The Virginia Cavaliers football team knew that they were going to have to replace one of their best running backs in recent memory, but what they did not expect was that less than three weeks before the 2019 season kicks off there doesn’t seem to be a clear cut favorite to start.
After Jordan Ellis graduated and moved on to the NFL, he left a hole in the UVA backfield that is going to be tough to fill. Ellis rushed 215 times last season for a total of 1026 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a mainstay for the Hoos on offense, staying healthy and giving them the consistency needed at the running back position. Now that he is gone, Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall is looking at several players to step up and fill the hole Ellis left.
Let’s take a look at the bevy of options Mendenhall has at the running back position, starting with the ones that seem to be the front runners for the job at this time.
After spring practice was over, sophomore Wayne Taulapapa surprised everyone with the way he played and was listed at the top of the depth chart. So far in camp it doesn’t appear that he has done anything to fall further down the depth chart, but he also doesn’t seem to have solidified his spot as the starter.
PK Kier missed spring practice with a concussion so we aren’t sure how that would have changed things with Taulapapa coming out on top then. Kier is a 6’0 200 pound junior who is the most experienced back on the roster. Kier had 26 attempts for 80 yards in the 2018 season. Kier appears to be right up there with Taulapapa at the moment for the starting job, but a new face has appeared to make this a three man race.
True freshman Mike Hollins arrived on grounds at UVA in early June. Since then he has impressed everyone on the staff with his talents. Hollins was a 3 star recruit out of high school when he was recruited by Mendenhall. Even though he was only a 3 star, Hollins picked up offers from several Power 5 teams such as Alabama, Missouri, Utah and Houston. Hollins gives them the speed that Kier is lacking, but Kier appears to be the hard hitting back.
After the top three, there are several more running backs on the roster that give the Hoos plenty of depth. Junior Lamont Atkins had 4 attempts for 33 yards in 2018, Chris Sharp is a 6’1 200 pound senior who had 11 attempts for 40 yards with one touchdown in 2017. Sharp only had 2 attempts for 8 yards last season, and added 5 receptions for 34 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior Jamari Peacock is also listed on the depth chart, but he has had very limited time at the position.
True Freshman Seneca Milledge seems to have the most upside when you look at future stars, but the log jam at the position could send him to a redshirt year unless he impresses during camp. Milledge could also be moved to the receiver position this season because his talent seems too great to Be kept off the field in 2019. Milledge is a 5’’6 160 pound freshman out of Ft. Myers Florida where he rushed 74 times or 678 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season. What seems to impress everyone is Milledge’s speed. The consensus seems to be that whenever he is on the field, Milledge will be the fastest player out there. In high school, Milledge won the state championship in the 100 meters, and long jump. He also anchored his 4×100 relay team to a gold medal.
Milledge doesn’t get mentioned very often compared to Hollins, Kier and Taulapapa, which seems to indicate that he may be a redshirt candidate but only time will tell how this battle shakes out.
Mendenhall referenced trying to find someone “Ellis-like” when asked about the situation at running back. He also said that he prefers having one primary running back instead of having a “by committee” system. Mendenhall says that it is too early to say whether he will sway from his primary back preference, but if the past is any indication of what he will do, the Hoos will come out of fall camp with one starter.
Replacing Jordan Ellis is not an easy task, but Bronco Mendenhall has the luxury of having plenty of options to look at as we head into the 2019 season.
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