Virginia’s spring was built to be businesslike, and that was exactly the point.
There were no flashy highlight reels, no televised Spring Game, and even the scrimmages stayed tucked away on the practice fields rather than Scott Stadium. For a program trying to build on an 11-win season, the whole setup had a quieter, more workman-like feel. Tony Elliott said he welcomed it.
“I feel like this spring, in particular, we maximized every day that we were out there,” Elliott said. “In springs in the past, there’s been days where I’ve come off the practice field and been like I don’t know if we maximized that day because it was a lot more coaching culture and core values than it was fundamentals and scheme where this group it seemed like they just seamlessly transitioned very, very well.
The new guys bought in immediately so I wasn’t having to run around chasing guys to chase the ball or break to the ball or run on and off the field, just little things that matter so I think that helped us to maximize every day, which I think helped us from a depth standpoint too. A lot of guys got a lot of reps and have improved.
I like where we are.”
That spring approach matters because the offensive line is expected to be the hinge point of Virginia’s offense this fall. The group’s development, depth, and ability to keep everything moving will shape how the rest of the unit functions when the season starts. Elliott’s comments made clear that the work in the spring was aimed at exactly that: getting more players ready, getting more reps for more bodies, and making the line a strength the offense can lean on.
In Other News...
Virginia Is Battling For The Kind Of Wing It Desperately Needs
Virginias search for a wing who can fit the way Ryan Odom wants to build has turned toward Moussa Kamissoko, a highly regarded small forward in the 2027 class. The Cavaliers have already put an official offer on the table and made it clear they are serious about the 6-foot-8 prospect, who brings the kind of size and positional value that can be hard to find and even harder to land.
The challenge is obvious from here. Kamissoko is drawing attention from a long list of major programs, and Virginia has been in the mix since January, which means this one has had time to develop into a real recruiting battle rather than a quick pitch. With the process still expected to stretch out over the next several months, the Cavaliers will have to keep making their case if they want to stay in front for a player who could help solve a long-term need on the wing. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Is Suddenly Counting On Grunloh In A Much Bigger Way
Johann Grunloh is heading into the season with a very different kind of expectation hanging over him. The 7-foot Virginia center arrived as a player still finding his footing, but coach Ryan Odom has seen enough physical growth to believe Grunloh can handle a much bigger workload, with more minutes and more responsibility as the Cavaliers reshape their frontcourt.
For Virginia, the timing matters as much as the development. Grunlohs size gives the Cavaliers a needed presence around the rim after Ugonna Onyenso moved on to the NBA, and Odom also wants him doing more than just anchoring the paint. If Grunloh can rebound, push the ball and help start fast breaks, he could become one of the more important pieces of the season before long. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Elliotts 2027 Class Puts Virginias Recruiting Identity Under The Microscope
Virginias 2027 football recruiting class is still in the early stages, but the early shape of it says plenty about Tony Elliotts approach. The group sits 67th nationally on 247Sports and near the bottom of the ACC, with 15 commitments made up mostly of three-star prospects. It also fits the broader pattern of Elliotts staff, which has tried to build through player development and supplement the roster with transfers while continuing to work the in-state high school pipeline.
The part that will keep drawing attention is how much room there still is for this class to change the conversation. Virginia has not yet landed any of the states top 15 2027 prospects, and the current ranking leaves little margin for error if the Cavaliers want to climb into a more competitive neighborhood by Signing Day. For a program trying to define its recruiting identity, this class is becoming a useful snapshot of where the staff is comfortable shopping and how far it still has to go. [Read more 🡒]