Harry Minium gives his insight on ODU ahead of this weekend’s game

“The Jerry Ratcliffe Show” welcomes Harry Minium to learn more about ODU football ahead of this weekend’s game between the ‘Hoos and the Monarchs.

UVA-Illinois preview with Jeremy Werner of 247Sports Illinois

Jeremy Werner of 247Sports Illinois joins “The Jerry Ratcliffe Show” to give us perspective on the Illini going into this weekend’s UVA-Illinois game.

Virginia-Richmond preview: Will the ‘Hoos have their hands full on Saturday?

Virginia very well could have its hands full on Saturday with a Richmond team that will bring in a high-powered offense. Jerry Ratcliffe and co-host Chris Graham break things down position unit by position unit.

Bob Black, the Voice of the Richmond Spiders, previews UVA-Richmond

“The Jerry Ratcliffe Show” welcomes the Voice of the Richmond Spiders, Bob Black, to preview Virginia’s season opener with Richmond on Saturday.

UVA football training camp winding down; latest on UVA basketball recruiting

This week’s “Jerry Ratcliffe Show” takes a final look at UVA football camp as the focus shifts next week to game day prep, and provides updates on UVA basketball recruiting.

Virginia fans welcome the return of Lavel Davis, hoping for another big splash from their biggest target

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Sitting in the press box at Scott Stadium for Virginia’s opener against Duke in 2020, I couldn’t figure out why the Cavaliers were so determined to throw the ball toward a lanky, unknown freshman wide receiver in the first half.

As the game grew on, it became evident why Lavel Davis, Jr., was the target. The 6-foot-7 rookie eventually caught four passes in that game, two of them fourth-quarter touchdowns, and was named ACC Rookie of the Week for becoming the first receiver in UVA history to post 100+ receiving yards in their collegiate debut.

Davis had been Bronco Mendenhall’s best-kept secret up until that point. No mention of the youngster out of Dorchester, S.C., or his potential during preseason confabs with media. The big target didn’t remain a secret for long, but that didn’t make him any easier to defend as Davis went on to finish No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the ACC with a 25.75 yards per reception average. He finished 2020 as the only player in the nation with 500+ receiving yards on 20 or fewer receptions.

Fast forward to August training camp 2022 and Davis is almost starting all over again. New coach Tony Elliott hasn’t tried to keep Davis a secret, but hasn’t exactly promoted his name either. Maybe Elliott is hoping that with the cadre of name receivers he has returning that most opponents have have somehow forgotten or overlooked Davis, who missed he entire 2021 campaign while recuperating from a torn ACL.

Bring up Davis’ name in offensive discussions and we hear the same response. Needs to be more consistent, needs to work on the little things.

Still, there’s no substitute for being 6-foot-7. As Bronco used to say, “When you’re 6-7, you’re always open.”

Davis is counting on it come Sept. 3 when Virginia opens to Elliott Era against state opponent Richmond. Since his gridiron heroics in 2020, the Cavaliers’ receiving corps has developed into the strength of the team with seasoned veterans such as Billy Kemp IV, Keytaeon Thompson and Dontayvion Wicks.

All that’s just fine with Davis, who knows what he has to do to put his name back on the map once again.

He is a better version of himself from spring drills when he reported at his heaviest weight ever, 230 pounds. He’s down to 215 through summer conditioning and running routes with proficiency.

“I want to be one of the best receivers to come out of Virginia,” Davis declared. “Our group is really talented, everyone doing their part in trying to get to the NFL, so competition is high. Iron sharpens iron, so the harder they go, I’m trying to go harder. We learn from each other and we push each other every day. I love their competitiveness and I love the pressure.”

Davis said he totally trusts his rehab and is mentally fine with where his body is at this point, that he feels good no matter if he pushes himself to the brink of exhaustion. He’s confident he is ready for the season ahead in every aspect of his game.

Elliott confessed that he can be particularly hard on his wide receivers because he played that position at Clemson and so holds high expectations of those players. Davis doesn’t have issues with that.

“I like him being hard on us,” Davis said. “I’m trying to soak up everything and be a sponge.”

There’s a lot to learn with a new system, while trying to work his body into playing shape and competing for playing time after missing a year.

“I played my freshman year and then had to sit back and just watch everybody flourish, so you take a step back and look at it through a different lens,” Davis said. “It made me grow as a teammate. I never missed a single season of football since I started playing, so I have a different type of hunger coming back.”

He describes the coaching change, bringing in some new coaches, some who even have a background from his home state of South Carolina as all part of “God’s plan,” something he and his grandmother agree on.

“If was an adjustment on how to adapt to it, but it pushed me and made me grow,” Davis said.

Should the big target manage to step right back in where he left off in 2020, Davis could have stardom written in his future and give Virginia a boost toward returning to the top of the Coastal Division.

Just remember, he’s 6-7 and he’s always open.

UVA football training camp update, ‘Hoos basketball recruiting news

This week’s “Jerry Ratcliffe Show” begins with updates from UVA football training camp, with focus on the battle for snaps in the backfield, the offensive line and the kicking game.

Jerry also goes in-depth with updates on UVA basketball recruiting.

UVA football tries to beat the heat to begin August training camp

Jerry Ratcliffe attended Virginia’s first August football practice on Wednesday. Jerry reports on the big questions about the offensive line, the emphasis on the run game, the defense.

We also hear from Jerry on the latest news from the basketball recruiting trail.

ACC Football recap, ACC-realignment, UVA basketball recruiting updates

Jerry Ratcliffe and Chris Graham report on last week’s ACC Football Kickoff, highlighting the latest on the ACC’s efforts to build on its revenue base to try to keep pace with the SEC and Big Ten, insights into UVA football news, and then Jerry provides updates on Virginia basketball recruiting.

Can we cut it out with the unsubstantiated rumors on the ACC?

Everybody has a theory as to what the ACC is going to do in the wake of the move by the Big Ten to add USC and UCLA. Some of these theories are finding their way into reporting that the ACC and its member schools are actually following through.

This week’s installment of “The Jerry Ratcliffe Show” addresses the latest rumors and single-“source” reports.

The latest on conference realignment, and impacts on the ACC and UVA

What is going on behind the scenes at the University of Virginia in the aftermath of the surprise announcement that USC and UCLA are headed to the Big Ten?

Jerry Ratcliffe addresses the public silence, and Jerry and co-host Chris Graham dive into the many rumored scenarios involving UVA and the ACC.

The latest intel on UVA football, basketball recruiting

Virginia football coach Tony Elliott and UVA hoops coach Tony Bennett have been busy lately on the recruiting trail. Jerry Ratcliffe breaks down the latest developments with co-host Chris Graham on today’s show.

Highlights:

• The latest on how Elliott and his staff are doing recruiting the Commonwealth.
• Good news with a new transfer to bolster the O line.
• A diamond-in-the-rough receiver from Alabama.
• Bennett and his staff are finalists for a talented big man, a pair of athletic wings and a four-star point guard.