 Mendenhall highlighted roster management as an area where the previous staff fell short.“What I call succession planning, just the methodical, simple filling of a roster to rebuild and develop, has not been done very well,” Mendenhall said, “and I love doing that part... [but] it’s hard to develop four years of players unless you have four years of players.”

Virginia was picked last in the ACC Coastal by all seven football experts at CBS Sports heading into the 2017 season.Despite the poor projections, the Cavaliers would surprise many by starting the season 5–1, including a 42–23 road win against a nationally ranked Boise State team.