What If UVA Landed the Best in Virginia? Tony Elliott’s In-State Push Might Hold the Answer
When Varina High’s Damari Carter committed to UVA on July 7, just a day after Oscar Smith’s Jayden Covil pledged to the Hoos, it felt like more than just a good weekend on the recruiting trail. It felt like a signal. Head coach Tony Elliott is doubling down on in-state talent — and if this trend holds, it could reshape the future of Virginia Football. Because the biggest “what if” surrounding this program has always been: What if UVA could actually keep the best players in Virginia… in Virginia?
Jay Ballard
7/8/20252 min read
A Talent-Rich State, An Untapped Pipeline
Virginia consistently ranks among the top 10 states for high school football talent. Yet UVA has struggled to lock down its borders. Top prospects routinely head to the SEC, Big Ten, or even rivals like UNC and Virginia Tech.
Elliott was candid last December: “We’ve got six kids from Virginia. None of them are in the top 10.”
That’s the kind of stat that holds a program back — especially when so much elite talent lives within a few hours of Charlottesville. But recent commitments like Carter, Covil, and Rustburg’s Alex Dunn suggest that narrative might be changing.
These are smart, early wins in a critical long game.
Why In-State Recruiting Is the Key
If UVA could start landing even half of Virginia’s top 10 prospects each year, the impact would be massive:
Stronger Identity: Local players bring pride, loyalty, and a connection to the fan base that’s hard to replicate — because there’s just something different about cheering for a kid from Highland Springs, Hampton, Oscar Smith, or Stone Bridge wearing the V-Sabre.
Recruiting Momentum: Elite kids attract other elite kids. One big in-state win can spark a wave. An early pledge from a top of the class 2027 names like Chris Whitehead, Iveon Lewis, or Carter Jones would be massive.
Culture Fit: Virginia athletes understand the values, the rivalries, and what it means to represent the commonwealth.
Building Trust — and Bringing Talent Back
Elliott’s approach emphasizes relationships, development, and belief. That’s why Covil chose UVA over bigger brands. That’s why Carter picked the Hoos despite interest elsewhere.
It’s also why Andre Green Jr., a former high-profile Virginia recruit who left the state, transferred back to UVA. He’s a living example of the message: you don’t have to leave home to grow.
Where It’s Going
UVA’s 2026 class is still forming, but with Carter, Covil, Dunn, and others on board early, Elliott has a chance to build something that reflects the state — and grows with it.
While many of the 2026 top names in Virginia have already committed to the likes of Michigan, Penn State, and Clemson, there are still plenty of good prospects left. If the Hoos can finally land more of the state's highly ranked names like Darius Gray or JaySean Richardson, the entire tone of UVA recruiting changes. Recruiting wins in-state with the 2026 class can only bode well for even more wins with the 2027 and 2028 prospects.
Final Thought: The Virginia Foundation
Tony Elliott knows UVA isn’t going to win recruiting battles with hype alone, but if he can keep stacking trust-based wins with in-state athletes, and show them what’s possible in Charlottesville, the tide will eventually turn.
Because the truth is Virginia doesn’t need to recruit everywhere to build a winner, it just needs to win more recruiting battles in Virginia. Let’s hope the progress Coach Elliott is continuing to make in state eventually leads to the top names in the state wearing orange and blue more often than not. Go Hoos!