Virginia’s chances of getting Jacob Holmes and Cazeem Moore back on the field this fall are still alive.
Tony Elliott said Monday after training camp practice in Charlottesville that the Cavaliers have been in contact with both former defensive linemen as they sort through whether either can return to the Hoos.
“That was a crazy deal, wasn’t it? It kind of came out of nowhere,” Elliott said Monday.
“I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t planning for that, but I am in an administrative standpoint and from a program standpoint to position Virginia to be successful in the future.”
Elliott said the situation remains in flux, but the school is working through the process while trying to keep the roster moving forward.
“I think, the challenging thing is, that after it came out, each day there is an update,” Elliott continued. “Right.
There’s more information with the intent. So, I think you’ve got to be very careful with the interpretation, so that you get it right.
But I”
The NCAA has already told its members via a clarification on Sunday evening that the injunction only applies to eligibility. It does not change transfer rules, roster-cap limits or revenue-share cap limits.
Elliott said UVA general manager Justin Speros has stayed busy trying to find answers.
“But the interest in a reunion between the players and UVA is real, but only if above board and that Sweneey’s ruling doesn’t get struck down during the NCAA’s appeal,” Elliott said what he would not to happen is for UVA to bring in fifth-year athletes only to be told later that they are not eligible.
“It’s the last thing I want to do to a young man,” Elliott said. “So, we’re going to position ourselves to be successful and competitive, but at the same time, we’re going to make sure we do things the right way.”
The complexities go beyond simply figuring out how Holmes and Moore fit.
Resources have been assigned to put the current roster together, and the Cavaliers started training camp last Wednesday.
Additionally, Elliott said he’d have to get any players acquired this late in the offseason in shape. He said the health and safety of those players would have to be addressed.
“For those guys who may have transitioned on to a different style of life from January,” he said, “that didn’t go through offseason training, spring ball or the summer workouts. So, an individual like that you’d have to get him in shape first and then get him in football shape.
“Then, you’ve got to integrate them into the team,” Elliott said, “and again you didn’t plan on those guys being part of your program, so you made decisions and went out and provided opportunities to guys that have been here and put in work. So, those are the dynamics of integrating those guys back into the team, especially with the newer guys you have on the roster.”
Holmes, a defensive tackle who spent his first three seasons at Fresno State, emerged as a force in passing-rush situations from the interior of Virginia’s defensive front last fall. The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder had 24 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks with the Cavaliers.
He’d certainly be the first defensive tackle off the bench in third-down and pass-rush situations again while serving as a backomond and Anthony Britto.
Moore, a defensive end, elevated his skills in his move up from FCS Elon to UVA while tallying 16 tackles, three sacks
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