Football Features 
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Football Features
The "Strategy Session" is a big picture look at the University of Virginia football program's recruiting in the class of 2014. In this latest edition, check out the latest projections in light of recent roster developments such as the departure of running back Clifton Richardson.
When it comes to Virginia football, you can't go more than a few days without talking about the quarterback question. You know, the "who is UVa's starter" question. Or the "will Mike London platoon quarterbacks" question. Or the "will any quarterback emerge as a star" question. No matter how you frame it, however, the quarterback position remains the biggest piece of the puzzle at Virginia. So with that in mind the next stop for the Spring Superlatives series is "Most Difficult To Predict."
Melvin Keihn admits he "didn't really like football" until he decided to give the sport a try in the 8th grade. That decision turned out to be an excellent one. Keihn, a rising senior, has not only grown to love playing on the gridiron, but he has become a highly recruited outside linebacker.
In preparing for the 2013 season, I've decided to take a look at the Virginia football team through "Spring Superlatives." Things kicked off with "Most Depth" and "Most Likely To Surprise" articles. The next installment should be a fun one because there is a lot of room for debate I think. Which position for the Cavaliers has the "Most Potential" for the 2013 campaign?
When Mike London took over as head coach of the Virginia football program, recruiting became one of the key areas of focus. In order to turn around the Cavaliers, the coaching staff needed to bring in more talent to create depth and competition. Now after stringing together multiple solid recruiting classes in a row, some of those early recruits are entering their second and third season on the field. That experience could start to shine through this season. With that in mind, let's look at the next superlative-style breakdown with "Most Likely To Surprise" for the Hoos.
TC Williams (Alexandria, VA) defensive lineman/offensive lineman Jeremiah Clarke admitted previously that Penn State and Virginia were high on his list of schools, but until this week he had yet to name a clear set of favorites. Clarke's recruitment may be coming into sharper focus, as the 6'5", 270-pound rising senior revealed his top six schools via Twitter on Tuesday night.
Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, VA) rising senior wide receiver Jamil Kamara recently revealed his nine finalists: LSU (no offer), Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The 6'2", 200-pound prospect has added a 10th school -- the University of Pittsburgh -- to his finalist list.
With spring football practice in the rearview mirror and fall football practice still a summer away, there's plenty of time to dissect, discuss, examine, and evaluate the Cavaliers. One way to do that is with some superlative-style breakdowns. Let's get started with the recognition for "Most Depth" for the Hoos, a competition that has grown more fierce thanks to the recruiting efforts of recent years. What position holds the honors?
When the Virginia football team released its post-spring depth chart, the offensive side of the ball drew the most attention and overshadowed the defense in some ways. A quarterback competition and unforeseen shuffling on the offensive line will do that. Looking at the defense after the spring, however, held no surprises. The Cavaliers need to replace production in some key spots, but they have a lot of talented contributors returning. Let's take a look at the post-spring depth chart for the defense.
While Virginia's quarterback race holds the top conversation spot this offseason, the offensive line isn't far behind. The UVa football team released a post-spring depth chart last week and an O-Line shuffle caught everyone's attention. After all, the front five struggled through an up-and-down 2012 season and the new depth chart reflects the move of the line's best two players. Simply put, the coaches are looking for cohesion, consistency, and better run blocking ... and they still hadn't found the right mix by the end of 15 spring practices.
The Virginia football team released a post-spring depth chart last week and the offensive side of the ball drew the most attention. Discussion trended that way for two reasons: the quarterback competition and an offensive line shuffle. Both categories left Cavalier fans concerned heading into the summer. First, let's look at the quarterback spot where David Watford, Greyson Lambert, and Phillip Sims are eyeing the top spot for the 2013 season.
Prior to last Sunday's Nike Football Training Camp in Ashburn (VA), Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) rising senior defensive lineman Andrew Brown had earned 5-star status from Rivals.com, 247Sports.com, and Scout.com. The 6'4", 285-pound prospect lived up to the 5-star billing last Sunday, earning an invite to Nike's prestigious national combine event, The Opening.
The latest Nike Football Training Camp was held in Ashburn, Virginia, this past Sunday, and TheSabre.com was on hand for coverage. The latest "Sabre Scoop" features updates from the event, including news and notes on Quin Blanding, Andrew Brown, Derrick Nnadi, MJ Stewart, and more.
Talent isn't a question with respect to defensive tackle prospect Tyrell Chavis. The primary question is if he would ever meet the academic standards needed to make it through UVa admissions. The 6'3", 290-pound prospect signed with the Hoos in February of 2012, but after falling short academically he headed to Fork Union Military Academy (VA), where he is now finishing up a full postgraduate year. After briefly considering other schools, Chavis decided to re-sign with Virginia as a member of the class of 2013, but where is he now with respect to gaining admission?
The Virginia football team wrapped up spring practice this month as three new coordinators got their first chance to work with the Cavaliers. One group that turned heads this spring is the defensive line, thanks in part to the new approach of Jon Tenuta. Plus the front four for the defense have a special assistant for their position in head coach Mike London, who worked in the NFL as a D-Line coach. Here are some notes on Eli Harold and the defensive line.
Virginia wraps up spring practice this week, but the public and the media got their last look at the Hoos during the Spring Game last weekend. With the quarterback battle still going, linebackers to replace, and more storylines, there's plenty to discuss. That's a perfect time for a Sabre Roundtable so Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Frank Maloney of Hoos Talking radio, EDGE subscriber HoosQ, and TheSabre.com Editor Kris Wright answer 5 questions about the Wahoos.
Memphis University School (Memphis, TN) rising senior place-kicker Gary Wunderlich made the call on Tuesday night, informing head coach Mike London of his decision to commit to the University of Virginia. It was a dream come true for the 6'0", 180-pound prospect, who will now get to suit up for the team he grew up rooting for.
The Virginia football team made its last public appearance for spring practice this past Saturday in the Spring Game, which the Orange team won 18-15 over the Blue. Of course, there are new coaches all around the McCue Center this spring, but after Saturday's live action in Scott Stadium, some fans have wondered what's different? The offense is still a pro-style scheme with multiple formations and the defense is still features a 4-3 base look. Let's take a look at some of the variations and some other potential alterations after seeing the Cavaliers in action this past weekend.
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