The Virginia football team's 2010 season may have ended, but the program's rebuilding process is just underway. With his rocky first year behind him, coach Mike London has shifted his focus to solidifying his first recruiting class at Virginia.
A high number of defections and graduations means London will be able to bring in 25 recruits this offseason, the maximum number allotted by the NCAA. Offensive tackle Jay Whitmire - a four-star recruit out of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. - verbally committed to Virginia Tuesday after turning down offers from Maryland, Notre Dame, Penn State, Boston College, West Virginia and North Carolina.
The lineman became London's 24th recruit. The coach's pursuit of a large, talented recruiting class has been an ongoing process this year, and it only intensified when the 2010 season ended Saturday against Virginia Tech.
"The second season started soon after the game [against Virginia Tech] was over," London said. "And my opportunity to sit in someone's living room as far as recruiting on Sunday started that day and continues now. I'm looking to improve in all areas this season."
Above all else, London has sought to level the recruiting playing field in the commonwealth, a talent-rich state dominated by Virginia Tech in recent years. So far it appears London has followed through on that promise, as 15 of his 24 recruits are in-state students. In comparison, former Virginia coach Al Groh - who placed a greater emphasis on out-of-state recruiting - signed only 29 Virginia natives out of a total 62 recruits from 2008-10. London's local efforts have been boosted by the fact that Virginia Tech - which has only 10 scholarship seniors graduating this year - has a limited number of recruits it can bring in for next season. Tech coach Frank Beamer has lured 15 players, eight of which are from Virginia, thus far.
London's only quarterback commitment currently, David Watford, embodies this change in the dynamic of the two rival schools' recruiting efforts. Watford - a three-star signal-caller from Hampton, Va. - attended the same high school as 2010 ACC Player of the Year Tyrod Taylor and was expected by many to sign with Virginia Tech. Yet the speedy dual-threat quarterback sided with London, another Hampton, Va. native. Watford will become the first player from Hampton High School to attend Virginia since his cousin and former Cavalier great, Marques Hagans. Watford decided to enroll at Virginia in January to participate in spring practice.
Running back Clifton Richardson - one of London's three four-star recruits - represents another of Virginia's six commitments from the Tidewater area, a recruiting pipeline practically owned by the Hokies recently. The 6-foot, 195-pound tailback is the nation's 20th-ranked prospect at his position and the state's sixth-highest rated high-school player, according to Rivals.com. Meanwhile, wideout/cornerback Brandon Phelps rejected offers from Virginia Tech, Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame to come to Charlottesville.
"Winning breeds winning," London said. "Success breeds success. That's part of the profile of the student-athlete I'm looking for. The athletic part, they come from programs that have won numerous district, conference or state championships. They're individuals who have won and been recognized for their play. The more you can attract those type of young men and infuse them with the message that you have, then the better your team becomes."
Although his team's paltry 1-7 conference record suggests failure, London's first year at the helm without recruits of his own produced several significant statistical improvements. Ranked last in the ACC in scoring offense, total offense, pass efficiency, kickoff returns and sacks-against in 2009, the Cavaliers finished seventh or better in each of those categories in 2010.
Even with a number of seniors moving on next year, though, these numbers might continue to improve, as about 18 of the team's 22 starters are expected to return, London said."I think with that many guys coming back and the influx of some young new talent will provide an opportunity for improvement and better play."
Players' ages will be tossed out the window, however, when spring practice rolls around, as each position will be subject to open competition. This includes the quarterback position, where Marc Verica's departure will leave a vacancy ripe for the taking. Redshirt freshman Ross Metheny, freshman Michael Rocco, freshman Michael Strauss, freshman Miles Gooch and Watford will compete for the starting job.
Some Virginia fans still may be fuming over a third consecutive losing season, but history indicates that London's first year in charge was nothing out of the ordinary. Groh ended his first season at Virginia with a 5-7 record in 2001, and Beamer finished with a 2-9 mark after inheriting a floundering Virginia Tech program in 1987.
Still, London keeps his team looking forward rather than dwelling on the past. Watford and the rest of the recruits will officially sign with the team on National Signing Day Feb. 2.
"When I look back and I look at the season as far as what guys have done, the effort, the energy that was given out there, I'm pleased with the progress of it," he said. "But now it's time to raise it up another level. I'm excited about recruiting, I'm excited about the guys that are coming back and bringing this program forward"
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