After entering the transfer portal last week, it didn't take long for
Olu Oluwatimi to see his phone blow up.
"I was in a training room, icing my hamstring, and my phone was on the charger, and when I got back, it was a lot of scrolling through voicemails, missed calls, text messages and all that," he told Wahoos247.
Oluwatimi made the decision to enter the transfer portal shortly after
Bronco Mendenhall announced he was stepping down this season, coaching his final Virginia game this month when they play in the bowl game.
"There was a lot that went into that decision. And I just kind of felt was the right decision for me," said Oluwatimi. "I spoke to Coach 2J [
Garett Tujague], I spoke to Coach Mendenhall, and they were all for it. I'm in a stressful time. Gotta make a decision coming up and see what's happening next next year, because, you know, I got to respect coach Elliott's time and the scholarships, and then I got to respect other schools with their scholarship situation."
The Virginia center missed Sunday's team meeting with new Virginia head coach
Tony Elliott because he was traveling - taking a visit to Michigan. However, he did not miss Elliott's introductory press conference on Monday afternoon.
“I don’t have any answers to that right now,” he said. “The Michigan visit was great. Coach Elliott seems great. So I’ve got some decisions to make coming up.”
Olu, who has been recruited by the likes of Michigan and Clemson after entering the transfer portal, told reporters he was expected to speak to Elliott later on Monday. According to UVA's starting center, he is set to play in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, and he is still open to staying at Virginia next season.
Oluwatimi admits going through the transfer process is certainly different.
"I'm asking questions when I go to places or when I'm on the phone with coaches, making sure that they can answer those those questions, because when you're 17.. you're looking at uniform, the facilities, you're looking at all. So this process, definitely different."
Oluwatimi is one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy. This trophy is annually awarded to most outstanding center in college football. Oluwatimi is the first UVA center to be a finalist for the award.
He has started all 12 games for Virginia in 2021 and has started 32-straight dating back to the 2019 season. This past season he has helped the Cavaliers average 515.8 yards per game of total offense, the third most of any team in the country. According to Pro Football Focus, he is ranked second-highest among all FBS centers with a 90.2 run blocking grade and only allowed three sacks and five QB hits in 2021. He earned Second Team All-ACC Honors.
I hope we can land him that run blocking grade

