A major focus for the Virginia Cavaliers this spring is igniting the traditional running game. The possibilities have given UVA heads coach Bronco Mendenhall high hopes for the 2021 season. It starts with the stable of running backs that Virginia has assembled, including Mike Hollins, who opted out of the 2020 season.
“Mike Hollins is back,” said Mendenhall. “Ronnie Walker is also back. Wayne Taulapapa has been almost unbeatable in every drill in the offseason. So, this is the deepest our running backs have been since I've been the coach. We also have added Amaad Foston as a mid-year first-year. And so that's five quality running backs (including Devin Darrington, who graduates from Harvard this spring and will enroll at UVA this summer) and great competition. And so I really like that.”
Over the last two seasons, UVA’s leading rusher has been a quarterback. In 2019, Bryce Perkins led the Wahoos with 769 rushing yards. Last season, it was Brennan Armstrong with 552 yards on the ground.
In 2020, UVA’s quarterbacks (Armstrong, Lindell Stone, Keytaon Thompson, and Ira Armstead) combined for 879 rushing yards. UVA’s running backs combined for 739 yards, with Wayne Taulapapa leading the way with 395 rushing yards.
“So even in the transition from Bryce Perkins to Brennan Armstrong, we still hovered right around that 30-ish point mark offensively, which is a great mark when you're changing quarterbacks. So I love that capacity and just seeing what's possible. As you already know, the traditional runs from our running backs haven't been our strength. But our quarterback runs have been very good to where that when we put those two things together, that's kind of become our running game. So we would love to see some more production from traditional runs while we keep the creativity of our quarterback runs, knowing that Keytaon Thompson is also part of that. So you have Brennan as a possibility, Ira Armstead as a possibility, you have Keytaon as a possibility, and then you have the traditional tailback runs or single back runs that we would love to get more out of.”
With Chris Glaser returning as a super senior, UVA lost just one multi-game starter from last season in Dillon Reinkensmeyer. Virginia returns six offensive linemen that have started multiple games.
That in combination with the addition of Oklahoma State tight end Jelani Woods, the return of Grant Misch, and the stable of running backs has Mendenhall thinking that UVA’s traditional run game breaks through in 2021.
“I like the possibilities and it's probably our best chance ever in the time I've been at UVA to have the number of resources with our offensive line almost all intact and returning with a great new tight end that's already arrived from Oklahoma State (Jelani Woods) and Grant Misch returning.
“There's a physical presence that it could be where this then is the year where UVA’s run game finally breaks through. We had to be pretty creative but i've liked the production through Bryce and Brennan a year ago, it's just taken some pretty creative options, so I'd like to get more traditional without losing the creativity. O'd like more impact and more production from traditional-ish type of runs.”
UVA eight of 15 spring practices remaining. They return to the practice field on Tuesday.
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April 12, 2021 at 07:07PM
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UVA Spring Football: Traditional run game is a top priority - 247Sports
"traditional" - Google News
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