Ever Since Win Over Miami, Cavaliers Have Been On A Roll

Since Virginia’s upset win over Miami, the Cavaliers have been on a roll. A three-game winning streak, a 6-2 record and bowl eligible, a national ranking, are all offshoots of what UVa has accomplished in October.

Along with that has been a splash in the recruiting world. The Wahoos have landed two commitments offered by No. 1 Alabama, but three really good verbals since Miami.

On Sunday, Virginia gained a commitment from Baton Rouge, La., running back Mike Hollins, who chose the Cavaliers over offers from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Missouri, Houston, Utah, Colorado State and others.

Last week, UVa gained a commitment from Atlanta linebacker Nick Jackson, who had offers from Boston College, Pitt, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Missouri, Syracuse, Nebraska, Colorado and others.

Following the Miami win, Chesapeake’s Ben Smiley, a defensive lineman from Indian River High, committed to the Cavaliers over offers from Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Oregon, Tennessee, and others.

Certainly Virginia is attracting better talent.

The question over Bronco Mendenhall’s first two years, and spilling into this year, was could he and his staff recruit effectively in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. Looks like they are starting to answer that question.

Has anything changed, other than winning?

“I think two things are contributing,” Mendenhall said Monday at his weekly presser. “Certainly time has helped. There was a strong kind of first class, meaning just because the reputation of our staff and the previous successes, there were those saying, ‘Man, I want to be part of this … that this could work.’

“And then when we made it to postseason in our second year, that continued,” Mendenhall said. “At the finish of that year, (AD) Carla (Williams) arrived.”

Mendenhall said that he presented his case that UVa football was understaffed in recruiting and strength/conditioning and the new athletic director immediately fixed those issues.

“We were about half staffed in relation to what our competitors were, and so the coaches were having to do more work in terms of the legwork and finding (recruits), in addition to coaching, while some staffs had the leg work and finding happening [by other staffers] while the coaches were coaching, and so we were late.”

Mendenhall said that organization is working round the clock on recruiting at UVa while the coaches are working round the clock on the football part of tings.

“That is helping us be competitive and finding early, developing relationships early, evaluating effectively, matching our needs, and then hosting appropriately, which really helps,” Mendenhall said. “It helps especially when the games the kids come to or watch us play, we win.

“That’s not normal for it to happen in this amount of time,” Mendenhall said. “And it’s certainly not normal when the deficit was so large.”

When Mendenhall and his staff came across the country from BYU to UVa, it was a big change for them on the recruiting circuit.

BYU had kind of a built-in recruiting system that wasn’t readily available at Virginia.

“What I learned quickly is it does no good to compare any other place to Brigham Young University,” Mendenhall said. “That school is magical and very unique because 98.5 percent of all the students that attend are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

“There is a natural and immediate draw as soon as members of our faith have children and they’re hoping they can play football, there is already a strong push to play at BYU,” the coach continued.

“So the finding component is filtered much differently than what we currently face in Power 5 football as one of the schools that many of these kids can choose from,” Mendenhall said. “Maybe not the school they’ve always grown up wanting to attend. Those two simple reference points, didn’t take long to figure that and then reconsider how we best build [Virginia’s] program.”

Congrats to O from Mac

Senior slot receiver Olamide Zaccheaus became UVa’s all-time leader in career receptions Saturday when he hauled in 10 passes against North Carolina, giving him 213 with four regular season games remaining.

“O,” as he is called by his teammates and coaches, broke Billy McMullen’s record of 210 during his illustrious career from 1999-2002.

This is what McMullen told me about Zaccheaus breaking his record:

“Big O is an explosive player, very versatile,” McMullen said. “He is truly a problem (for defenses) and he will be for a long time to come. He’s an NFL caliber player for sure. He has set a new standard for all receivers that come through UVa now. Congrats young Hoo!”

Zaccheaus already holds four other UVa records, including: single-season receptions (85 in 2017), single-game receiving yards (247 vs. Ohio this season), single-game kick return yards (231 vs. Boise State in 2015), and career receptions of 80+ yards (3).

Injury Update

For the first time in a long time, junior inside linebacker Jordan Mack was listed on UVa’s depth chart this week.

Mack has played in only four games due to a shoulder injury. UVa’s two-deep chart Monday read at one of the inside linebacker spots: Rob Snyder or Jordan Mack.

“Jordan Mack is getting better every day,” Mendenhall reported. “So it’s great time for us. We anticipate becoming close to full strength, if not this [Friday], by the next [Saturday]. Certainly he’s well enough and close enough to play this week, so, yeah, that will really help.”

Mendenhall said he did not get an updated report on either Malcolm Cook, another inside linebacker who has missed the last couple of games, or on cornerback Tim Harris, who was injured in last Saturday’s win over North Carolina.

Meanwhile, the coach praised the play of sophomore inside backer Rob Snyder, who has filled in nicely during Mack’s and Cook’s absence.

“Maybe the hidden story in this is that Rob is really doing a nice job,” Mendenhall said. “He played really well in that last game.”

Kickoff Return Team Gets Some Heat

Mendenhall said Monday that he’s not happy with his kickoff return team.

The Cavaliers are ranked No. 52 nationally out of 129 FBS teams in kickoff returns with an average of 21.39 yards per return.

“Our kickoff return team is underperforming in my mind,” Mendenhall said. “Pretty happy with the other three (special teams) at this point and the progress.

“So, yeah, there is just another message being sent that if you do your job really well in practice and you can help our team in an area that I think needs improvement, then we’re going to try you.”

That’s what happened this past Saturday when true freshman Perris Jones (wears jersey No. 92) got into the game on kickoff returns.

“He earned it in practice,” Mendenhall said of the rookie from Episcopal in Alexandria. “Our practices are very competitive. I watch every play of every player every day. What he’s been doing from fall camp all the way to now, it just became the point he was outperforming others in practice. That’s a great way to get on the field.”

Liberty Game Time

Virginia’s final home game of the season on Nov. 10 against nonconference opponent Liberty has been set for 3 p.m.

The game will be televised by NBC Sports Washington, formerly known as the Comcast Sports Network.

Liberty, an independent, is 4-3 overall and has won its last two games, a 48-41 triumph over Idaho State last weekend, and a 22-16 win over Troy the week before.

The Flames play at UMass this Saturday.

Parking Info for Pitt Game

UVa passed out information Monday about parking for a rare Friday night game vs. Pitt this week, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

In most University lots, employees will be asked to remove their cars by 4 p.m. on Friday. By 5:30 p.m., traditional game-day parking options will be available for fans. Due to road closures for the game, University bus service will be modified.

Classes will be held as scheduled Friday, and patient care in the UVa Health System will not be interrupted.

The University of Virginia’s Parking and Transportation department has created a unique website for the game to provide information specific to all University parking permit holders, for the University Transit Service and to note road closures. That information is available at: https//parking.virginia.edu/friday-night-lights

Reserved and first-come, first-served parking options for football attendees will not open until 5:30 p.m. VAF permit parking will also open at 5:30 p.m.

Police and public safety officers will implement the game day traffic management plan and restrict traffic on streets in the vicinity of Scott Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m.

With heavy congestion on Emmet Street/US 29, Ivy Road, University Avenue, and the area of Jefferson Park Avenue/Fontaine Avenue, local drivers are urged to use alternative routes where possible.