Virginia knew the areas they wanted to assault: the trenches, quarterback, and secondary have been the important thing ones – but it surely wasn’t nearly bringing our bodies in, it was about bringing the fitting folks in.
So all of it got here all the way down to relationships.
“For me and my spouse, it was simply completely different really feel, there was a distinct vibe,” mentioned Devin Neal Sr, father to Virginia security Devin Neal Jr. “It wasn’t simply them making an attempt to exit and get the very best guys they may discover – it was none of that. It was about them going out and discovering the blokes that was going to be make this natural – constructing these relationships.
“It was everybody – beginning with the gentleman that picked us up on the airport to teach Elliott,” he continued. “Everybody that I talked to, it felt extra like I used to be speaking to a guardian than a coach… I can actually say that my son was legitimately wished, he simply wasn’t there to fill a roster spot.”
The employees additionally needed to reply some exhausting questions.
On December 11, Virginia defensive sort out coach Kevin Downing reached out to Hunter Osborne’s mom, Patricia Osborne – Downing was already speaking to her son, Hunter, for a number of days.
“He mentioned, I wished to speak as a result of we actually would really like for you simply to listen to us out,” recounted Patricia Osborne. “We have been like, Virginia? Who’s Virginia? And my husband knew of coach Elliott simply due to his affiliation with Clemson and the 2019 recreation towards the College of Alabama – and understanding that that he was the OC on the time, so he knew he was a wise coach. He knew he was someone that had gained earlier than. And so why not take the decision?”
The Osborne household shortly noticed the imaginative and prescient for this system however they nonetheless had issues.
“They have been good household males. That they had nice ethical compass,” she mentioned. “My husband is X’s and O’s – and he repeats this story to today about Coach Elliott’s imaginative and prescient for this system and the way he actually desires to win. And was requested, ‘properly, why have not you been related? What’s going on up right here?”
The Osbornes heard Elliott out. They heard about every step this program took – and every adversity they needed to overcome – however this was the time to take the subsequent step.
“He mentioned, ‘I’ve a possibility to construct a roster and construct it the fitting means,’” she mentioned “He mentioned, ‘I do know we will win. I imply, he actually stored saying, ‘I do know I can win. I would like folks like Hunter.’”
Hunter and his household have been offered.
“We may have went again to the SEC,” she mentioned. “Hunter made the choice that night time whereas we have been on one other go to, he mentioned, ‘it feels higher at Virginia… I consider in coach Elliott.’”
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