Virginia Cavaliers 2021 College Football Recruiting Class Overview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
Virginia had an up-and-down season in 2020 as the Cavaliers started 1-4 but rallied to win four out of their last five to finish at an even 5-5. Their biggest victories came on Oct. 31 against North Carolina (44-41) and on Nov. 14 against Louisville (31-17). The Cavaliers finished ninth in the ACC just behind rival Virginia Tech.
Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall is heading into his sixth season and he and his coaching staff are hoping this 2020 season was just a bump in the road and are looking to contend for the division and conference once again in 2021. The first step toward contending again was locking up a solid recruiting class, and that is just what this coaching staff accomplished.
The Cavaliers secured 24 letters of intent from talented prospects all over the country who are ready to make their mark on this program. The highest-rated recruit who signed with Virginia is in-state star four-star defensive end Bryce Carter from Colonial Heights. Carter is the fourth-best prospect in the state. The ninth-best prospect in Virginia also signed with the Cavaliers in four-star offensive tackle Logan Taylor from Alexandria.
Another talented recruit who will provide depth on the offensive line is three-star offensive guard Noah Josey from Brentwood (TN). Three-star dual-threat quarterback Jay Woolfolk from Richmond is rated as a Top 25 quarterback prospect in the nation. A transfer who will make an immediate impact for Virginia is cornerback Anthony Johnson. Johnson is joining the program from Louisville.
Virginia is going to use this recruiting class, which ranks fifth in the ACC and 29th nationally, to battle for their second division crown in three years and potentially contend for their first conference championship since 1995.
Virginia Cavaliers Early Period Signees
DT Bryce Carter, 6-3, 250, Life Christian Academy-Colonial Heights, VA
OT Logan Taylor, 6-8, 290, Episcopal HS-Alexandria, VA
DE Josh McCarron, 6-4, 215, Archbishop Murphy-Everett, WA
ATH Jacob Rodriguez, 6-2, 205, Rider HS-Wichita Falls, TX
OG Noah Josey, 6-5, 280, Brentwood Academy-Brentwood, TN
ATH West Weeks, 6-3, 215, Oconee County HS-Watkinsville, GA
OT Hugh Laughlin, 6-6, 285, Athens Academy-Athens, GA
WR Michael Green, 6-4, 215, Lafayette HS-Williamsburg, VA
QB Jay Woolfolk, 6-1, 200, Benedictine HS-Richmond, VA
DE Michael Diatta, 6-5, 265, Cane Ridge HS-Antioch, TN
WR Jesiah Davis, 6-2, 170, William Amos Hough HS-Cornelius, NC
ATH Javin Burke, 6-0, 202, Bradley Central HS-Cleveland, TN
OG Ty Furnish, 6-4, 250, Blessed Trinity Catholic-Roswell, GA
OT Charlie Patterson, 6-6, 275, Fellowship Christian School-Roswell, GA
S Aidan Ryan, 6-0, 192, James Monroe HS-Fredericksburg, VA
CB Micah Gaffney, 6-0, 160, Spanish Fort HS-Spanish Fort, AL
RB Amaad Foston, 5-11, 199, John Milledge Academy-Milledgeville, GA
S Langston Long, 6-2, 205, Christ School-Arden, NC
TE Jack Witmer, 6-6, 225, Cy-Fair HS-Cypress, TX
S Jonas Sanker, 6-2, 193, The Covenant School-Charlottesville, VA
DE Lorenz Terry, 6-5, 240, Fork Union Military Academy-Fork Union, VA
ATH James Jackson, 6-3, 200, North Cross School-Roanoke, VA
CB William Simpkins III, 6-2, 175, Quince Orchard HS-Gaithersburg, MD
ATH Malachi Fields, 6-4, 202, Monticello HS-Charlottesville, VA
Photo credit: USA Today; Virginia Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall