On Friday, Virginia picked up a three-star running back via transfer, someone Bronco Mendenhall eyed two years ago.
Ronnie Walker, a 5-foot-11 211-pounder from Hopewell High School near Richmond, announced he was coming back to his home state after playing at Indiana for two seasons. He will apply for a waiver to be immediately eligible. Whenever he starts playing, Walker will have two years of eligibility remaining.
As a Hoosier, Walker recorded 59 carries for 221 yards (3.7 ypc) with two touchdowns, both scored in 2018. In 2019, he also caught 12 passes for 112 yards and a score. His playing time was eaten into by the emergence of Stevie Scott, a 6-2, 231-pound behemoth who entered the Hoosiers program with Walker in 2018. Scott has compiled 20 rushing TDs and almost 2,000 yards in two years, including a 31-carry, 204-yard performance against Virginia when Indiana beat the Cavaliers 20-16 in a rainstorm in 2018.
Walker originally signed with Indiana over a number of ACC schools, including UVa, Virginia Tech, Duke, North Carolina, and Syracuse, and Michigan State was also on his offer list.
Walker’s commitment comes at a good time for Virginia, because rising senior running backs PK
Kier and Lamont Atkins left the program in February. They combined for 47 attempts, 252 yards, and two touchdowns in 2019, so though their workload wasn’t heavy, they provided good, experienced depth. That’s why it would be a bonus for Walker to become eligible in 2020. Possible backfield fill-ins RJ Harvey and Seneca Milledge also aren't returning.
In 2019, rising junior Wayne Taulapapa was the bell cow (if Virginia really had one, since Bryce Perkins was such a major portion of the offense), with 116 carries for 486 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rising sophomore Mike Hollins tallied 21 carries for 112 yards and three scores as a true freshman.
In other football news, defensive line coach Vic So'oto announced in February he was leaving UVa for USC and his native state of California. So'oto was a graduate assistant in 2016 and was promoted to DL coach in 2017 after Ruffin McNeil left for Oklahoma. So'oto could often be seen jumping around on the sideline during Virginia games. He was known for his infectious energy and was becoming known as a very solid recruiter.
Mendenhall didn't waste much time filling the spot, hiring former Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim, who starred as a Cavalier from 2005-08. Sintim played in the NFL for the Giants from 2009-11. He was a graduate assistant under Mike London at Virginia in 2014 and was most recently the co-special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Delaware. He is a Virginian (Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge), so he could boost in-state recruiting in that area. Though it hurts to lose someone like So'oto, who looked like a rising star, I think the Sintim hire is a solid one.
Ronnie Walker, a 5-foot-11 211-pounder from Hopewell High School near Richmond, announced he was coming back to his home state after playing at Indiana for two seasons. He will apply for a waiver to be immediately eligible. Whenever he starts playing, Walker will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Excited to say that I will be transferring to the University of Virginia 🔷⚔️🔶 #TheStandard #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/GZPnuMmR23— Ronnie Walker Jr. (@RonnieWalker32) April 17, 2020
As a Hoosier, Walker recorded 59 carries for 221 yards (3.7 ypc) with two touchdowns, both scored in 2018. In 2019, he also caught 12 passes for 112 yards and a score. His playing time was eaten into by the emergence of Stevie Scott, a 6-2, 231-pound behemoth who entered the Hoosiers program with Walker in 2018. Scott has compiled 20 rushing TDs and almost 2,000 yards in two years, including a 31-carry, 204-yard performance against Virginia when Indiana beat the Cavaliers 20-16 in a rainstorm in 2018.
Walker originally signed with Indiana over a number of ACC schools, including UVa, Virginia Tech, Duke, North Carolina, and Syracuse, and Michigan State was also on his offer list.
Walker’s commitment comes at a good time for Virginia, because rising senior running backs PK
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| Ronnie Walker starred at Hopewell High School near Richmond and chose Indiana over Virginia and a host of other schools in 2018. (Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports) |
In 2019, rising junior Wayne Taulapapa was the bell cow (if Virginia really had one, since Bryce Perkins was such a major portion of the offense), with 116 carries for 486 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rising sophomore Mike Hollins tallied 21 carries for 112 yards and three scores as a true freshman.
In other football news, defensive line coach Vic So'oto announced in February he was leaving UVa for USC and his native state of California. So'oto was a graduate assistant in 2016 and was promoted to DL coach in 2017 after Ruffin McNeil left for Oklahoma. So'oto could often be seen jumping around on the sideline during Virginia games. He was known for his infectious energy and was becoming known as a very solid recruiter.
Mendenhall didn't waste much time filling the spot, hiring former Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim, who starred as a Cavalier from 2005-08. Sintim played in the NFL for the Giants from 2009-11. He was a graduate assistant under Mike London at Virginia in 2014 and was most recently the co-special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Delaware. He is a Virginian (Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge), so he could boost in-state recruiting in that area. Though it hurts to lose someone like So'oto, who looked like a rising star, I think the Sintim hire is a solid one.
We are excited to welcome @CoachSintim back to UVA as our new defensive line coach! One of the best to ever wear the 🔶⚔️🔷. #GoHoos— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) February 16, 2020
🔗https://t.co/7P9v5rrkoZ pic.twitter.com/Acn1Xpg33L
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