Location: Charlottesville, Va. | Founded: 1819 | Enrollment: 23,765 | Colors: Orange and Blue | Stadium: Harrison Field at Scott Stadium | Capacity: 61,500 | Coach: Al Groh Record:
(9-4, 6-2
Atlantic Coast)
TB Mikell Simpson -- Simpson started the last three games and energized Virginia's running game. He had a 96-yard run against Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl, when he amassed 170 yards on the ground.
LB Jon Copper -- Copper has started the last 25 games and leads a veteran corps of linebackers. In addition to leading in tackles with 109, he came up with two interceptions in 2007.
LB Antonio Appleby -- Appleby starts at one of the inside positions alongside Copper. He has 27 career starts.
LT Eugene Monroe -- This is the season for this senior to step up and fulfill the potential most saw in him when he arrived on campus. He and RT Will Barker will be key performers in the offensive line.
TOP NEWCOMERS
DE Matt Conrath -- With both defensive ends gone, Conrath, a highly rated redshirt freshman, has the opportunity to get in the rotation up front.
DE Zane Parr -- Parr is another redshirt freshman considered to have a great upside and opportunity for playing time.
WR Kris Burd -- Burd, a redshirt freshman, looks to compete for the third spot at receiver.
RB Torrey Mack -- The Cavaliers have veterans returning to the backfield, but Mack, a true freshman and the catch of the recruiting class, could see time after he reports in the fall.
ROSTER REPORT
--TB Cedric Peerman, who sustained a foot injury last Oct. 6 and missed the rest of the season, was cleared medically to take part in spring drills. He was rushing for better than 97 yards a game when he was hurt and won't push things because he "doesn't have anything to prove" in the spring, coach Al Groh said.
--CB Mike Parker, a backup as a redshirt freshman last season, also is getting a look at safety. He started in the Gator Bowl when the Cavaliers opened with extra defensive backs against aerial-minded Texas Tech.
--TB Andrew Pearman is no longer with the Cavaliers. Pearman returned last fall after withdrawing from school in 2006 for personal reasons. But he was sent home before last season's Gator Bowl, and Groh said the current problem was a recurrence of the health issues Pearman faced the year before, calling it kind of a "sensitive family issue."
--CB Mike Brown is on the roster but not taking part in any activities until charges he faces that include grand larceny and possession of marijuana are resolved.
Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
May 3rd, 2008 on the Gator Football homepage will be the first annual fan smack-off. Fans from all over CBSSportsline.com are invited to join a special thread being set-up which will be titled "Smack-off" to talk your best smack at your bitterest rival. Auburn v. Alabama, Michigan v. OSU, USC v. UCLA, Kansas v. Missouri, we'll have
...(more)
(POLL)
I'm smelling the perfect storm coming. Good players leave, some players return, and the coach is not excited about ANY of our quarterbacks. Oh, and we have USC to open the season. So what will our record be? How bad will the damage be? Will 3-9 get Groh fired? When will we get a coach the can recruit, develop AND actually coach during games!
With both Chris Long and Branden Albert being drafted in the 1st round and Tom Santi in the 6th... I'm pretty happy. Although, I'm going to miss all three of them next season!
The recruiting class is not as rich as usual, and issues are coming out of the woodwork. These are rough times for BIG AL AND THE BOYS. What i will say is that this is usually when Groh does his best coaching. When nobody expects the Cavs to do anything. So dont be surprised if Virginia shows up to play the trojans very tough. Oh and by the way, who
...(more)
We have a poor recruiting class this year. How does Duke have a better football recruiting class than we do? Al Groh has to do a better job of recruiting.
Has anyone else been watching his combine performance. I love the "he's not an overacheiver he's freakishly athletic". We all knew he was awesome, but a 272 lb guy running a 4.7 40??
Thank you Mr. Long for letting us ride your shoulders this season.
Sewell flunked out of Virginia, so he isn't on the team until at least the 2009 season. I can't wait for all of the Tech fans coming on here making fun of us. Others are Chris Cook, linebacker Darnell Carter and wide receiver Chris Dalton.
Also D coordinator Mike London is going to be Richmond's head coach.
