Virginia’s fall camp has turned into a daily proving ground, and both sides of the ball are feeding off it.
That’s the kind of setup coaches love. The offense gets pushed by a defense that can actually make life uncomfortable, and the defense gets sharpened by having to chase down a unit with real size and experience. On Wednesday, both of Virginia’s coordinators pointed to that back-and-forth as a major reason the Cavaliers are getting better in camp.
John Rudzinski said his focus stays squarely on his defensive group, but the last two weeks have also shown him what Virginia’s offense can do when his players are forced to battle Des Kitchings’ side every day.
"You don't know when you're competing against your brother every day in the back yard," Rudzinski said. "You don't know how good your brother is. But when your brother ends up being, you know, a college basketball player and a good hooper, you're competing against somebody good each day."
That same daily edge is helping Virginia’s offense too. The starting offensive line is made up of five graduate students, but Kitchings is already thinking ahead - both to next season and to the possibility that someone gets hurt.
One player he singled out was Grayson Reid, a 300-pound sophomore trying to carve out a role. Reid has been getting work against Virginia’s starting defensive line, and Kitchings likes what that has done for him.
"There's some unproven talent there," Kitchings said, "but the competition in practice, they're having to block Anthony Britton and Jason Hammond and {Derrion] Henry-Young. ... Over the next few weeks, we can still see the growth of those guys. And I like the way Grayson Reid ... is handling the circumstances of playing the center position, making the calls, straining, competing."
The same kind of test is helping Virginia on the other side of the line. Rudzinski is sorting through a group of transfer linemen for snaps, and they’re getting a serious challenge by lining up against veteran offensive tackles McKale Boley and Monroe Mills every day.
That’s been especially useful in evaluating Justin Townsend, the graduate transfer who posted 8.5 sacks at Columbia last season and can line up at tackle or rush end.
"He shows the ability to pass rush on the inside, and he's been able to win some one-on-ones with the tackles -- two really good tackles that he's getting to face every day," Rudzinski said. "And so, excited to see how his role continues to expand as well."
The competition hasn’t stopped with the line play. Kitchings said his receiving group is loaded with newcomers, and none of them have separated themselves yet. But that group is getting daily work against a veteran secondary led by transfers Omillio Agard and Brandyn Hillman, both of whom bring Big Ten experience.
Virginia now has one more chance to sort things out before the opener. The Cavaliers’ second and final intrasquad scrimmage is set for Saturday, and Kitchings said that session will carry real weight as coaches continue shaping the depth chart for the Aug. 29 season opener against N.C. State.
"I put a lot of stock in that," Kitchings said. "because that's an opportunity in Scott Stadium."
In Other News...
Virginia Still Has One Big Offensive Question Before The Opener
Virginias preseason camp has brought some clarity in a few spots, but the wide receiver room remains one of the teams most unsettled areas as the opener draws closer. Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings said the group is still sorting itself out, with a mix of transfer arrivals and returning players competing for jobs while trying to show more consistency and create better separation.
For now, no one has broken away from the pack, which leaves the depth chart very much in flux heading into the final stages of camp. A final intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday should offer the clearest look yet at how the receivers line up, giving the staff one last chance to evaluate the pecking order before game week arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Xavier Browns Return Could Be Huge For Virginias Backfield
Xavier Browns path back to Virginias backfield took another important step this week, with the running back cleared for full-contact practice after working his way back from the ACL injury he suffered last October. Brown had spent the early part of fall camp easing back into practice, and his return has been one of the more closely watched developments around the Cavaliers as they sort out their options on offense.
Brown said he was excited to be back on the field, and the recovery behind that moment was no small thing. He went through six weeks on crutches and leaned on the support of Virginias coaches and training staff throughout the process, making this latest clearance feel like a meaningful milestone even if the full payoff is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]