White: 'Dex' Comes Home To The Secondary
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 08/18/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- He was smiling when he sat down with several reporters at Scott Stadium the other day, but that's dog-bites-man stuff. It would be newsworthy if Anthony Poindexter were dour and gloomy.
As one of his friends once observed: "Every day's a good day for Dex."
On any list of the most beloved football players in University of Virginia history, Poindexter belongs in the lead group. Fans admired not only the havoc he wreaked on the field -- Poindexter was a two-time All-American at safety and the ACC defensive player of the year in 1998 -- but the spirit with which he played and the manner in which he carried himself.
When injuries ended his playing career prematurely -- costing him, in all likelihood, millions of dollars -- Poindexter never publicly complained, never indulged in self-pity. He was blessed, he said, to have played in the NFL at all, however briefly.
The Lynchburg native returned to his alma mater before the 2003 season, when Al Groh hired him as a graduate assistant, and joined the Virginia coaching staff full time the next year. After five seasons as the Cavaliers' running backs coach, Poindexter moved even closer to his roots this year.
He's back where he played for George Welsh at UVa -- in the secondary -- and his smile, if possible, looks even brighter these days.
"Honestly, it feels good, man," Poindexter said at media day. "I loved coaching the running backs, but I needed a new challenge."
Poindexter, 33, always figured he'd end up in coaching but figured he'd start at the high school level.
"I didn't realize that I'd get an opportunity this fast to be in college football," Poindexter said. "But Coach showed some faith in me and brought me back, and I owe him for where I'm at at this stage of my career. He started my coaching career for me, and I've learned a lot from him."
That Poindexter would one day coach the defensive backs at UVa seemed inevitable, and many outside the program wondered why he didn't get the post earlier. That's simple, according to Poindexter. If Groh had offered him the job a couple of years ago, Poindexter said, he would have told his boss, "I'm not ready for it."
"Just because you can play DB in college doesn't mean you can coach," Poindexter said. "It's been a process over my coaching career. I've been progressing. I hadn't really coached before I got back here. I had never coached anything. Coach just mentored me and taught me how to do it, and I just keep learning from him."
Groh, in fact, went looking for a secondary coach after the 2005 season. He didn't seriously consider Poindexter before hiring Steve Bernstein, a Vietnam veteran who'd been coaching defensive backs since the early '70s.
Poindexter's inexperience was a factor in Groh's decision to look elsewhere. But more important, Groh said Sunday, was the fact that Dex "was doing a very good job in coaching and handling the skills and the personalities that were playing [running back]. So that might have been subtraction from the operation as much as it would have been addition."
By the time Bernstein retired after last season, however, Poindexter considered himself ready to oversee the secondary. Groh agreed.
"I've just kind of put my career in Coach's hands and let him guide me through," Poindexter said.
On paper, at least, UVa has its most talented collection of defensive backs in more than a decade. Chris Cook and Ras-I Dowling may be the top set of starting cornerbacks in the ACC, and sophomores Rodney McLeod and Corey Mosley are promising safeties. Reserves include sophomore corners Chase Minnifield and Dom Joseph, junior corner Mike Parker and senior safety Brandon Woods.
"We're fortunate," Poindexter said. "We got some good DBs around here right now, as long as I don't mess 'em up. They're good players, they're good kids, they play hard. We put that together with all 11 guys on defense, I think we got a chance to be pretty good on defense."
The Cavaliers also have Bob Trott, whose office is close to Poindexter's in the McCue Center. Trott is UVa's new linebackers coach, but he's worked with defensive backs on the New England Patriots and at Air Force, Arkansas, Clemson, Duke, Baylor and Louisiana-Monroe.
"Everything," Poindexter answered when asked what he's learned from Trott, 55.
"Him and Coach Groh, they mentor me," Poindexter said, and "I tried to get some mentorship from Coach [Bob] Pruett and Coach Bernstein. I ain't one of those guys that think I know it all. I played it, but I ain't coached it. So with a resource like Coach Trott in the office, I'm in his office more than anything, asking him, 'What do you think about this, how should I do this, or how should I explain this to them?' He's been great for me."
With the running backs, Poindexter became known for his animated coaching style. He yelled, he gestured, he swore, he laughed, he fussed. Even so, Poindexter said, he had to rein himself in at times. Not anymore.
"Offense, it's just a different mentality," Poindexter said. "I always had a defensive mentality, and I tried to bring it to the offensive side of the ball, but sometimes it's just hard for those kids. On defense, man, you always gotta be the aggressor, in my opinion. I think you gotta be that way on offense, but defensive kids think that way, so I think my personality fits it more."
In UVa's new wide receivers coach, Latrell Scott, Poindexter has found a kindred spirit. They've been friends for years, and their coaching styles are similar.
"I think Anthony's personality and my personality is good for both of our groups," Scott said. "Dex and I are very competitive people. My thought process going in was, hey, I feel like Dex has one of the best secondaries in the country. And I felt like if we could raise our level of play to what our guys in the secondary do, then we'll have a chance."
The receivers and defensive backs battle throughout practice, and "I think Dex and I kind of feed off each other, because no one wants their group to be the group that isn't holding up their end of the deal," Scott said.
"It's fun for the kids, too. We've got a very, very competitive relationship with our secondary, but we respect our secondary, because of who they are. I tell these guys all the time, if we can make plays against our secondary, then we can make plays against almost anybody."
Poindexter said he still talks regularly to Welsh, who retired after the 2000 season.
"I can always bounce questions off George," Poindexter said. "But most of the time we talk, we just talk about the old days and years past."
Cook, a senior, is from Lynchburg, so he grew up hearing about the legendary Anthony Poindexter. But the number of current Cavaliers who actually saw Poindexter play football is small.
"These boys were born in the '90s, man," Poindexter said, laughing.
He tries to avoid talking about how things were back in the day, "but sometimes they want to hear a story," Poindexter said. "I fabricate a lot of times."
He's not fibbing if he claims to have been part of the most memorable play in the program's history. As a freshman in 1995, on the game's final play at a sold-out Scott Stadium, Poindexter teamed with Adrian Burnim to stop Florida State tailback Warrick Dunn inches from the goal line. That made UVa the first ACC team to beat the Seminoles since they'd joined the league.
"Everybody talks about that play, I can't remember half the night," Poindexter said. "I took so many hits, I can't remember the play. I gotta see it on TV to remember the situation.
"But [UVa's defensive backs] were over at the house the other night, and they wanted to see the game, they wanted to see some tape of it, because most of these kids have never seen me play, but they've heard. And they go, 'Coach, did you really play?' I said, 'Here, you all be the judge,' and I put a tape on for them."
He spent three seasons in the NFL, two with the Ravens and one with the Browns, before retiring. Would he like to coach at that level?
"Right now, I love just being here," Poindexter said. "I really do. How many coaches get to play at a school, have success at a school, are able to come back and start your career at a school and still be at a school? This is where my roots are at. I can't picture myself being in another shirt and doing what I do right now."
Moreover, Poindexter said, he loves mentoring and molding young men.
"As much as we coach them in football, we coach them in life, too," he said. "There are just a lot of day-to-day situations and personal situations that you help them through, that you've seen over the years and you went through in college, that you can help them with.
"That's the joy I get, too. I know we gotta win games, and our job is based on winning games, but at the end of the day, if we've done something special for these kids and helped them in life, I think we've won."

On the receiving end: Scott has many options
Aug. 17, 2009
6:12 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- UVa's football roster includes more than a dozen wide receivers, none of whom is a senior.

Receivers coach Latrell Scott said Sunday that he expects to use about a half-dozen wideouts in games. Which guarantees that competition among the wideouts will continue to be fierce as the Sept. 5 opener approaches.

The Cavaliers, as has been well-chronicled, are operating full time out of the spread attack installed by new offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon. The receivers are anything but forgotten men in Brandon's scheme.

In the team's scrimmage Saturday, Scott said, "I think we probably completed balls to eight different [receivers], so it's fun for them."

Of the current collection of receivers, only sophomore Jared Green caught more than 10 passes last season. He had 12 receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown.

Kris Burd had seven catches, Dontrelle Inman had two, and Staton Jobe and Raynard Horne caught one pass apiece. New to the receiving corps are redshirt freshman Riko Smalls, a converted quarterback, and true freshmen Tim Smith, Bobby Smith (no relation), Quintin Hunter and Kevin Royal. Other candidates for playing time include redshirt freshman Javaris Brown and sophomore Matt Snyder.

At the start of the spring practice, Scott recalled, the coaches "told [the receivers], 'Hey, we have no starters. None of you guys know this offense. The guys that play hard, the guys that make plays, the guys that do what we ask them to do, will be the guys that play.'

"And to this point they have all done it, so that's kind of thrown a wrench into my situation."

Scott said he'll probably settle on a five- to seven-man rotation. Green, Brown, Snyder and Tim Smith are making strong cases for inclusion in that group, and Scott is high on Burd, who's been slowed by a knee injury.

Hunter, Smalls and Horne also have impressed during training camp. Inman's work has been severely limited because of an injury.

-- Jeff White

Cavs' Clark healthy and ready to go
The ex-Rockbridge County star has a healed knee and gets another shot at his senior year.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- As late as the start of Aaron Clark's fourth season, questions persisted about the wisdom of Virginia never having redshirted him.

Suddenly, in the Cavaliers' 2008 season opener against Southern California, the second-guessing stopped.

Clark, an outside linebacker, was attempting to change directions when one of his cleats caught in the turf and he heard a pop in his right knee.

"I definitely knew something was up," said Clark, who had injured his left knee as a sophomore at Rockbridge County High School. "When I got to the sideline and the knee started to balloon up, I was like, 'Yep, that looks familiar.'

"I tried to prepare myself as best I could for what the doctor was going to tell me. If I didn't have a medical redshirt or, say, it was the fourth or fifth game of the season, I would have been 100-percent devastated."

Athletes qualify for a medical redshirt if they suffer an incapacitating injury before the midpoint of the season, provided they have not played in more than three games (or 30 percent of their teams' games, whichever figure is larger).

Clark, a 6-foot-5, 248-pound outside linebacker, was diagnosed with a torn ACL and underwent reconstructive surgery.

Prior to his injury, Clark had competed with Denzel Burrell before winning a starting spot in the opener. Burrell subsequently moved into the lineup and started the last 11 games.

Head coach Al Groh isn't one to look for silver linings but, in a year when UVa needs to replace three linebackers with close to 100 career starts, he has both Clark and Burrell.

If not for the injury, Clark would have completed his eligibility and Burrell would have been untested.

"His game progressed light years," Clark said. "He's always been a good player, but, to see him build confidence and gain maturity, I loved watching him play."

The departure of second-round NFL Draft pick Clint Sintim has created starting opportunities this year for both Clark and Burrell, who are joined by another fifth-year senior, Darren Childs, on UVa's first linebacker group.

"We have three guys who have been in a lot of meetings [and] a lot of drills," said Groh, whose projected fourth starter is redshirt freshman Steve Greer. "There's not a lot of snaps in there, which is the No. 1 criterion for experience, but they're not new kids off the block."

Clark has never played more than 119 snaps in a college season and his 26 plays last year against Southern Cal surpassed his total from the entire 2007 season, when he was on the field for 16 plays.

He was credited with a career-high five tackles against the Trojans, including one of UVa's few defensive highlights, when he stopped running back Stafon Johnson for a 3-yard loss.

"I remember when it happened, thinking, 'Whoa, he might be ready for this,'" Groh said.

Now Clark has to prove himself again, but the knee feels as good or better than it did before injury. ACL surgery and rehab once was looked upon as a 12-month process, but, two days before the start of spring practice, Clark was given clearance for full participation.

A government major, Clark earned his diploma in May and will be taking continuing education courses this fall. He didn't think things could get much better until he learned recently that teammates had chosen him to be one of UVa's co-captains.

"I was talking to [UVa walk-on] Brandon Jarvis about this," Clark said. "We played together in high school and I said, 'Brandon, when we were coming in, I never would have expected to be in this position right now.'

"It's kind of surreal to be a captain of the University of Virginia football team. I wake up every day with a smile on my face because it's such an honor. It was a team vote. That's what I'm talking about when I tell people that I've been 'humbled.'"

His 2009 football season is full of unknowns, but 2008 prepared him for anything.

"I had been playing contact football since I was 7 years old," Clark said, "and it was hard to deal with at first. I must say that I've never looked at the game [with the appreciation] that I do now."


 
 

Sewell learned by tutoring while away from football
By John O'Connor
Published: August 18, 2009

JAMEEL SEWELL
Age: 21

Year at U.Va.: Senior

Vitals: 6-3, 225 pounds

Hometown: Richmond (Hermitage High School)

At U.Va.: started 22 straight games 2006-07; Cavaliers went 9-4 in 2007.

Quotable, on his academic suspension: "I put myself in that predicament. I dug my own grave . . . Every day, it was like another step forward, like 'OK, I made it through this day. Now, let's go get another one and knock that off the calendar. Let's just keep going and grinding.'"

U.Va. coach Al Groh, speaking Sunday on QB competition in volving Sewell, Vic Hall and Marc Verica: "We're really not evaluating anything right now. The guards, the quarterbacks, whatever, it's too early in the process . . . We're pointedly trying to not be instant evaluators. Otherwise, every day you have a new order of quarterbacks. It'll be the body of work at all the positions that determines it."

CHARLOTTESVILLE Here's the irony that makes even Jameel Sewell laugh: During the quarterback's academic suspension from the University of Virginia last year, he tutored at Charlottesville's Buford Middle School.

Buford's principal, Eric Johnson, knew some explanation would be requested. Parents had questions, as did Buford students attuned to Cavaliers' athletics. How can an academically suspended guy tutor? What kind of signal does that send?

Johnson began his answers by explaining that some academic suspensions are caused by the inability of students to do required work. Others come about because capable students do not do the work. He assured concerned parties that Sewell was capable of doing the work.

"As I explained to the parents who questioned me on this, I said to them 'If you come to school and you observe his interaction with kids, how he's helping these kids get work done, you may not be amazed, but you will be pleased,'" Johnson said.

"No parents accepted that challenge."

Johnson's son, Chris, played defensive end for the Cavaliers and also dealt with an academic suspension, during 2005-06. Sewell, a two-year starter from Hermitage High who knows Chris Johnson, was suspended from U.Va. for the spring and fall semesters of 2008. Eric Johnson saw the pain the suspension caused his son and reached out to Sewell.

"I always said that if I could ever help someone who was going through something like that, I would," Eric Johnson said.

Sewell accepted Johnson's offer to visit Buford, meet students and talk to them about academic responsibility and life. Sewell was then asked to help out as a mentor to troubled students. He tutored others in science and English.

"He encouraged kids to get work done. That piece was more valuable than anything else," Johnson said. Sewell was eventually offered and accepted a job as an instructional assistant.

"He was phenomenal with what he did with the kids here," Johnson said. He was so impressed with Sewell that Johnson advised Sewell that he should look into a career as a school counselor.

"It was humbling," Sewell said of his spring and fall at Buford Middle School. "First of all, I love working with kids. I love to help. Just to have the impact on lives, it just helped me to understand there are other things out there than football for me. It just helped me a lot, to get my mind right."

Sewell continued to live with Cavaliers players, and he occasionally watched them practice. But he tried to avoid Scott Stadium on game days.

"Not that I didn't want to support the guys, but it was just difficult for me to do so," Sewell said.

He helped coach offense at Charlottesville High School and its athletic director, Rick Lilly, called Sewell "a great asset to our program. For us, it was a really, really positive experience."

While working with CHS players, Sewell threw to keep his arm active and ran. As far as lifting weights, unless push-ups count, he didn't. When he rejoined the football program last spring, "my body looked terrible," said Sewell.

He competes now for the QB job with Vic Hall and Marc Verica. According to center Jack Shields "If you see [Sewell], in all honesty, I think he's better than he was two years ago. He's just as fast, if not faster. He has an unbelievable arm. I wouldn't say there's any rust whatsoever. It almost seems like he was playing all of last year."

Cavaliers coach Al Groh on Sunday said that to him, Sewell looked as though "he's really pretty much back on his game the way that he was before."
 

Wilt back to guide UVa’s defensive line
By Jay Jenkins
Published: August 18, 2009

It could make for a great SAT analogy. That’s the way that new defensive line coach Chad Wilt sees it.
In essence, former defensive end Chris Canty was to Chris Long what Nate Collins can be to an undetermined first-year player at Virginia.
Having seen the impact that older, savvy veterans have had at the grueling position over the years for incoming first-year players, Wilt knows the importance that comes with providing leadership in practice and meetings.
With that in mind, and shortly after leaving Liberty University to join the Cavaliers’ coaching staff, Wilt approached Collins, a senior.
“I have been challenging him pretty much since Day One when I got here,” said Wilt, who served as a graduate assistant at Virginia in 2004 and 2005. “Nate was my only senior in the group. I told him that the legacy that you leave isn’t going to be for the next year or two.
“When these freshmen that are coming in right now — Brent Urban, Justin Renfrow, Will Hill and Jake Snyder — when they take their first cue from a senior leader, it is huge. One day when they are seniors, more than likely, they will emulate the first senior that they saw.”
Wilt has been impressed with what Collins, defensive end Matt Conrath and nose tackle Nick Jenkins have done verbally and through their actions to lead that promising, yet unproven, crop of youngsters.
“Five years down the road those guys are seniors and hopefully they’re displaying to another group of freshmen what it is supposed to look like,” Wilt said. “You can have a generational
legacy that every four, eight, 12 years when you come back into the program and you are 35 years old and hopefully what you left was passed on to a guy like Brent Urban was left for someone else.”
Collins has embraced the added role with the youngsters and was even named a team captain, one of four seniors on defense to be bestowed with that honor. It helped, he said, that he played as a first-year player.
“A lot comes with that but it is something that I wanted,” he said. “It is a big challenge, but I learned watching Chris Long and others and I can only hope that the young guys pick up something from me.”
Wilt, who replaced former defensive line coach Levern Belin, admits that he was fortunate to walk into a job with experienced players as starters.
Collins is a senior and Conrath and Jenkins logged valuable snaps as redshirt freshmen last year.
“It helps me tremendously. When I am in the classroom and I put something on the board they get it,” he said. “They have seen it and they have been through those battles on Saturday afternoons.
“They know the expectations of what it takes to prepare yourself for a game.”

U-Va.'s Barker Follows Large Footprints
Senior Right Tackle May Be Next Cavaliers Offensive Lineman to Reach NFL
By Zach Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 16, 2009

Since Will Barker arrived on Virginia's campus in 2005, three of his fellow offensive linemen have heard their names called in the first round of the NFL draft.

Although Barker probably will not be selected that high next April, the fifth-year senior enters this season as likely the next Cavaliers offensive lineman who will go from Charlottesville to the NFL. Barker has started all 37 games during the past three seasons. He now awaits his final season, the college football version of a contract year.

"I got to go out there and have a great season," Barker said. "I got that mind-set that I need to have a great season, not only for myself, but for this team. This team needs me to have a great season."

Barker became a fixture in the Cavaliers lineup in the 2006 season opener against Pittsburgh, when he earned the job as a redshirt freshman. But over the past four years, the 6-foot-7, 320-pound right tackle watched the spotlight shine on more celebrated teammates on the offensive line such as D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2006 draft), Branden Albert (the No. 15 pick in 2008) and Eugene Monroe (the No. 8 pick in 2009).

"There's shoes to be filled," Barker said. "I might be the right person to fill those shoes."

The responsibility has required a personal transformation for the soft-spoken native of suburban Philadelphia who was otherwise known for his fire-red hair and mammoth physique.

When Barker was named the ACC offensive lineman of the week last season, Coach Al Groh called Barker's parents to share the news because he did not think Barker would. Groh was correct; Barker's parents had learned of the award from a friend.

At the annual ACC Football Kickoff in July, each ACC school sent two players. Groh selected Barker to represent the Cavaliers, a role Groh did not think Barker could fulfill a season ago.

"If you said write down the names of those players you might send to the ACC Kickoff in 2009, Will would have been well down that list," Groh said. "This year, it was an easy choice to pick him as one of the players to represent the team."

Groh noticed a change in Barker's "overall maturity" beginning in the spring, and said Barker exhibits a "purposefulness" that was not present when he first arrived.

"Will was, at best, a mediocre practice player early in his career," Groh said. "A lot more into the games than in practice. This spring, he really had it screwed down on every turn, trying to become the best he can be. He has embraced everything that's been asked of him a year ago at this time."

One reason for that is because Barker isn't facing any off-field distractions entering this season. In late July 2008, Barker and teammate Dave Roberts were arrested for stealing beer from a cooler at a Charlottesville nightclub. The incident cast a negative shadow over Barker and seemed to affect his play on the field.

But things changed on Oct. 6, when Barker and Roberts were acquitted of misdemeanor petit larceny charges.

"I definitely think it affected it," Barker said. "Then my play improved, obviously, because I didn't have a distraction."

That was most evident during an Oct. 25 upset of Georgia Tech. Barker did not allow a sack against standout defensive ends Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan and earned the weekly ACC honor.

After three seasons in Virginia's starting lineup, Barker has one last fall to cement his status in Virginia history and extend the program's tradition of standout offensive linemen. Most important for Barker, he is more aware of that than at any point in his career.

"Looking back on it, people always tell you it's the best time of your life and it flies by," Barker said. "You never really realize it until you're a senior going into your last camp."


 

Cavs QB race needs to end soon
Virginia kicks off season in less than 3 weeks
By Ken Bosserman
Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE — As the Virginia Cavaliers prepare for the upcoming football season, the question right now is who is going to be the starting quarterback in the team’s new spread offense — Vic Hall, Marc Verica or Jameel Sewell.

If the answer was to be found Sunday at the team’s media day held in the John Paul Jones Arena, there must have been some disappointment.

“Often the players know before the coaches know who the quarterback is,” Cavalier coach Al Groh said at his press conference. “But right now, I don’t think they know.”

With the season opener with William & Mary less than three weeks away, that’s just one of several questions to be resolved, but obviously, the biggest one.

All three candidates were on hand to meet the media Sunday, and if anything came out of it, there’s obviously no animosity but rather a lot of camaraderie among them.
Hall, after three years at cornerback, was switched to quarterback in Virginia’s last game of the season against Virginia Tech. In that contest, he rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and threw one pass as the Cavs nearly upset the Hokies before falling 17-14.

The 5-foot-9 senior is the center player on the front of Virginia’s media guide, and is destined for quarterback this season. The spot is not new to him. In high school, he set passing and rushing records for Gretna High School.

“I feel the offensive side of the ball is where I can help the team the most,” Hall said.
“The spread offense is basically the same as high school, but people are faster and stronger and are at a different level. It makes it more challenging.”

Verica earned a starting role last season when Peter Lalich was dismissed from the team. He was a part of four victories, completed 63 percent of his passes, and threw for 2,037 yards.

“The competition between us is pretty positive — it’s healthy,” the junior said. “And we are very close off the field. We are pushing each other to get better every day. We’re trying to get better, and we are making good strides.”

Sewell was Virginia’s starting quarterback two years ago before academic difficulties caused him to sit out last season.

In 2007, he threw for 2,176 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 279 more. His versatility in both the passing and running game makes him a huge offensive threat.

“It’s amazing having the jersey on me again,” he said Sunday. “It’s going to be a fun offense, fast paced, and up tempo. It gives us a chance to find weaknesses in the defense, and it is more open. But it all starts with the big boys up front.”

Like Verica and Hall, Sewell, who is a senior, doesn’t mind the challenge for the starting spot.

“It’s healthy competition,” he said. “Our friendships have gotten better since we are always around each other. If anything, I need the competition. It causes me to push myself even more.”

Groh thinks Sewell hasn’t missed a step.

“He’s pretty much back on his game as he was before,” the Virginia coach said. “We’re pleased to have him back.”

Groh didn’t say when a decision on a starter at quarterback would be made.

“We’re not evaluating anything right now,” he said. “It’s too early in the process. We’re just going day-to-day.”

But the coach does feel confident with the new spread offense, noting that the team experimented with it during the 2001-03 seasons but got away from it, and thought about it again last year.

“We just want to move the ball the best way possible with the personnel we have,” he said.

And who will be the best fit — Hall, Verica or Sewell? Or may it be a combination.
Fullback Rashawn Jackson may have put it best.

“It’s like a box of chocolate,” he said. “You don’t know the piece you want.”
Like Jackson, Virginia fans will just have to wait and see.
 

Horne makes move to get on the field
By Jay Jenkins
Published: August 19, 2009

As a running back on the scout team, Raynard Horne looked for holes.

The gaps often appeared in a split second to the junior’s delight. At other times, they never emerged, leaving the Maryland native lying flat on his back.

What Horne failed to respect during the process was the blocking that correctly or incorrectly created the space in which to roam.

Now a wide receiver in the Cavaliers’ offense, Horne looks at the situation in a completely different light.

And that puts one aspect of the position in a new light.

“To play in this offense you have to block,” Horne said. “Blocking is so much harder than you would think. You are blocking for six seconds sometimes.

“I never appreciated how much receivers blocked so much. You have to block or you will not play.”

The 6-foot, 245-pound Horne has heard the company line on numerous occasions from first-year wide receivers coach Latrell Scott.

It will continue.

“The team rule that we have is if you don’t block, you don’t play,” Scott said. “We have some great tailbacks in this system and we want to be able to get those guys downfield. For them to be effective, we have to be physical.

“Our downfield blocking creates opportunities for Mikell Simpson, Torrey Mack and Keith Payne.”

Horne appeared in 11 games last year, making his biggest impression on four of the six special-teams units.

He led the team with seven tackles on the kickoff unit, but he longs for a greater impact as a player that can be trusted, and a crowded mix in the backfield led to the position switch.

“I really want to help this team,” he said. “I hope I can do that. It does not matter how. I really just want to be on the field.”

With that in mind, Horne accepted the move to wideout with open arms and lucked out with the new spread offense that incorporates numerous on-field options.

“I really do like the move,” he said. “It is going well out there. It is fun out there with the wideouts.

“Playing for coach Scott has been great for me, and I am just trying to do what I can do to help the team anyway possible.”

The simple things of the position, those that are often ignored by the average fan, have taken their toll on Horne at times.

“Route running is pretty tough to me,” he admitted. “As a running back, it is one block and you have to chop it up, so that is the biggest adjustment so far.”

Extra points

Virginia coach Al Groh said Tuesday that the program’s offense would not be vanilla against William & Mary in an effort to hide schemes from the second opponent, Texas Christian. ... Linebacker Cam Johnson will assume the role that former standout Clint Sintim had on the nickel and dime units, according to the coach.
 

Hall has mindset to lead Cavaliers
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: August 19, 2009

The most frequent question I’ve heard as I have traveled around the state this summer — particularly when I’m home in Central Virginia — has been, “So, who’s going to start at quarterback?”

There’s a huge curiosity factor in whether Vic Hall, Jameel Sewell or Marc Verica will get the nod from UVa coach Al Groh sometime over the next few days. All three have experience at the position, although Hall’s consists of last year’s season finale at Virginia Tech on four days of practice, plus a sterling high school career at Gretna.

My opinion, my answer to everyone who asks, and I stated this on Jay James’ “Best Seat in the House” show on WINA a couple of nights ago, is always the same.

Vic Hall.

Non-verbal cues

No, I’m not politicking for any player over the others, not choosing favorites. I’m basing my answer on reading between the lines since that gray day down in Blacksburg last November when Hall trotted out and caused Hokies’ defensive coordinator Bud Foster to say out loud, “Oh, (shoot).”

My opinion is that that moment changed everything about Virginia’s quarterback situation.

Up until that moment, there just had to be lingering questions in the coaching staff’s collective minds about Verica, who had played admirably under adverse conditions before crashing in a storm of interceptions, and about Sewell, who had helped lead the team to a Gator Bowl appearance the year before, but became academically ineligible last season.

Not saying that Sewell and Verica couldn’t come back strong with terrific seasons in ’09, but the courage, leadership, skill and heart shown by Hall throughout his entire college career, summed up by that one week in preparation for a game at Virginia Tech, was more than impressive.

Hall gave the Cavaliers hope, and that means a lot to a football team.

A natural leader

I’ve been working on a story on Hall since the spring, collecting nuggets here and there, and one day, sitting in Groh’s office, talking football, talking Hall, the coach said something I believed to be profound.

“Vic Hall is a kung fu fighter,” Groh said.

To me, that spoke volumes. In coaching lingo, that means Hall gives everything that he has to give, on and off the field and that’s what leaders are made of, what quarterbacks must have to be successful.

We already know about Hall’s athleticism, his extraordinary accomplishments in high school, his controversial position change in college, his size.

Coaches and teammates know about his heart. That’s why everyone involved with the UVa program respects Vic Hall.

He is tremendously emotionally strong — another great quality in a quarterback — and a leader with self-confidence, not cockiness. Hall is one of the most respected players to walk this campus in the last decade, for sure.

That, my friends, is why I believe Vic Hall is your starter.

Offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon said Sunday that a decision is going to have to come soon — a decision that Groh will make. Somewhere in the back of Groh’s mind, I think that decision was made last November when he saw Hall dart through Virginia Tech’s defense, more on raw instinct than preparation.

“I think Vic’s done a great job,” Brandon said when asked about the quarterback picture. “I thought after the spring, he was the guy, and he’s still continuing to make progress and doing some nice things.”

Sewell and Verica have practiced well, too, and personally, I believe it would be wise for UVa to use all three in some capacity this season. Perhaps even two or more of them at the same time.

Wouldn’t want to be the defense that had to deal with that problem.
 

NCAA Football Preview - Virginia Cavaliers
By Scott Haynes, Senior College Football Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - 2008 SEASON IN REVIEW: Al Groh is entering his ninth season at the helm in Charlottesville and the recent past has produced five winning seasons in the last seven. However, the 2008 campaign was not one of them, as inconsistency was the main theme and not only cost the team a chance at a winning season, but also a shot at a postseason berth.

No team's season starts out well when it has to open up things against USC, so Virginia's 52-7 lambasting at the hands of the Trojans wasn't exactly unexpected. However, after shutting out FCS foe Richmond next (16-0), the Cavs found themselves back on the losing end of two more lopsided affairs, falling on the road to both Connecticut (45-10) and Duke (31-3). The "Jekyll and Hyde" Cavaliers would then go on a four-game winning streak, putting themselves in a position for postseason consideration, with surprising wins over Maryland (31-0), East Carolina (35-20), North Carolina (16-13 OT) and Georgia Tech (24-17). However the win over the Yellow Jackets would represent the last for Virginia, which closed the season out with four straight losses, leaving the team at just 5-7 overall and 3-5 in league play, good for just a fifth-place finish in the Coastal Division. A huge letdown following a nine-win season in 2007.

2009 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: A lack of offensive production was certainly the main culprit in Virginia's demise in 2008. The team averaged under 300 yards of total offense, with just 96.6 yards per game on the ground. It isn't any wonder why Groh has made a change and brought in Urban Meyer protege Gregg Brandon to implement a spread offense.

With very little production on the ground last year, it might not be viewed as a huge loss when the top tailback moves on. However, Cedric Peerman was a veteran presence in the backfield and his 5.1 yards per carry will sorely be missed. Still, it is senior Mikell Simpson's time to shine and he will be given every opportunity to carry the load if he can stay healthy (missed time down the stretch last year with a shoulder injury). Throw junior bruiser Keith Payne into the mix as well as redshirt freshman Torrey Mack (6-0, 190) and the rushing attack could be much better in 2009.

The quarterback position seems loaded and features junior Marc Verica and seniors Jameel Sewell and Vic Hall. Verica played to mixed reviews last year, completing over 63 percent of his passes, for 2,037 yards in 11 games, but his eight touchdowns compared to 16 interceptions, didn't exactly help things. Sewell was the starter in 2007 and was not enrolled in 2008, so his return is viewed as a huge plus. Sewell is more of a duel threat signal-caller and will fit in nicely in the spread offense being installed by Brandon. Finally, there is Hall, who came to Virginia as a quarterback, moved to cornerback and is now back competing for the starting QB position. Another great athlete under center, he has an opportunity to really make a difference this season.

The passing game is instrumental in the spread offense but will need time to develop as the team's top five receivers from 2008 are gone. Sophomore Jared Green is the top returning pass catcher, finishing last year with just 12 receptions. Sophomore Kris Burd will also be counted on more this season and Virginia always makes good use of its tight ends. This year's top relief valve may just be junior Joe Torchia.

Four of the team's five starters along the offensive line are back, but the one glaring defection is a big one, as All-American tackle Eugene Monroe was the first-round choice in this year's NFL draft.

Groh feels confident in the new offensive scheme.

"We didn't put the offense in and find the pieces. We saw that this style of play might be what was most comfortable for the talent on the team. Had we attempted to do this some years ago, we really probably didn't have the proper personnel to do it."

DEFENSE: The Cavalier defense had its moments last season, mostly due to the play of All-American LB Clint Sintim. The versatile playmaker has taken his game to the NFL as well this season and that is a huge loss, considering he accounted for 11 of the team's 29 sacks on the season.

Actually, the linebacking corps needs to be completely revamped, as Jon Copper (team-high 101 tackles) and Antonio Appleby (72 tackles) are also gone. Senior Denzel Burrell will do his best to assuage the losses in the linebacking corps, while it will be up to sophomores Matt Conrath and Nick Jenkins and junior John-Kevin Dolce to be disruptive forces along the defensive line. Conrath (7.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks) and Jenkins (25 tackles) started as freshman and should be better for it in 2009.

The secondary is in a little better shape, with corner Rasi-I Dowling and safety Corey Moseley leading the way. Dowling led the team with three interceptions last year. Hall (59 tackles, two INTs) was a solid cover corner as well in 2008, but is projected to spend most of his time on the offensive side of the ball under center. Senior Chris Cook missed 2008 due to academics and is back to bolster the secondary, as is sophomore corner Chase Minnifield.

Still, Coach Groh hasn't ruled out using Hall on both sides of the football.

"We don't know exactly how this will work out with Vic (Hall). It is our plan that when the game is over his uniform will be very dirty, and he'll be very tired. I'm not really keen on seeing Vic standing next to me very much."

SPECIAL TEAMS: Placekicker Yannick Reyering has left the team due to a knee injury, leaving the placekicking job up for grabs between sophomores Chris Hinkebein and Robert Randolph. Punter Jimmy Howell returns though, after averaging just over 39 yards a punt in 2008. Hall and Minnifield handled the lion's share of the work in the return game last season and there is little doubt that coach Groh will find adequate personnel again in 2009.

OUTLOOK: Sewell might give the team the best opportunity to win week-in and week-out, but he is a year removed from live action and it remains to be seen what he can accomplish under center. It may not matter however, as eight of the team's opponents this season were in bowl games in 2008.

The Cavs open with two straight home games and a split here is reasonable with William & Mary and a tough TCU squad on the docket. A road trip to Southern Miss and a home game against Big Ten foe Indiana close out the non-league slate. Within conference play, road trips to North Carolina, Maryland, Miami and Clemson don't look appealing. It doesn't get much better at home, with Georgia Tech, Duke, Boston College and Virginia Tech all coming to Scott Stadium.

In the end, the Cavaliers may be able to match last year's five-win total, but anything more than that would prove to be a banner season in Charlottesville.

 
 

Former Godwin star Gragnani is headed to U.Va.
ERIC KOLENICH TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: August 18, 2009

Former Mills Godwin shortstop Reed Gragnani has turned down two contract offers from the Boston Red Sox and will attend the University of Virginia.

An All-Metro selection two years in a row, Gragnani hit .422 with six home runs and 25 RBI for the Eagles this year.

Before the draft, his asking price was in the high $600,00 to $800,000 range. At the onset of the draft, he was offered $500,000 by the Red Sox and $550,000 by the Braves, and a handful of other offers, all of which he declined.

Gragnani slipped to the 27th round, where he was drafted by the Red Sox.

In mid-July, the Red Sox signed 19-year-old Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias for $8.2 million.

Having spent so much on a shortstop already, there was little money left for Gragnani. The second offer Boston made was for only $300,000.

"[Iglesias] really is what messed up my signing," Gragnani said.

After he declined that offer, the Red Sox told him they'd have to wait and see if there would be any money left for him near last night's deadline. If there was any money left after signing other draft picks, they would have reconsidered Gragnani's asking price.

But late last week, the Red Sox notified him that they would be unable to make another offer.

Gragnani joins pitcher Branden Kline and infielder Stephen Bruno as freshmen who turned down professional offers to attend U.Va.

Every player who signed with Virginia is expected to attend.

Gragnani, who could play shortstop or second base, will compete for a starting spot in the lineup. Gragnani, Bruno and veterans Steven Proscia, Tyler Cannon and Keith Werman will compete for playing time in the infield.

"They have a ton of options," Gragnani said. "It's going to be an open competition."
 

ACC ShootAround: UNC still the king, but plenty aiming for defending champ
ESPN.com
Updated: August 17, 2009
10 Things To Know From The Offseason
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

1. Duke's unexpected scramble: Elliot Williams asked to transfer closer to his home in Memphis because of a family illness. The transfer request was honored, and suddenly the Blue Devils were down to two guards. To solve that problem, Duke got creative and added Andre Dawkins, who gave up an extra year of high school eligibility to graduate early and set sail for Durham. Adding Dawkins should help ease the loss of Williams.

2. Clemson's unexpected scramble: Coach Oliver Purnell was stunned to learn that Terrence Oglesby decided to bolt not for the NBA draft, but for a contract in Europe. Oglesby was a difference-making 3-point shooter and it was a crushing blow to the Tigers. That is, until Tim Floyd resigned at USC. Clemson picked up a significant commitment when Noel Johnson got a release from the Trojans and signed with the Tigers. He's not as deep a threat as Oglesby, but he gives Clemson a key 3-point threat.

3. Busy bees: Georgia Tech had a busy offseason as it attempts to go from two league wins to ACC contender. The Yellow Jackets picked up one of the top three players in the class of 2009 in Derrick Favors. Then Gani Lawal took his draft decision down to the final days before deciding to return to Atlanta. Senior guard De'Andre Bell was cleared to play after having spinal surgery in December. In August, the Jackets lost freshman Kammeon Holsey to an ACL injury that takes him out for the season, but he can be replaced with the depth of Lawal, Favors and Zach Peacock up front.

4. Aminu returns: Wake Forest had a shot to drop from irrelevance had Al-Farouq Aminu decided to declare for the draft. He didn't, which stunned most draft pundits. Guard Jeff Teague and forward James Johnson did leave for the NBA and were selected in the first round. Keeping Aminu at least gives the Demon Deacons one of the top scoring wings in the ACC.

5. Thompson goes international: North Carolina's Deon Thompson had played behind Tyler Hansbrough the past three seasons. Thompson wasn't the primary option. He didn't feel the pressure to produce. But Thompson got a chance to be out on his own this summer, leading the World University Games team to a bronze medal in Serbia. The Tar Heels are in desperate need of a new leader and Thompson came out of his shell a bit on the trip. It appears he's ready for the gig.

6. Practice?! New practice facilities opened at Virginia Tech and Miami. This might not sound like much, but these are two traditional football schools, and their staffs are just giddy about the new options for players and staff. Adding sparkling practice facilities improves the schools' curb appeal. Recruiting is a nasty business, and to be able to compete facility-wise with traditional hoop powers is critical.

7. Stabilizing UVa: New Virginia coach Tony Bennett has always been a players' coach. That's why the Washington State experiment worked so well. It didn't take long for Bennett to be welcomed by the Cavaliers. Ensuring that Sylven Landesberg was on board with Bennett was paramount to him having a chance this season. Landesberg didn't blink about playing for Bennett and is convinced that a more defensive-oriented team will lead to more scoring options.

8. Status quo: The ACC discussed changing the conference schedule format, but didn't get much further than a few conversations. The league is sticking with 16 games, not moving to 18, and isn't interested in moving to two divisions. The consensus among the coaches in the league: Don't mess with a good thing.

9. Seminole journey: Florida State embarked on a 10-day, four-game trip to Spain this month, and one of the intents is proving that big man Solomon Alabi is a basketball player, not just a tall guy who can block shots. The practices leading up to the departure led the Seminoles to believe that positive progress was being made toward that goal.

10. The Lowe down: NC State coach Sidney Lowe said he was going to get a call from good friend and former NBA mentor Flip Saunders about an assistant job with the Washington Wizards. Lowe took the call and stayed put. While the Wolfpack have had a few NBA players come through during Lowe's tenure, the winning hasn't been consistent. Making a change now would have meant another rebuilding phase. Keeping Lowe allows for more consistency; whether that translates into more wins, we'll have to see.
 

10 Key Players
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

1. Chris Singleton, So., Florida State: He had star potential as a freshman, averaging 8.1 points a game. But Singleton has improved his game and is driving to the hole more easily. If he can be a stud for the Seminoles, they have a shot at getting back to the NCAAs.

2. Trevor Booker, Sr., Clemson: Booker is hardly an unknown; he's the go-to player for the Tigers. But he's going to have to carry even more of a load. Booker was a beast for Team USA at the World University Games this summer, but he has to deliver like that every night this season if Clemson is going to return to the NCAA tournament.

3. Evan Ravenel, So., Boston College: One of the reasons the Eagles didn't add a single player to their roster was because of the faith they had in Ravenel. He didn't play much last season, but the staff is confident he can develop into a solid contributor if he commits himself to Al Skinner's system. It'll need him to be, since the weakness was frontcourt depth a year ago.

4. Malcolm Grant, So., Miami: UM coach Frank Haith said the Villanova transfer has been a huge hit since arriving on campus. Grant stayed in South Florida throughout the summer to help ease into the leadership position at the 1. Teammates have raved about his ability to run a team. He's expected to replace the more scoring-oriented Jack McClinton at the point.

5. Tristan Spurlock, Fr., Virginia: Tony Bennett had to lock in on the previously committed Spurlock. Bennett did wonders with shooters during his tenure at Washington State. If Spurlock can knock down perimeter shots for the Cavaliers and offer up help to Sylven Landesberg, UVa should rapidly improve under Bennett.

6. Tracy Smith, Sr., NC State: The Wolfpack need someone -- anyone -- to stand up and become a go-to player for a squad that has lost its way. This 6-foot-8 forward could be that person in lieu of the departure of Brandon Costner. Smith had his moments last season, averaging 10 ppg on 54 percent shooting. But the Detroit native needs to be the focus for the Pack to snap out of their fog.

7. Ed Davis, So., North Carolina: Davis was a stud during the Final Four, and that alone could have catapulted him into the NBA draft lottery. But Davis knew better. He understood he was hardly polished. So he returned to school and worked over the summer on becoming a much more effective post scorer. He should flourish inside for the Tar Heels, not just as a shot-blocker, but a high-flyer who can flush and score facing the basket.

8. Miles Plumlee, So., Duke: Plumlee was an afterthought last season. But if he can become much more effective scoring in the low post opposite Kyle Singler, the Blue Devils will be even tougher to defend down low. Miles' highly touted brother, Mason, is joining the Devils to give them even more height and depth up front. How much the Plumlee brothers develop could go quite a way toward how successful Duke is inside.

9. Sean Mosley, So., Maryland: The Terps desperately need another scorer to emerge to offset all the attention teams pay to Greivis Vasquez. Mosley had a modest freshman season (5.3 ppg, 23.8 percent on 3s), but if he can turn it up a notch, the Terps have a real shot to contend in the ACC.

10. Ishmael Smith, Sr., Wake Forest: Smith has waited his turn to take over at the point; he played the secondary role to Jeff Teague the past two seasons. Wake coach Dino Gaudio says Smith can handle the chore. He'll have to shoot better than 24 percent and score more than 6.2 points a game, though. Smith has to make himself a factor every time he touches the ball. That's what Teague did for Wake last season.
 

10 Freshmen We Can't Wait To See
By Paul Biancardi
National Director of Recruiting, Scouts Inc.


1. Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech: He dominates the game in the paint as a shot-blocker, rebounder and scorer. Favors might make the biggest impact of any freshman in the league because of his skills and Tech's need for him to produce.

2. John Henson, PF, North Carolina: Without question, Henson is the incoming ACC freshman with the most potential. His versatility and skills are incredible for his size (6-10). He'll play as much as his painfully thin body will allow.

3. Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke: Kelly has a skill set that separates him from others at his position. He's the best face-up freshman forward coming into the league. He gives Duke another weapon and will stretch defenses with his deep shooting range.

4. Michael Snaer, SG, Florida State: This kid is a major talent who competes and has the ability to score from different spots on the floor. Snaer's a bit streaky as a long-range shooter. Still, he gives Leonard Hamilton a freshman capable of having big scoring nights.

5. Milton Jennings, SF, Clemson: Jennings is a mismatch for opponents. He has the jumper and the range to stay behind the line, and he has the size (6-9) and the length to score inside. But he needs to hit the weight room to reach his potential.

6. Scott Wood, SG, NC State: At 6-7, Wood is a tremendous long-range shooter and has the size to see over defenders. He has a great IQ for the game, but to maximize his impact, he needs to commit himself to improving defensively.

7. Ari Stewart, SF, Wake Forest: He has incredible athletic ability and quickness. Stewart is dangerous on the break in the open floor and flashes a rapidly improving perimeter jumper. He needs to improve his feel for the game. He kind of reminds me of Jason Richardson.

8. Durand Scott, SG, Miami: Is an attacking guard who gets to the rim on a consistent basis. The New York product scores primarily off the dribble and pull-up jumper, and Scott must improve his outside shooting. Frank Haith will love his defensive versatility.

9. Jontel Evans, PG, Virginia: Evans is a strong, stocky scoring point guard. New coach Tony Bennett is going to need this competitive player to step in right away at a key position.

10. Erick Green, PG, Virginia Tech: Green can play both guard spots and loves to run. He has elite quickness and speed and excels in the open floor. His acrobatic finishes at the rim are a sight to see.
 

10 Nonconference Games We Can't Wait To See
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

1. North Carolina at Kentucky, Dec. 5: The Tar Heels smashed the Wildcats last season, but this is a new era for both clubs. And the revamped Tar Heels have to go into Rupp, where John Calipari and his elite athletes await.

2. Michigan State at North Carolina, Dec. 1: A rematch of the national title game, the headliner of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge should give us an early indication of where the defending champs are this season. We know the Spartans will be contenders from start to finish, but the Heels could prove their worth early with a home win of this stature.
 
3. North Carolina vs. Texas, Dec. 19 (Arlington, Texas): Jerry Jones gets to debut his new stadium for basketball purposes in an advance screening for the 2014 Final Four. These two teams will likely be in the top 10 for most of the season.

4. Duke at Georgetown, Date TBA: The Blue Devils have the inside game to compete with Georgetown's Greg Monroe. This series has produced quality games, and this one should continue the trend.

5. South Carolina at Boston College, Dec. 30: The Eagles recently picked up this quality nonconference game, as the Gamecocks should be in the chase for an NCAA berth. BC will get a chance to see a point guard in Devan Downey who might remind them of one they just saw depart, Tyrese Rice.

6. Maryland vs. Villanova, Dec. 6 (Washington D.C.): The highlight matchup of the BB&T Classic will be Greivis Vasquez versus Scottie Reynolds at the point. But both teams will want to push the ball and get after each other defensively. The Terps are a trendy pick for a top-four ACC finish, while the Wildcats should be the Big East favorite.

7. Georgia Tech vs. Dayton, Nov. 19 (Puerto Rico Tip-Off): The Yellow Jackets could very well turn it around and become a top-25 team and an NCAA entrant. Dayton is the favorite in the A-10. This is one of the best first-round matchups of any of the Thanksgiving week tournaments.

Possible tantalizing matchups:
8. Boston College vs. Purdue, Nov. 23 (Paradise Jam semifinals): If this occurs, the Eagles will get a big-time game early in the season to check their chances at a conference title run. The Boilermakers return nearly everyone from last season's Sweet 16 team.

9. Duke vs. Connecticut, Nov. 27 (NIT Season Tip-Off finals): The Huskies don't have the inside game to match the Blue Devils, but the perimeter of Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker can certainly test Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith at Madison Square Garden.

10. North Carolina vs. Cal, Nov. 20 (Coaches vs. Cancer final): The Tar Heels have to get past Ohio State, and Cal would need to beat Syracuse. But if the two meet for a championship at Madison Square Garden, it would be the perfect test for the Tar Heels. UNC guards Larry Drew II and Dexter Strickland will need to learn how to go against elite backcourts, and the Cal tandem of Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher is one of the best.