Their time to shine
Senior RBs Snelling, Johnson look to end on a high note
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
August 21, 2006

There have been a number of certainties during the past five years: death, taxes and Virginia football discussions concerning Michael Johnson and Jason Snelling.

At times, the chatter about the running backs has been a good thing. Other conversations about injuries and fumbles have not.

Regardless, both Johnson and Snelling are around stories of success and perseverance. Not every player from the prized recruiting class of 2002 can brag about having a degree from UVa.

Johnson and Snelling can - both graduated this year with degrees in anthropology.

Explaining many of the defections is impossible, but Johnson said it “just shows how life goes” for a college athlete.

“When we first got here, a couple of the upperclassmen said, ‘Look at the guys here now with you, by the time you get to your fourth year, your last year, they are not going to be around,’” Johnson recounted. “A couple of the older guys took us under their wings and told us what to do and what we had to do to stay here.

“Some of us took it in. Some of us bought in 100 percent, some of us bought in 50 percent.”

Johnson and Snelling would have completed their eligibility a year ago had it not been for one common thing - both running backs redshirted in 2003 and for different reasons.

For Snelling, it was an undisclosed medical reason that caused a setback in training camp and led to a redshirt.

For Johnson, it was simply a numbers game. The speedster from Newport News was stuck behind a long list of ball carriers, including the likes of Alvin Pearman, Wali Lundy and Marquis Weeks.

As tough as the year off was for both, it didn’t stop either from thinking about the season that starts in a couple weeks.

“We both had the redshirt year at the same time so we knew coming into our fifth year that it would be us looking back at the older guys that went before us,” Snelling said. “We just want to make sure that we make the year the best one possible.”

A new wrinkle has been added to picture. Snelling has dropped down to 233 pounds, allowing the former L.C. Bird standout to shift from fullback to tailback.

For Snelling, it was a dream coming true before his eyes.

“It has been a passion of mine since I was young,” Snelling said. “I’m getting the opportunity to play [tailback] at the college level. I’ve enjoyed being the fullback and just being out there playing football, but this year I get to be the guy, the running back. It’s exciting and I’m ready to take on that role.”

“This is my year and I have had some struggles over the past years and overcame them, and everything this year so far has been a positive for me.”

Snelling, who sports a career average of 5.9 yards per carry, just wants the ball.

“I’m real excited to get out there and show what I can do,” Snelling said. “I have been running the ball and have been a running back all my life.

“It’s just like riding a bike. It’s natural.”

While Snelling appears to be the favorite to land on the top of the depth chart, he has company. In addition to Johnson, Virginia also has sophomore Cedric Peerman and redshirt freshman Mikell Simpson in the mix.

Head coach Al Groh has typically avoided using a multiple-back system in the past but mentioned earlier this month that his team would take advantage of its backfield depth.

It helps that Johnson is healthy. The fifth-year senior is returning from surgery on his foot, a procedure that was done just days after the spring game.

“I’m 100 percent right now,” Johnson proclaimed on Thursday. “I can get out and run a 100-meter dash if I needed to and I promise nobody on this team and nobody probably in the ACC would beat me.”

Strong words, right? Nope. His teammates and Groh have raved about Johnson’s speed since the former Parade All-American committed.

Snelling sees other advancements in Johnson, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 199 pounds.

“Over the years he has developed into a lot better player,” Snelling said. “He has always had the speed, but now you get a more complete running back out of him. He can do it all.

“He’s bigger and he’s always been fast, but he is just a better football player now.”

Staying on the field will be the ultimate challenge for both. Their ability to stay healthy and avoid fumbles will likely determine playing time.

Snelling has fumbled six times, losing it to the opposition twice. Johnson also has six fumbles (one lost), including one in each of his season-opening games.

That’s not something either player wants to think or talk about, but one way or another, both know they will be talked about.

Just like death and taxes, it’s a certainty.

 

Payne making it hurt so good
By Sean McLernon / Daily Progress staff writer
August 21, 2006

Rashawn Jackson started chuckling to himself when he saw the rookie mistake.

Freshman Keith Payne, sitting next to Jackson during Virginia’s Meet the Team Day on Thursday, was considerably less efficient at signing autographs for the slew of fans at their table than the elder Jackson.

“If you write your whole name it takes so much longer,” Jackson told the freshman.

Payne may have been on campus for only a few weeks, but he had already given thought to how he should sign his name. He had no intention of changing it just to move the line along quicker.

“I’m sorry, that’s just my signature, player,” Payne responded. “Some people just write two letters and you don’t know who it was. My whole name is there so you can know.”

The hundreds of fans Payne signed for will have no trouble picking out his name among the other Cavalier signatures that fill up the team posters fans were given at the Scott Stadium entrance. His performance in training camp has had a similar effect, as the 6-foot-3, 243-pound tailback has already proven to be an imposing presence on the field.

“I think he’s going to be a great player here,” said sophomore tailback Cedric Peerman. “He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast.”

The 2005 VHSL Group AAA Player of the Year out of Oakton High School in Fairfax County, Payne led the Cougars to an upset win over undefeated Landstown in the Division 6 state title game last season. The victory had Payne’s name all over it, as the Oakton star rushed for a career-high 250 yards and four touchdowns while shutting down Florida-bound wide receiver Percy Harvin from his outside linebacker position.

Payne played every down of the contest, averaging 10 yards per carry on offense and keeping Harvin, who was ranked the No. 1 recruit in the state by The Daily Progress, to only 49 yards of total offense.

The performance in the championship game capped a 2,058-yard senior season that has brought the spotlight on Payne, who was not getting the same kind of attention as other recruits throughout the state earlier in his career.

“I guess my junior year wasn’t as strong because we were sharing the ball so much,” Payne said. “Once my senior season came, coach realized there were better ways of winning. We switched it up on offense and it allowed me to carry the ball more. Once I got the ball an average of 20 carries a game, I would always break one or two. If you really look back at my sophomore and junior year, I ran the same way - senior year I just got more carries and made it more noticeable for people to realize that I was running pretty well.”

The Virginia coaching staff got its foot in the door early on as the first school to recruit Payne in his sophomore season. Although he made official visits to Penn State, Maryland and Clemson, the Cavaliers were always the clear frontrunner in his mind.

“Everyone visits other schools just to see the options, but I was waiting on Virginia’s offer,” Payne said. “Once they did it, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to take it.”

Following UVa’s 51-3 win over Temple on Nov. 5, Payne received the scholarship offer and accepted that day. He has been preparing for the 2006 season ever since, even giving up his starting midfielder spot on the state champion Oakton lacrosse team to focus on football.

That hasn’t deterred Virginia lacrosse coach Dom Starsia from plugging his sport to the talented freshman.

“I ran into [Starsia] a couple times and talked to him,” said Payne, who has been playing lacrosse for more than 10 years. “He said he came to my state games. He said whenever I’m sick of football to come holler at him.”

Payne’s skills in both sports have earned him comparisons to NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who was an All-American lacrosse and football player at Syracuse in the late 1950s. Like Brown, Payne believes his future is ultimately on the gridiron.

He is not sure if he will see any action at all this year with Peerman, Jason Snelling and Michael Johnson all fighting for playing time at tailback.

“Physically, I think I’m ready, but I’m not really familiar with all the plays yet,” Payne said. “These guys, they know the system”

Peerman said Payne may need a year in the weight room but could contribute as a true freshman once he fully grasps the Virginia system. Either way, Peerman believes the young back will make his mark as a Cavalier sooner or later.

“He’s come here to make a name for himself,” Peerman said. “I think he’s going to do that, and I can’t wait to see him play.”

As much thought as Payne has given to his signature, the running back knows no matter how clear his penmanship is it will mean nothing if he can’t prove himself mightier than opposing defenses.

“I’ve always been the best at what I do, but now everyone’s the best out of high school coming here,” Payne said. “Basically, I just got to sit back and learn.”

He may want to remember to bring a pen and paper to take notes – that way he can practice his signature in the margins. Considering his potential, he should probably become more proficient at signing autographs.

 

Zidenberg, Bradley a 'special' breed at fullback
By Drew Hansen / Daily Progress staff writer
August 21, 2006

The fullback position can be described as quintessentially blue collar. It’s a spot typically reserved for guys who get more blocking assignments than carries and those more used to anonymity than glory.

But it’s a spot that suits Josh Zidenberg and Kevin Bradley just fine.

With senior Jason Snelling sliding over to the tailback position for Virginia’s 2006 season, Zidenberg and Bradley, two juniors who have made their mark on special teams with the Cavaliers, will get their chance on offense.

The position might not be a big cog in the Virginia attack, which works primarily out of formations with two tight ends, but when the coaching staff decides to run with a traditional two-back set, Zidenberg and Bradley have their trust.

“I feel comfortable putting either one of them in the game,” said Anthony Poindexter, UVa’s running backs coach. “We’ll find roles for both of them.”

Zidenberg, a former walk-on, played his way to a scholarship by becoming the Cavs’ leading special teams performer in 2005.

The 6-foot, 215-pounder from Poquoson played on practically every special teams unit and recorded seven tackles in kickoff coverage.

“Coming in my first year, playing as a true freshman and [as a walk-on] on special teams and then last year starting on all of the [coverage] teams, I think that’s a big reason why, with my contributions and ability to perform well there, it kind of put me in the situation where I am now,” Zidenberg said of his scholarship.

A tailback in high school who racked up more than 6,000 all-purpose yards and 78 touchdowns at Group AA Poquoson High, Zidenberg’s biggest asset might be his toughness.

In Virginia’s regular-season finale against Miami, Zidenberg was blocked out of bounds on a first-half kickoff and broke his left leg when a person on the sideline fell on it.

Undeterred, he fought his way through the pain of the broken bone to play a month later in Virginia’s win over Minnesota in the Music City Bowl.

Like Zidenberg, Bradley has made a name for himself with his toughness, albeit a different kind.

At 6-1, 239 pounds, the Fayetteville, N.C., native is a wrecking ball of a blocking back whose eyes light up when he talks about laying a hit on someone.

“Since Day 1, when I wanted to play football, I knew I had to hit,” Bradley said. “I made that a big part of my game early on.”

Poindexter called Bradley a “ramrod,” while linebacker and roommate Clint Sintim called him “a bull.”

Kicker Chris Gould has characterized him as a “kickoff-coverage monster” who has “been blowing people up” for a year and a half.

“[I’ve] just got to do it,” Bradley added. “There’s a technique to it. ‘Same foot, same shoulder’ as Coach Poindexter would say.”

Bradley made his first career start at the Music City Bowl - the Cavs opened the game in a rare two-back set - but missed spring practice due to an injury. Fully recovered for training camp, the junior is still one of the most feared players to face in practice.

“No one really wants to go against him one-on-one,” said Poindexter, a hard-hitting safety in his day. “We ask him to block guys and knock people out of the hole, and that’s what he does.”

Though neither player is expected to put up the numbers that Snelling did last year (58 carries for 325 yards and 2 scores), Zidenberg and Bradley know that they still have jobs to do.

Besides, the blue-collar pair seems to be at home making plays on special teams.

“It’s very important to me because that’s kind of where I got my start,” Zidenberg said.

Added Bradley: “That’s what I take pride in, that’s where I started. You can’t forget where you started.”

 

The Backfield
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
August 21, 2006

THE TAILBACKS

Jason Snelling

Senior – 5-foot-11, 233 pounds

Chester

The Numbers: When healthy, Snelling has been a force. The former three-star recruit from L.C. Bird has rushed for 522 yards and three touchdowns in his career. His biggest day came last year when he took 17 carries against Temple for a career-best 126 yards and two scores. … Snelling is also a valuable asset catching passes out the backfield. He caught 31 passes as a rookie and 19 passes last year. … Snelling also made four tackles on special teams last year.

The Skinny: Snelling has looked awesome in training camp. Perhaps it’s a new position. Perhaps it’s the loss of weight. Perhaps it’s just a player on a mission. For whatever reason, Al Groh has been impressed. “Right now, he’s doing about everything that he can do to get his game ready,” Virginia’s coach said. “It’s been positive for him so far. Real positive.” Snelling will be pushed for the starting spot, but if remains healthy and fumble-free like he was in ‘04 the sky is the limit and a 1,000-yard season is not out of the question.

The Factoid: Snelling said he would like to get a graduate degree from Virginia. That, of course, might have to come after a pro career, Snelling’s dream.

Cedric Peerman

Sophomore – 5-foot-10, 205 pounds

Gladys

The Numbers: Peerman was pushed into action last year in the season opener after former tailback Wali Lundy sprained his foot. Peerman did not disappoint. The redshirt rookie ran for 69 yards on 16 carries against Western Michigan and scored a late touchdown to secure the win. Peerman finished the season with 237 yards rushing on 70 carries. … Thanks to 21 kickoff returns for 542 yards, Peerman ranked fifth in school history in a single-season. … Peerman was an unsung hero in the upset win over Florida State as he returned five kickoffs for 129 yards.

The Skinny: Peerman works as hard as any player on the team in the offseason. It just comes natural for a guy who worked in a tobacco farm for his dad growing up. Snelling has the early edge but Peerman will get his hands on the ball.

The Factoid: Peerman won the 100-meter dash as a junior and a senior at William Campbell. Both races were held at UVa.

Michael Johnson

Senior - 5-foot-9, 192 pounds

Newport News

The Numbers: Johnson has rushed for 781 yards and four touchdowns in his career. His best season, at least statistically, came in ‘04 when he turned 63 carries into 381 yards. That season against Akron, Johnson rushed for 102 yards on just six carries. … Johnson also returned punts last year, turning 11 into 56 yards, He also has 29 career kickoff returns for an average of 22.2 yards per attempt.

The Skinny: Al Groh has said he does not have a doghouse. That’s good for Johnson as he would have likely been in it at times during his career as he has struggled to hold onto the football. He has fumbled six times, but has only lost one of those to the opposition. … With Johnson’s speed, blazing speed, Virginia has to get the ball into his hands. It will be up to Johnson to keep it there.

The Factoid: Johnson was awarded a Perfect Attendance award in 2001 at Heritage High.

Mikell Simpson

Redshirt Freshman – 6-foot-1, 197 pounds

Harrisburg, Pa.

The Numbers: Simpson did not play last year.

The Skinny: With Jason Snelling, Cedric Peerman and Michael Johnson fighting for carries, Simpson could be the odd man out. It will not be for a lack of effort. During spring practice, Simpson was awarded the Rock Weir Award for being one of the most improved players on offense. … Simpson needed the redshirt season more than people know. The four-star recruit had a surgery after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee during the sixth game of his senior season at Harrisburg High.

The Factoid: Simpson narrowed his college choices down to Alabama and Virginia. Alabama running backs coach Sparky Woods was his main recruiter. Woods was the offensive coordinator at UVa in 1997 and 1998.

THE FULLBACKS

Kevin Bradley

Junior – 6-foot-1, 239 pounds

Fayetteville, N.C.

The Numbers: Bradley has not carried the ball in a game at UVa but he did catch a three-yard pass against Temple. … Bradley is the type of player that special teams’ coaches dream of. He hits hard and he is willing to run through a wall. You might not hear his name much, but you should hear his lethal hits.

The Factoid: Bradley was an accomplished member of the Track & Field team at Seventy First High. The 20-year-old was one of the best in the state in the shot put.

Josh Zidenburg

Junior - 6-foot, 213 pounds

Poquoson

The Numbers: Zidenburg has never carried the ball in a game, but he did make nine tackles last year. … Zidenburg has played in 17 games during his career.

The Skinny: Virginia’s offense does not include many carries for fullbacks as two-tight end sets are often used, but Zidenburg had a great high school career gaining almost 6,000 yards of total offense. … Expect big things from Zidenburg on special teams, a role that he admittedly enjoys.

The Factoid: Zidenburg played against Monticello in the semifinal round of the VHSL playoffs during his senior year of high school.

The Best of the Rest

Raynard Horne

Freshman – 6-foot, 203 pounds

Baltimore

The Numbers: Horne scored 11 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,100 yards as a senior at Overlea High.

The Skinny: Horne is likely headed for a redshirt season, but could develop into a versatile player for the Cavaliers. It could be at running back or it could be in the secondary – he played both positions in high school. … Horne also played basketball and ran track.

The Factoid: Horne’s stats were skewed in high school. The Maryland native played in a wing-T offense that featured three running backs.

Keith Payne

Freshman – 6-foot-3, 243 pounds

Oak Hill

The Numbers: Payne rushed for over 2,000 yards as a senior at Oakton High.

The Skinny: Payne certainly looks the part. The youngster has forced numerous fans at open practices to do double-takes. … Payne could be used at fullback or tailback during his career.

The Factoid: Payne, the VHSL AAA Player of the Year last year, was a midfielder for Oakton’s state title-winning lacrosse team his junior year.

Cain Ringstaff

Redshirt Freshman – 5-foot-9, 210 pounds

Pounding Mill

The Numbers: Ringstaff joined the team as a walk-on but did not play in a game.

The Skinny: Ringstaff was a tailback and defensive back at Richlands High. Given that background, Ringstaff might be able to force his way into the picture on special teams.

The Factoid: Ringstaff scored six touchdowns in a game at Richlands. The strangest thing about the contest? He had only 19 carries in the game.

Hall Simmons

Redshirt Freshman – 5-foot-9, 203 pounds

Rossville, Tenn.

The Numbers: Simmons did not play last year after joining the team as a walk-on.

The Skinny: Simmons did not make headlines last year, but he did receive one honor. Al Groh named Simmons the scout team Player of the Week for the Boston College game.

The Factoid: Simmons owns the school record at Evangelical Christian with just over 3,900 yards for his career.


 

Pearman, Peerman strive to be peerless
Duo looking to provide U.Va. with quality field position on kick returns
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 21, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE Pearman and Peerman.

It may sound like a law firm, but Andrew Pearman and Cedric Peerman are partners on the football field, not in the legal world.

These University of Virginia sophomores have been working alongside each other this month as the deep men on the Cavaliers' kickoff-return team.

"We're really feeling comfortable with each other," Pearman said. "I think we're at a point now where we're ready to play in some games."

If there's one area in which U.Va. has consistently excelled during Al Groh's tenure as coach, it's kickoff returns. Among ACC teams, the Cavaliers ranked fourth in 2001 (Groh's first season), fourth in '02, third in '03, first in '04 (second nationally) and third in '05.

A season ago, Peerman averaged 25.8 yards on 22 kickoff returns. In the ACC, only N.C. State's Darrell Blackman had a higher average. Pearman had to sit out the 2005 season after transferring from the University of Hawaii.

A 5-10, 205-pound tailback from William Campbell High, Peerman doesn't have great breakaway speed -- his longest return covered 43 yards last year -- but has shown an intuitive sense of how to read blocks and find holes in the coverage.

Pearman has studied video of his teammate on returns, and he's impressed. Peerman returns the compliment when asked about Pearman, a 5-10, 165-pound wide receiver from Charlotte, N.C., and the brother of former U.Va. star Alvin Pearman, who's now a Jacksonville Jaguar.

"When you look at A.P., his speed is really off the charts," Peerman said. "He can make anybody miss.

"I'm a little bit more of a straight-ahead guy, a little bit more power. I think A.P. is a little more versatile than I am, but I think we complement each other extremely well. It's good to have him back there with me."

Pearman rushed for 2,273 yards and 32 touchdowns as a Providence High tailback in 2003. He redshirted at Hawaii in 2004 and spent another season on the sidelines at U.Va. in 2005. His college debut should come Sept. 2 at Pittsburgh.

"It's been awhile, but now that it's almost here, it feels like it was yesterday that I played my last football game," Pearman said.

Another option for U.Va. on returns is graduate student Michael Johnson, Peerman's partner last season. Johnson, who like Pearman is known for his sprinter's speed, averaged 21 yards on 16 kickoff returns, with a long of 68 yards.