2021 Virginia Cavaliers

Phall

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Virginia has started 4, 8, 8, 8, 9, 8, 10, 9 whites from 2005-2012 and 7, 9, 7, 6, 6, 6, and 7 whites from 2014-2020 (we missed the writeup in 2013). In 2021 they are projected to start just 4, tying our recorded all-time low for the program.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall will be manning the reins for his sixth season with the Cavaliers after a decade of success with BYU. He was a hot coaching name when hired, but his Mormon background raised some concern among bigger programs about being a culture fit. Mendenhall and his imported white Mormon coordinators have allayed such fears by forsaking any previously-held reliance on white athletes. While he has improved Virginia’s record each season (after a dismal 2-10 start in 2016), UVa took a step backward last year, finishing at 5-5 and leaving Mendenhall with just a 30-32 record in his power conference tenure.

Junior quarterback Brennan Armstrong returns as the starter with some pro potential. The former four star recruit has a 130 yard rushing game to his credit. Last season, he threw for 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, which put him right around the ACC’s all-conference honorable mention level. Thanks to the free covid year, he’ll have next season as well to build up a draft resume.

Receiver Hayden Mitchell has seen almost all game action at special teams throughout his career, but is now listed on the two-deep for his final season. Luke Wentz was a 3-star recruit as a dual threat quarterback from Germany. He hasn’t seen any gametime entering his third year with the program, but is currently listed as a wide receiver.

Sole white starter Mandy Alonso will anchor the defensive line from the strong side in his super-senior year. He is tasked more with eating up blocks than accumulating stats, but has 13.5 TFL and 6 sacks over his career as a four year contributor.

Lineman Tommy Christ appeared in all ten games last year and played on both the offensive and defensive lines. Ourlads isn’t sure where to put him on their depth chart. He’s been a two-way player since high school.

The backups will probably bolster next year’s total number of starters, if only at caste positions. However, Armstrong is the only white QB on the depth chart at present.

Starters
QB: Brennan Armstrong
OL: Joe Bissinger, Ryan Nelson

DE: Mandy Alonso

Backups
WR: Hayden Mitchell, Josh Clifford, Luke Wentz
TE: Grant Misch, Jack Witmer, Mike Kosar
OL: Jonathan Leech, Bobby Haskins, Derek Devine, Luke Johnson, Noah Josey, Joseph Kagel, Jack Keenan, Charlie Patterson, Logan Taylor, Zachary Teter

DE: Tommy Christ, Hugh Laughlin
LB: Josh Ahern, Sam Brady, James Jackson, West Weeks
DB: Jake Dewease, Darren Klein
 
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Phall

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Brennan Armstrong has been named ACC 'QB of the Week' for the third time (in six weeks).

Down by 17 points in the fourth quarter, Armstrong directed UVA to three touchdowns including the game-winning one-yard toss to TE Grant Misch with 22 seconds remaining. During the final drive Armstrong twice converted fourth-down throws (16 & 17 yards). Armstrong threw for 183 yards during the fourth quarter.

On the day, Armstrong completed 40 of 60 passes for 487 yards, three TDs and had two interceptions. His passing total was the second-highest in school history and marked the fourth time this season he passed for more than 400 yards in a game.

Armstrong is putting up video game numbers this season, averaging more than 400 yards per game, 8.7 yards per attempt with 65.1% completions, and 17 TDs against 6 interceptions. He's not a rusher but has a season long of 31 yards. All his stats are improved upon since last year.

I haven't watched any UVa games, but they play at current #19 BYU on 10/30 at host #14 Notre Dame on 11/13. No idea if Armstrong has any draft buzz at this point, but if he returns next year he'll appear on plenty of pre-season watch lists.
 

Leonardfan

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Mendenhall is stepping down as head coach. A disappointment in the ACC both in win loss record and the adherence to the caste system. The only positive is that Brennan Armstong was the most prolific passer in the country this year and should be a preseason heisman favorite next year as well as be viewed as the 1st qb for the 2023 draft.
 

Phall

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Overall excellent season for Armstrong. The Cavaliers' record tanked once he got injured, and I'm not sure he closed out the year at full health. The lefty QB would be an intriguing name to consider as a transfer for a few of the Big Ten West schools. I wonder if he'll leave the offensive linemen and walk-ons to fend for themselves next year (they'll be just about the only white players on the team). We'll also see what kind of hire Virginia's black female AD makes (she's been in place since 2017 but hasn't hired for football or basketball). At least we can be sure that they won't get much blacker!
 

Bucky

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Well said guy's. I remember we were initially very excited at the Mendenhall hiring..
 
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