Virginia Adds Kobe Pace to Strong Running Back Group in 2023

Getting into the offseason, operating again was not in the direction of the highest of the precedence listing for Tony Elliott as he regarded in the direction of the switch portal to complement his roster for the 2023 Virginia soccer season. With a number of gifted and skilled tailbacks set to return subsequent fall, the Cavaliers have been way more targeted on bolstering the offensive line, cornerbacks, and vast receiver models this offseason. 

In a press convention final week, Tony Elliott mentioned that he instructed his employees that an exception might be made if a operating again with outstanding expertise or a earlier connection to the UVA teaching employees grew to become accessible within the switch portal. 

Clemson operating again Kobe Tempo checked each of these bins.

Certain sufficient, Tempo dedicated to UVA the day earlier than the early signing interval started and formally signed with the Cavaliers the following day, reuniting together with his former offensive coordinator, Tony Elliott. With Tempo within the fold, Virginia immediately has fairly the arsenal of succesful operating backs on the roster for the 2023 soccer season. 

On Tuesday, senior operating again Perris Jones introduced that he can be returning to UVA for the 2023 season, exercising his remaining 12 months of eligibility. A former walk-on, Jones earned the beginning operating again job after a robust fall camp and made his first-career begin within the season-opener in opposition to Richmond. He rushed for 104 yards and a landing, changing into simply the fifth Cavalier operating again in program historical past to eclipse the century mark in his first begin. Jones averaged 4.5 yards per rush in 2022, totaling 365 speeding yards and two touchdowns and likewise added two receiving touchdowns. 

Virginia additionally returns Xavier Brown, who had a outstanding influence as a real freshman this season. He appeared in all ten video games, speeding for 210 yards and a landing and averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Based mostly on his efficiency in 12 months 1, Brown has the potential to be one of the dynamic operating backs Virginia has had in a very long time. 

Tony Elliott famous in his press convention final week that he’s significantly excited to see what Cody Brown can do in his second 12 months in this system after transferring from Miami. Brown was a late switch addition to the UVA soccer program final Might, placing him delayed compared to the opposite operating backs who participated in spring soccer. That, mixed with some harm troubles, led to Brown showing in solely three whole video games and recording simply two speeding makes an attempt this season. 

“I am enthusiastic about [Cody Brown] as a result of he is one other massive physique, downhill form of man, however he did not have the offseason, going by the switch course of, that he wanted. So I am enthusiastic about him,” Elliott mentioned. A former consensus four-star prospect popping out of highschool, Brown might probably be a significant factor for the Cavaliers in 2023 after having a whole 12 months to get acclimated to this system. 

Amaad Foston missed all the 2022 season after tearing his ACL in August and has but to look in a sport by his first two years at UVA. However earlier than his harm, Foston was making a strong case to earn some touches out of the backfield. The 6’0″, 218-pound sophomore was one of many lead operating backs final spring, recording 37 yards and a landing on 14 carries within the spring sport. If he can get again to his pre-injury stage of play when he’s cleared subsequent 12 months, Amaad Foston might be a critical contender in the direction of the highest of UVA’s operating again depth chart. 

Mike Hollins has a protracted highway to restoration after he was shot within the again in the course of the tragic taking pictures that killed three of his UVA teammates on November thirteenth, however Hollins has resolved that he’ll play soccer once more. Tony Elliott has made it clear that there can be a spot for Hollins when he is ready to return. In fact, nobody can be speeding Hollins again to the soccer discipline, however it appears he’s very decided to play subsequent fall. If that finally ends up being the case, Mike Hollins will give Virginia one other sturdy, skilled ball service. 

Virginia misplaced fifth-year Ronnie Walker Jr. to the switch portal, however the Cavaliers added three gifted operating backs on early signing day, as Clemson switch Kobe Tempo joined highschool recruits Donté Hawthorne and Noah Vaughn. 

“We really feel actually good about Donté [Hawthorne] and Noah [Vaughn], the 2 highschool guys,” mentioned Tony Elliott. “Kobe [Pace] was a man that I recruited and in that class, I did not supply that many guys… him and a pair different high-profile guys. When he bought to Clemson, we knew, like okay this man goes to be particular. However clearly, Travis [Etienne] was nonetheless there and he needed to wait his flip. After which the 2 guys that got here after are actually actually good, so there’s three NFL operating backs, for my part, in that room.”

A 5’10”, 205-pound senior, Kobe Tempo involves Virginia after a three-year profession at Clemson by which he totaled 793 yards and 9 touchdowns on 152 carries in 28 video games. Tempo had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2021, Tony Elliott’s remaining season teaching the Clemson offense, speeding for 641 yards and 6 touchdowns and averaging 6.2 yards per carry, tied for second within the ACC that 12 months. Though harm troubles brought on Tempo to wrestle to see vital enjoying time this season, Tony Elliott is aware of that Tempo has the potential to be a star operating again if given the chance. 

“He is executed it on the highest stage in one of many greatest applications, one of the aggressive conditions, so I believe he brings a aggressive toughness that we’re in search of,” Elliott mentioned of Kobe Tempo.

Virginia is dedicated to establishing a succesful run sport and whereas there are nonetheless some vital query marks up entrance on the offensive line, there is no such thing as a doubt that the Cavaliers have the horses within the backfield to have a profitable speeding assault in 2023. 

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