--The current crop of wide receivers is being rated as very likely the best Virginia has had in coach Al Groh's eight seasons. Junior Kevin Ogletree, who missed 2007 because of a knee injury, is rated an All-ACC candidate. He had 52 catches for 582 yards in 2006. Senior Maurice Covington (21 catches in nine games in 2007) and sophomore Staton Jobe (17 catches) are returning starters. Sophomore Dontrelle Inman and redshirt freshmen Kris Burd and Jared Green are promising newcomers, and senior Cary Koch adds depth.

--The Cavaliers came out of the spring with no sure No. 1 quarterback, though sophomore Peter Lalich, who was 35-for-61 passing for 321 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in 2007, is the likely heir apparent. Senior Scott Deke and sophomore Mike Verica also are candidates. All three played an equal number of series in the final spring scrimmage, but the order they played was determined by lot with Deke (17 of 23, 160 yards) starting followed by Verica (17 of 25, 110) and Lalich (six of 18, 72). Lalich had three interceptions.

SPRING MOVERS

DE Matt Conrath -- His one-handed interception during the spring game reminded observers of the kind of play first-round draft pick Chris Long has made over the last few seasons. Conrath is a 6-7, 269-pound redshirt freshman who usually reserved coach Al Groh calls "very athletic."

TE John Phillips -- The senior was rated one of the most improved players in the spring in addition to being named one of four co-captains. He had 17 catches last year in registering eight starts.

C Jack Shields -- After arriving on campus as a tight end, Shields, a sophomore, backed up starter Jordan Lipsey at center in 2007 and looks to be the starter when the Cavaliers open Aug. 30 against Southern California.

LB Denzell Burrell -- Burrell, a junior who played mostly on special teams his first two seasons, looks to step into the starting position vacated by Jermaine Dias. He was picked as the most improved player on defense in the spring.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"What I am positive about is that in practice No. 15, with what we could have gotten done at this point, we are pretty close to that." -- Coach Al Groh, summing up the progress of the spring.

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