Virginia’s wide receiver room is almost entirely new this fall, and that makes it one of the most intriguing parts of the offense as training camp approaches.
The Cavaliers are still built to lean on the run. Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings clearly likes to establish the ground game, and Virginia averaged more than 39 rushing attempts per game last season on its way to the Atlantic Conference regular-season title. J'Mari Taylor ran for 1,062 yards and Harrison Waylee added 556.
But even a run-first offense needs answers through the air, and Virginia’s passing game has plenty of questions. The Cavaliers finished 11th in the ACC in air yards last season, and none of their top four wideouts from a year ago are back.
Trell Harris, who led the group with 59 catches for 847 yards, transferred to Oklahoma. Cam Ross, who had 53 receptions for 543 yards, signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos.
Jahmal Edrine, who caught 46 passes for 564 yards, was dismissed from the team. Taylor, who finished with 43 catches for 253 yards, joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.
That turnover leaves position coach Adam Mims with a lot to sort out. One of the biggest names in the mix is senior transfer J.
Michael Sturdivant, who looks the part at 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds and brings experience from UCLA and Notre Dame. He has not been a featured target at either stop, though, posting 65 catches in two seasons with the Bruins and 27 in one season with the Irish.
Virginia will need more from him now. In Kitchings’ offense, he should have chances off play-action if the run game does its part, and if he can use his size to create separation, he could put up numbers in the neighborhood of what Harris produced last season.
There are other options, too. Kameron Courtney flashed as a sophomore with 25 receptions for 234 yards, and he is still chasing his first college touchdown catch. He looks like a strong candidate to work in the slot.
The transfer group adds more experience. Da'Shawn Martin comes over from Kent State, Tyson Davis from Central Michigan, and Jacquon Gibson from UMass, and the three combined for 121 catches last season. Gibson alone had 63 receptions for a UMass team that went 0-12.
Senior Tekai Kirby is also in the mix after converting from tight end. His family name will sound familiar to Virginia fans: his father, Terry, was an all-ACC running back for the Cavaliers in the 1990s.
The quarterback situation only adds to the challenge. Beau Pribula is the presumptive starter, but he still has to beat out fellow transfer Eli Holstein. That matters because every passer throws a different ball, and this group needs as many reps as possible with whoever wins the job.
The good news for Virginia is that this is an experienced receiver room. The bad news is that timing and familiarity still have to be built, and that process will be one of the most important parts of camp.
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