Virginia Football’s Breakthrough Season Fuels In-State Recruiting Surge
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Something is brewing in Charlottesville - and it’s not just the crisp December air rolling through Scott Stadium. The Virginia Cavaliers are no longer just selling a vision.
They’re selling results, momentum, and a program on the rise. With a 10-2 record heading into the ACC Championship Game and a potential College Football Playoff berth on the line, UVA is turning heads - and turning recruiting tides, especially within its home state.
On Early Signing Day, Virginia locked in 14 high school seniors. Seven of them hail from the Commonwealth, a clear sign that the Cavaliers are reestablishing their footprint in a state that has long produced top-tier talent. That group includes wide receiver Damari Carter and defensive tackle JaySean Richardson from Richmond, defensive backs Alex Dunn (Roanoke) and Isaiah Harris (Charlottesville), offensive lineman Luke Hatfield (Haymarket), and athlete Jae’Oyn Williams (Woodbridge).
For head coach Tony Elliott, now in his fourth season at the helm, this class is about more than names on paper - it’s about validation. “The reception is a lot different than maybe day one for the staff back when we took over,” Elliott said Wednesday from the Hardie Center. “Each year we’ve made progress with building those relationships and then also showing the end product.”
That “end product” has taken a dramatic step forward. After back-to-back 3-win seasons to start Elliott’s tenure, Virginia jumped to 5-7 in 2024 and now sits at 10-2 - a leap that’s hard to ignore.
The Cavaliers capped their regular season with a statement 27-7 win over rival Virginia Tech, their first victory over the Hokies since 2019. And now, with an ACC title game looming against Duke, the national spotlight is squarely on the Hoos.
But the real shift is happening behind the scenes - in living rooms, high school gyms, and recruiting offices across Virginia. “You can work as hard as you want building those relationships,” Elliott said, “but until you can put the product on the field so that the young men, when they come, they can see it, they can touch it, they can feel it - it’s challenging.”
Now, that challenge is becoming an opportunity. The Cavaliers are no longer just the “good academic school” in recruiting conversations.
They’re a program with postseason aspirations, a packed Scott Stadium on Saturdays, and a growing reputation for development and opportunity. “We’ve got a little bit more to sell than just a vision,” Elliott added.
“It’s really coming to life.”
That message is resonating, and not just with high school seniors. Of the 14 signees on Wednesday, seven will enroll early and join the program in January - a notable number that includes quarterback Ely Hamrick, wide receiver Dylan Cope, offensive linemen Dylan Biehl and Mikey Gildea, linebacker Dallas Brannon, defensive back Jayden Covil, and the aforementioned Jae’Oyn Williams.
“I think that’s the largest number [of midyear freshman enrollees] we’ve had as a staff,” Elliott noted. That early integration could pay off quickly, especially with the program’s growing emphasis on player development.
As for whether more high school seniors will join the class during the late signing period in February? That’s still up in the air.
Elliott emphasized the importance of evaluating roster retention after the season before making any final decisions. “I imagine with all the coaching changes [around the country], there’ll be a bunch of guys that don’t sign early,” he said.
“So we’ll see what’s available and see if there’s a need, a fit.”
One area that’s already proven to be a major part of Virginia’s roster strategy is the transfer portal. From the end of the 2024 season to the start of training camp, the Hoos added 32 transfers - many of whom have made immediate impacts. With the portal set to open again next month, expect Virginia to be active once more.
“We want to continue to identify high school guys and have them developing,” Elliott said, “but also we’re going to have to supplement them with the portal.”
It’s a modern approach to roster building - balancing long-term development with short-term impact. And right now, it’s working. The Cavaliers are winning games, winning recruits, and winning back their place in the conversation - not just in Virginia, but across the college football landscape.
Saturday night’s showdown with Duke could be a defining moment. But regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: Virginia football has arrived at the table. And they’re not just guests - they’re building something meant to stay.