - Cavaliers

Falcons signed Virginia QB Kurt Benkert.

Benkert (6’3/218) lost his starting job following a knee injury at East Carolina and spent his final two seasons at UVA, completing just 57.5% of his passes with a 46:20 TD-to-INT ratio on a measly 6.3 yards per attempt. Benkert went an abysmal 8-15 across 23 college starts. Although Benkert’s college production is an obvious red flag, he drew the interest of scouts for his plus size, arm strength, and functional athleticism. On tools alone, Benkert is worth a developmental look.
May 3 - 10:42 AM
Andrew Brown - DL - Cavaliers

Bengals selected Virginia DT Andrew Brown with the No. 158 overall pick in the NFL draft.

Brown (6’3/296) was a two-year starter and three-year contributor on the Cavs’ defensive line, logging 26.5 career tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Just a 26th-percentile athlete, Brown exhibited an average skill set without standout traits on tape. Brown’s strengths are his non-stop motor, plus strength, and length (34 ½-inch arms), but his game lacks an explosive, up-field element. A defensive end at Virginia, Brown will have to learn to win more from the interior in the pros.
Apr 28 - 2:54 PM
Micah Kiser - LB - Cavaliers

Rams selected Virginia ILB Micah Kiser with the No. 147 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Kiser (6’0/238) was a three-year starter for the Cavs, graduating fifth in school history in tackles (411) and tallying 32.5 tackles for loss with 19 sacks and eight forced fumbles. PFF College noted Kiser was an especially efficient pass-rushing inside linebacker with 78 career QB pressures. Kiser earned first-team All-ACC three times and tested as a well-above-par 68th-percentile athlete in Indy, running 4.66. Kiser struggled in pass coverage and got overpowered at times on tape, but he will help on special teams at worst and can’t be counted out as a potential low-end starter down the line.
Apr 28 - 2:31 PM
Andrew Brown - DL - Cavaliers

An anonymous scout told Bob McGinn Football that Virginia DE Andrew Brown is essentially a "five-star recruit who never lived up to the billing."

The scout said Brown (6'3/292) has "strong hands versus tight ends but struggles against bigger bodies." Another scout said "He’s quick and he’s strong and he picks his spots. Looks good. Seldom finishes." He suggested the Brown should "transition inside" and "When he did that at the Senior Bowl he looked pretty damn good." Brown's outstanding Senior Bowl will likely help him be drafted in Rounds 6-7.
Source: Bob McGinn Football
Apr 27 - 1:33 PM
Kurt Benkert - QB - Cavaliers

A scout told Bob McGinn Football that Virginia QB Kurt Benkert is "sporadic" with his accuracy.

"He’s so sporadic," said the scout. "You never know where the ball’s going." That could be a problem. Benkert (6'3/212) has been one of the more divisive prospects in this class, with some analysts calling him a player that shouldn't be drafted, and some believing he could develop into a starting quarterback because of his arm strength. Expect to see Benkert go near the end of Day 3, but he'll have to improve his accuracy (57.5 percent completion percentage in 2017) to stick on an NFL roster.
Source: Bob McGinn Football
Apr 23 - 8:06 PM
Antonio Clary - DB - Cavaliers

Virginia received a verbal commitment from three-star 2019 ATH Antonio Clary.

Clary (6'3/208) had offers on the table from Washington State, Georgia Tech, Duke and USF, among others. He opted to throw his lot in with the Cavaliers following a weekend visit to Charlottesville. While he's viewed as a pure "athlete" in terms of position, the expectation is that Clary will play safety at UVA. His versatility could allow him to see time at nickle and corner depending on what's needed, though. Virginia is now up to four pledges for the 2019 cycle.
Source: 247Sports
Apr 9 - 6:07 PM

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