Elliott names three to complete football strength and conditioning staff

Tony Elliott announced today three hires to complete the Cavalier football program’s strength and conditioning staff. Joining the UVA program are assistant strength and conditioning coaches Will Harrison, Drew McDuffie and Jaylan Reid. Adam Smotherman was previously announced as UVA’s new head strength and conditioning coach and Nate Pototschnik was retained from the previous staff and promoted to associate strength and conditioning coach.

Drew McDuffie

McDuffie comes to Virginia after spending the last five years as an assistant director of sports performance at Duke. With the Blue Devils, McDuffie was responsible for assisting in the year-round planning and implementation of strength and conditioning for the football team. His main responsibilities included training considerations and adjustments for quarterbacks and specialists including quarterback Daniel Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Previously, McDuffie worked as a graduate assistant for the Clemson football strength and conditioning department. He primarily trained the quarterbacks, including 2015 and 2016 Heisman Trophy finalist, 2016 National Championship MVP, and NFL first round draft pick Deshaun Watson. McDuffie also served as an intern for the Clemson football strength staff as an undergraduate.

McDuffie is a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Level 1 Sports Performance Coach certified by United States Weightlifting, and is a Specialist in Sports Nutrition certified by the International Sports Sciences Association.

McDuffie is a native of Sumter, S.C. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Clemson in 2016 and a master’s degree in athletic leadership at Clemson in 2018.

He is married to the former Emily Tanner of Sumter, S.C. The couple have a son, Isaiah, and a daughter, Annelise.

Jaylan Reid

Reid comes to Virginia after working this past year at Virginia Tech as an assistant director for strength and conditioning with the Hokies’ football program. He previously worked as a graduate assistant at Georgia State and served as a strength and conditioning intern at his alma mater, Furman.

A two-time team captain at Furman, Reid was a four-year starter as a nose tackle for the Paladins. A two-time All-Southern Conference performer, he helped lead the squad to the 2018 conference title. He also earned the Iron Paladin Award, presented to the male student-athlete most dedicated to strength and conditioning in 2018-19.

In addition, Reid earned All-Southern Conference honors three times in track and field, winning the league’s 2017 shot put title. A certified strength and conditioning specialist, Reid graduated from Furman with a degree in business administration.

Will Harrison

Harrison spent the previous two years as an assistant sport performance coach with the Kansas football program. He assisted in all areas of athletic development, while working directly with the program’s nutrition and return to play programs.

Harrison arrived at Kansas from Wyoming, where he served as an assistant sports performance coach for the Cowboys’ football program where he trained the team’s quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks and tight ends. He assisted with the implementation of all aspects of the strength and conditioning programs for football, including strength training, linear and multi-directional speed development and position-specific conditioning. Harrison coordinated the department’s intern program and supervised the Cowboys’ players in their preparation for the program’s annual NFL Pro Day.

Prior to Wyoming, Harrison served as a volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach at Colorado for the 2017 season.

Harrison got his start in strength and conditioning at his alma mater of Clemson, where he was a student assistant. That followed a playing career for the Tigers where Harrison, a walk-on, played wide receiver and was a member of the 2011 ACC Championship team. He was included in the school’s honor roll from 2009 to 2011.

Harrison earned his bachelor’s degree from Clemson in management in 2012. Following his graduation, he worked in the industrial distribution business for four years before pursuing a career in athletic performance.

He is married to the former Liz Ward of Nashville, Tenn.