:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56828841/usa_today_10298727.0.jpg)
In-season recruiting is tough for football coaches. With the weekly rhythm of game prep and practice, there isn’t much time left for reviewing film or calling your top targets, much less traveling to watch games in person or visit a recruit at home. Bye weeks are an important time to play catch-up.
Bye weeks that follow a massive, nationally televised win? That’s a chance to make some MAJOR headway.
And the Virginia Cavaliers wasted no time seizing that opportunity.
CANT WAIT to land in the #702 to add another to #TheCrash ⚔️ #OLLTW
— Garett Tujague (@Coach2J) September 23, 2017
Gotta Love it when you land in Vegas and everyone wants to give you a high five #HoosRising #WaHooWa ⚔️
— Garett Tujague (@Coach2J) September 23, 2017
Offensive line coach was off to Las Vegas on Saturday morning. Who’s in Las Vegas, you ask? Bishop Gorman offensive lineman Jacob Isaia. Virginia is considered one of the top contenders for the Under Armour All-American, along with Michigan State, Minnesota, and Vanderbilt.
It also appears Tujague has embraced the safari-themed approach to position group naming, adding #TheCrash and the rhino emoji to the #Silverbacks of Vic So’oto’s defensive line moniker.
Speaking of silverbacks, So’oto was on the road a little closer to Charlottesville.
Live from the 7-5!!
— Vic So'oto (@Coach_Sooto) September 23, 2017
2019
Been Smiling all day #HoosRising#SILVERBACKS
No major sleuthing work is necessary to determine who So’oto was visiting: 2019 Indian River defensive tackle Ben Smiley announced he’d received a scholarship offer from UVA five minutes after So’oto’s tweet, and So’oto retweeted Smiley’s post.
Honored to Receive a Scholarship offer from University Of Virginia #HoosRising pic.twitter.com/LpjubbDiUo
— Ben Smiley lll #9️⃣ (@BenSmiley9) September 23, 2017
Smiley is a four-star recruit, according to the 247 Composite, and is one of the top 10 in-state prospects for the class of 2019.
So’oto also gave a hint to his future travel plans.
Can't wait to be in the 808 to watch that 2018 put in work!!!#HoosRising18
— Vic So'oto (@Coach_Sooto) September 23, 2017
The 808 area code covers Hawaii. Virginia has a 2018 commitment from Honolulu defensive tackle Samson Reed, and recently offered 2019 4-star defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele.
With 20 commits already in the fold for 2018, there are only a few spots left for additional players to commit. These visits—plus whatever others the coaches take this week—will be augmented by two straight games the coaches can point to as exemplars of what their brand of Virginia football is SUPPOSED to look like.
We’ll see if that added ammo pays off in the coming weeks.