A look ahead at the 2021 UVa football offense

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The Cavaliers finished up a season unlike any other at 5-5 after a disappointing 33-15 loss to Virginia Tech on Dec. 12.

But it was not a disappointing season on the whole. Coach Bronco Mendenhall, his assistants, the medical staff, and the players did a nice job of navigating the coronavirus pandemic, and as a result, only a few players missed games because of the virus. The Wahoos ended up putting together a solid campaign, all things considered. Despite a lot of injuries, the team won four of its final five games. I would say the team only played two “bad” games – versus N.C. State and, unfortunately, at Virginia Tech. I would’ve gladly traded a loss to someone else for a win over the Hokies, but alas.

It is time to look forward. There are many building blocks in place for a good year in 2021.

As has been noted several times, the NCAA said this year would not count against the eligibility of any player. On Dec. 21, UVa announced nine players are taking advantage of the NCAA's ruling and returning to Charlottesville for another year. They are, in alphabetical order, DE Mandy Alonso, DE Adeeb Atariwa, FS Joey Blount, OLB Elliott Brown, CB De’Vante Cross, OG Chris Glaser, CB Nick Grant, WR Ra’Shaun Henry and OT Ryan Nelson.

In addition, these players were already returning for a fifth or sixth year: CB Darrius Bratton, LS Danny Caracciolo, OL Tommy Christ, WR Hayden Mitchell, C Olusegun Oluwatimi, OT Ryan Swoboda, WR Keytaon Thompson, and OG Gerrik Vollmer.
Also, it looks like the Wahoos are picking up a transfer CB from Louisville in Anthony Johnson, who tweeted out his announcement Dec. 21, and a transfer TE from Oklahoma State in Jelani Woods, who tweeted out his announcement Dec. 24. Both were redshirt juniors this season, so per the NCAA's ruling, I expect both will still be redshirt juniors for UVa in 2021 with the option of playing two seasons in Charlottesville.
Whew, OK. With all of that as a backdrop, let's go through the roster and look at the probable returners as we look toward next fall.

First up, I am going to discuss the offense. I'll get to the defense and special teams at a later date. Players that have graduated or have left are labeled red, returners are green, and any newcomers are blue.

This article does not include an exhaustive listing of the freshman class. However, my Hoos Place colleague Karl Hess did a series detailing the Class of 2021 first-years that you can check out: Karl's offense article. Karl's defense article.

Quarterbacks: Brennan Armstrong (in photo at Clemson) played in 2020 as a redshirt sophomore. He will be back for his fourth year in the program and second year as a starter. The Ohio native got better as the season progressed. In the first 2.5 games, Armstrong tallied three touchdowns compared to six interceptions. After he returned from his concussion, he recorded 13 TDs compared to five INTs in six games. Armstrong's season average for passing yards per game ended up surpassing Bryce Perkins' career average for passing yards per game, and Armstrong got close to eclipsing Perkins in rushing. Over his two seasons, Perkins recorded 230.3 passing yards and 62.7 rushing yards per game. This year, Armstrong posted 235.2 passing yards and 61.3 rushing yards per game.

In terms of accuracy, Perkins has Armstrong beat there, at 64.5%. Armstrong completed 58.6% of his passes for 2,117 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. This is an area where Armstrong needs to improve. But it is worth noting that Armstrong takes more shots downfield than Perkins did, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt compared to Perkins' 7.4 for his career and even lower in 2019 at 7.1. Armstrong added 552 yards and five TDs on the ground. He is probably a better runner than people gave him credit for coming into the season. Having Armstrong return as a second-year starter is a major boon for the Cavaliers on the field and in the locker room as a leader. With hopefully a full offseason of practice, I see Armstrong's 2021 campaign more resembling his performance during the second half of the 2020 season.

Behind Armstrong, Virginia loses an experienced backup in Lindell Stone but probably receives a talent upgrade at the position overall. Ira Armstead played as a true freshman in three games and showed some flashes of athleticism before suffering a season-ending injury. He still needs to develop as a passer. Two dual-threat true freshmen enter the program: 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jacob Rodriguez out of Texas, and 6-1, 200-pound Jay Woolfork out of Richmond. Both are rated as three-star prospects, with Rodriguez receiving a higher grade than Woolfork. No doubt they will be learning at first. In a pinch, Keytaon Thompson can be a backup and take some snaps under center as a wildcat QB, as we saw already at times, though it looks like he will mostly be used as a runner and receiver. He had only three pass attempts in 2020. The quarterback room may lack some experience behind Armstrong, but it is still in good shape.

Running backs: Shane Simpson finished the season with fewer carries than Wayne Taulapapa, but he took over the starting duties late, and Taulapapa saw his carries decrease. Simpson is probably a bit better with more wiggle, and after six collegiate seasons (five injury-riddled ones at Towson and one at UVa), he will try to make an NFL roster. Simpson finished with 278 yards (5.1 ypc) and two scores. He also caught 13 passes, with one going for a 71-yard TD versus North Carolina.

Despite the loss of Simpson, the running back room should be in good shape and is in much better condition than at the beginning of the 2020 campaign, when Simpson and Taulapapa were the only active scholarship backs.

Taulapapa recorded 395 yards (4.5 ypc) and five scores. He also caught 12 passes. He saw his touches and TDs decrease from 2019, but his yards per carry went up to 4.5 from 4.1. Taulapapa was a true junior in 2020, but older than most juniors, because he went on a two-year Mormon mission before first playing for Virginia in 2018. I still like Taulapapa and think the 'Hoos could get even more production out of him. Even if he has hit his ceiling, though, it will be nice to have his veteran leadership back, and we know what we can expect out of him.

Ronnie Walker's 2020 was a bust after his celebrated transfer from Indiana. A true junior, it took him a long time to gain eligibility from the NCAA, and then he was ill and did not take the field right away for Virginia once he did become eligible. He ended up getting 23 carries spread across the Louisville, Abilene Christian, and BC games. He finished with 66 yards (2.9 ypc) and no TDs. It will be interesting to see if he can ever make a splash for the Wahoos.

Mike Hollins opted out of the 2020 season but is expected back. In 2019 as a true freshman, Hollins showed good burst through the hole at times and finished with 21 carries for 112 yards (5.3 ypc) and three scores. He had a costly fumble at Miami. If he hasn't fallen out of the good graces of the staff and is in good shape throughout the spring and into the fall, I expect his workload to increase.

I'm not sure where else to include Keytaon Thompson but this is as good a place as any since his primary role was as a ball carrier. But he will do anything the coaches ask of him, and I'm sure that helped him earn an invitation back for a fifth collegiate year. He logged time as a wildcat QB, running back, and wideout. His 2020 totals: 39 carries for 234 yards (6 ypc) and three TDs and seven catches for 98 yards and three more scores. It is awesome that UVa's Swiss Army knife is returning to the fold. He adds an element of creativity and surprise to the offense.

In September, 5-foot-9, 205-pound Harvard RB Devin Darrington said he was transferring to Virginia. He last played for the Crimson as a true junior in 2019, so he may have one or two years remaining, depending on what he ends up desiring. That season, he recorded 734 yards (4 ypc) and seven scores while also adding six receptions. Hopefully he can provide the 'Hoos a boost. Finally, 6-foot, 210-pound true freshman Amaad Foston out of Georgia has already generated some buzz among fans, so we will have to see if he earns an immediate role.

Wide receivers: Terrell Jana, a Canadian who attended Woodberry Forest School, is the main loss out of this group as he will try his hand at the NFL or CFL. His solid play will be missed, but he wasn't targeted as often in 2020 as in 2019 and saw his receptions fall from 73 to 36 and his TDs from three to one. Redshirt freshman Dorien Goddard opted out of the season and entered the transfer portal in November. St. Anne's-Belfield product and former UVa baseball player Jalen Harrison entered the portal as well. He did not record a catch despite starting the season on the two-deep.

Billy Kemp IV played as a true junior in 2020 and led the team and was second in the ACC with 67 receptions after posting 35 in 2019. He scored one TD, perhaps part of the reason why he was only named honorable mention all-ACC and not on one of the main teams. His toughness and sure hands will be welcomed back to the unit. I just hope we stop throwing him fades down the sideline, because he is small at 5-9. His role on quick hitters in the open field reminds me of Olamide Zaccheaus.

Lanky Lavel Davis Jr. was a breakout star as a true freshman, grabbing jump balls and snagging four receptions and two TDs in the opener against Duke. He did hit a lull in the middle of the season, going catchless against Wake Forest and sitting out the Miami and North Carolina games, but he finished strong with 11 receptions and two scores over the final four games. He led the team in receiving yards at Virginia Tech with 75. His 25.8 yards per catch led the ACC by more than 5 yards. The future is exciting for Davis, who should develop an even greater rapport with Armstrong.

Ra'Shaun Henry has opted to come back for a sixth collegiate season and a second in Charlottesville after transferring from St. Francis (Pa.). After recording 90 catches in 2019 at the FCS level, it took him a while to get going as a 'Hoo. He didn't record a catch until the Miami game, Virginia's fifth contest. When Henry scored a TD on his first catch against BC, he owned the statistical oddity of scoring on every touch up to that point, four catches for four touchdowns. He finished that BC matchup with three catches for 95 yards. On the year, he collected seven catches. I like what he brings to the team and was surprised he was not targeted more. I think another year in the system and working with Armstrong will lead to a more productive 2021.

Tavares Kelly was a true junior in 2020 and finished with nine catches, down from 14 in 2019 and 10 in 2018. There has always seemed to be ample buzz around Kelly due to his speed, but I have yet to see it pay off with production, and his size at 5-8, 160 pounds is an issue. I am tired of offensive coordinator Robert Anae running jet sweeps with Kelly for 2-3 yards. Injuries and other issues have hampered his career as well. I won't be holding my breath for Kelly to figure things out and get more targets in 2021.

Two promising wideouts were bit by the injury bug and never got a chance to show their stuff in 2020. One is Dontayvion Wicks. He was expected to have a breakout sophomore campaign after three catches and a score in 2019, but he got hurt in August. The other is sophomore Ugo Obasi. He has created buzz in the past couple of preseasons.

Demick Starling played in six games as a true freshman and caught four passes, including one TD versus Abilene Christian. Nathaniel Beal III, another big target at 6-4, played in three games as a redshirt freshman but did not record a catch. Hayden Mitchell returns for a fifth year after two catches, but his biggest moment was earning a scholarship in the preseason.

This position group seems loaded with starters and depth, and true freshmen Jesiah Davis and Malachi Fields (Monticello High School) will try to work their way into the mix as well.

Tight ends: Tony Poljan has decided to forgo his extra year and will enter the NFL Draft. But UVa picked up another transfer at this spot recently in Oklahoma State's Jelani Woods, who played in 2020 as a redshirt junior. Woods is as tall as Poljan at 6-7 and even bigger at 275 pounds. He had 31 receptions and four scores over three seasons with the Cowboys. His best campaign came in 2019 when he recorded 16 receptions and was named all-Big 12 honorable mention by the league's coaches. Poljan had trouble holding onto the ball at times and still finished second on the team in receptions with 38. I think as a huge target with experience, Woods should have ample opportunity to leave his mark as a Wahoo.

Part of the reason Woods could thrive is because Virginia has no other proven tight ends on the roster. Redshirt sophomore Grant Misch played in eight games but did not catch a pass after recording just one in 2019. Joshua Rawlings holds promise as a 6-5 recruit that enrolled last January, but he did not see time in 2020.

Jack Witmer will be a 6-6 true freshman and could see time if he impresses in the preseason.

With the plethora of wideouts at UVa's disposal, some big and tall, the lack of a productive tight end does not bother me, but I am hopeful one of these guys will be an additional weapon for the Cavaliers.

Offensive line: This is another group that appears to be in great shape after tying Virginia Tech for second in the ACC by giving up only two sacks per game (Clemson was first at 1.64).

Senior left guard Dillon Reinkensmeyer is the only player of note leaving. He started the first seven games of the year before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Editor's note: Originally, I had Penn State transfer tackle Alex Gellerstedt returning to provide depth after he opted out of the 2020 season. But given the fact that he was not included in the list released by the school of fourth-year and fifth-year players returning, I think he is moving on.

At left tackle, redshirt junior Ryan Nelson will return after starting all 10 games. Depth includes true junior Bobby Haskins and redshirt junior Tommy Christ. Redshirt sophomore Joe Bissinger slid into Reinkensmeyer's spot, starting the final three games, and did a good job. Redshirt junior Gerrik Vollmer was listed as the backup at left guard at the end of the season. Redshirt junior Olusegun Oluwatimi will return at starting center after another solid year. In 2019, he was honorable mention all-ACC. Vollmer also was listed behind Oluwatimi at the end of 2020. Senior Chris Glaser started every game at right guard and was named honorable mention all-ACC. He will be back for a fifth year. Redshirt sophomore Derek Devine was listed as the backup at RG. Redshirt junior Ryan Swoboda returns after starting every game at right tackle. His backups included redshirt freshman Jonathan Leech and Christ.

There is a lot of experience coming back in this group, but true freshman tackle Logan Taylor out of Alexandria is Virginia's second-highest rated recruit in the Class of 2021, so it could be tough to keep him off the field.

All right, that is my look at the offense. Check back later when I preview the defense.

Photo credit: UVa Athletics

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