CHARLOTTESVILLE — There was no effort to stop play at last year’s Military Bowl and announce that Olamide Zaccheaus had broken the Virginia record for receptions in a season.
For one thing, UVa was in the throes of a 49-7 loss to Navy. For another, the weather was miserable and nobody was in favor of an interruption.
Zaccheaus’ five receptions in that game left him with 85 for the season — two more than the previous record of 83 set by Billy McMullen in 2001.
“It’s history,” Zaccheaus said Saturday following UVa’s final spring scrimmage. “Realistically, I could have done a lot better. That’s one thing [assistant] coach [Marques] Hagans and I have talked about. I left a lot of plays out there.”
McMullen set the UVa receptions record in a season when he caught 12 touchdown passes. Zaccheaus had five TD receptions last season, and also scored once via the run.
He also was the Cavaliers’ second-leading rusher behind Jordan Ellis, averaging 6.7 yards on 27 carries for 182 yards.
“Olamide has separated himself as the primary playmaker on offense,” offensive coordinator Robert Anae said. “Now, it’s a matter of challenging the offensive staff. Can we create ways to get him the ball that’s quarterback friendly.”
Virginia does not distribute stats following its spring game and the players are in contrasting blue and white uniforms but do not have numbers.
“The most dynamic and productive player of the spring was Olamide,” head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “He really had a nice spring in terms of production and big plays and consistency.”
Given the running ability of transfer quarterback Bryce Perkins, the Cavaliers easily could add an option element to their offense.
“We haven’t had that in the past with Kurt [Benkert] or Matt Johns or any of the quarterbacks we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Zaccheaus said. “Meshing with the quarterback takes time but it’s not that big of a deal.
“[Perkins is] our guy at the moment. He’s very athletic, almost freakishly athletic.”
Versatility is the byword for Zaccheaus, who, as a freshman against Duke in 2015, threw a touchdown pass.
“Anything they want me to do, I’ve done it in the past,” he said. “I thought I was a lot more consistent in my playmaking ability than I have been in the past springs. I left a lot of plays on the field last year that I’ve made before.
“It’s just about making tough catches and staying on my feet and getting more yards after the catch.”
Zaccheaus, a 5-foot-8, 190-pounder from Philadelphia, needs 54 receptions to break McMullen’s career record of 210, but he’s got other things on his mind.
“I can’t be the guy in the background that I’ve been in the past,” Zaccheaus said. “I just kind of laid back and chilled but this team needs to hear what I’m thinking.
“We’ve shown flashes in the past. Now, we’ve just got to be consistent and sustain that high level of play and execution.”