Elliott thankful for Mendenhall giving him the scoop on Virginia’s 10-man class

By Jerry Ratcliffe

With Tony Elliott having just come onboard Virginia’s football program, he had nothing to do with the Cavaliers’ 10-man signing class announced Wednesday during the early signing period.

UVA’s new head coach has spent some Zoom time with the newcomers and has welcomed them to the family.

The Cavaliers lost several commitments during the coaching change to schools such as BYU, Virginia Tech and North Carolina, so Elliott was proud of the ones who remained committed.

“That’s unbelievable in this day and age and shows these young men are full of character,” Elliott said. “I know they had tremendous relationships with Bronco (Mendenhall) and his staff, but they remained committed to Virginia.”

Elliott acknowledged that this was a different signing day that he has become accustomed to during his years at Clemson.

He said that beginning tomorrow, he’s going to have to step back and look closer at all the positions on the roster, while accounting for the fact that some of the current players are making decisions on whether to stay or transfer out.

“I want to make sure we have appropriate depth for the season,” Elliott said. “It will be fun to piece those two together.”

Elliott has spent time with Mendenhall in talking about the incoming class, so that he will have a firmer grip on what makes new signees attractive.

“Five years from now, we’ll look back and say these are the best two weeks of my coaching career,” Elliott said. “Bronco actually has spent more time talking to my wife, and I said, ‘Hey, I’m the head coach,’ but now I see what he’s done. He’s trying to get her ready for the transition, the perspective he has had, and helping us process. Invaluable information and that speaks to his character.

“Bronco cares deeply about this football program and has been willing to invest his time when doesn’t have to, in order to prepare me.”

Tony 🤝 Bronco #GoHoos 🔶⚔️🔷 pic.twitter.com/rHWo0PxS2K

— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) December 13, 2021

Because Elliott is experiencing the head-coaching role for the first time in his career, he hasn’t had enough experience to analyze the good and bad of the early signing period.

“If I was going to change something, I’d say let’s do what’s best for the student-athlete and high-school students,” Elliott said. “These guys, some who committed in the summer and are ready to sign in December, others wait. Now you have coaching changes and a dead period three days into signing day.

“For me, it’s the impact it has on young people to make decisions quickly. Then you have transfers in the equation. The ones impacted unintended are high-school kids because of the transfer portal.”

COMING UP NEXT: Bronco’s thoughts on signing day and breaking down Virginia’s class in his eyes.