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24 CAVALIER CORNER This year, though, Tech has a lot of holes to fill (due to both graduation and transfer) while UVA brings a lot of experience to the field. This will be a game that is circled on the schedule every season, but that's especially the case this year given the expectations the UVA players and coaches have and how the game went last year. TOP POSITION GROUPS Secondary — With Hall, a popular pre- season All-America pick, and third-year Darrius Bratton (five starts last year) back at corner and both Joey Blount (second-team preseason All-ACC pick by Athlon) and Brenton Nelson (25 starts last two years) returning as third-year safeties, the Cava- liers don't appear to take much of a step back despite putting two 2019 draftees from its secondary — safety Juan Thornhill and cornerback Tim Harris — into the NFL. The defensive backfield isn't just those four, though. Third-year Nick Grant, second- year Heskin Smith and a healthy second- year Germane Crowell return at corner, while third-year Chris Moore and redshirt first-year Joe White return at safety. And there are several first-years, including Gainesville's Chayce Chalmers, who could factor in a well. Athlon dubbed the UVA secondary as the ACC's best and No. 6 nationally entering 2019. Quarterback — UVA isn't in a spot where it's solely Perkins, a second-team All-ACC pick this preseason by Athlon, who draws the focus in the QBs room. The Cavaliers also boast an excellent backup in redshirt first-year Brennan Armstrong, a rugged 6-2, 220-pound lefty from Ohio who was able to play in four games last fall while redshirting thanks to the new rules. Behind him, UVA has two youngsters that will be fun to watch in first-years RJ Harvey and Luke Wentz. Harvey, a 5-8, 190-pounder from Orlando, Fla., plays a lot like Perkins, while Wentz, a 6-3, 200-pounder, is believed to be the first foreign-born player to sign with a Power Five school as a quarterback. Athlon listed this group of signal-callers second in the ACC, behind only defending national champion Clemson. Linebacker — Snowden is the one who draws a lot of attention, but inside the com- bination of fourth-year Jordan Mack, third- year Rob Snyder and third-year Zane Zan- dier is going to be especially important for UVA. The trio has combined to play in 71 games with 46 starts. The competition to replace Peace figures to include third-year Matt Gahm, second-year Noah Taylor and third-year Elliott Brown as well as first-year early enroll D'Sean Perry. Wide receiver — Even with Zaccheaus' services no longer available, the Hoos still have a solid group at receiver. In addition to Reed and Dubois, the Cavaliers have third- year Terrell Jana — who had an excellent offseason — outside as well as shifty guys like second-years Tavares Kelly and Billy Kemp prepared to man the slot. Jana had 11 catches for 151 yards and a score last year, while Kelly hauled in 10 for 121. Fellow second-year Ugo Obasi is back healthy and that's good news as the 6-0, 195-pounder oozes potential. The Cavaliers also went out and signed two grad transfers at the position: Terrell Chatman, who for- merly teamed with Perkins at Arizona State, and Dejon Brissett, a Canadian native who starred at Richmond the past few years. Defensive line — With redshirt fourth- year Richard Burney healthy again at end, the experience of redshirt fourth-year Eli Hanback returning in the middle with 36 career starts and the youth movement con- tinuing in earnest, UVA's D-line has the potential to go from a major liability a year ago to a real strength. Third-year Miami native Mandy Alonso is likely the other starting end, and second- year interior players Tommy Christ, Aaron Faumui and Jordan Redmond all figure to be key pieces in a rotation that the Cavaliers would've loved to have had last year, let alone the first-years who just enrolled. TOP IMPACT FIRST-YEARS RB Mike Hollins — Though UVA didn't lose a slew of starters, one the Cavaliers will have to replace in 2019 is running back Jordan Ellis, who played seemingly every snap for the past three seasons. That opens the door for others this fall, including the first-year from Louisiana. At 5-9 and 200 pounds, he's got a similar frame to Ellis and could be an intriguing fit, even right away. The nation's No. 50 run- ning back recruit in the 2019 class arrived on Grounds this summer following an impres- sive career at University Lab High School in Baton Rouge. He helped his team win back-to-back AAA titles and was the MVP of the second, rushing for 273 yards on 27 car- ries with four scores while also catching five passes for another 47 yards and a touchdown. DT Jowon Briggs — The first Ri- vals100 signee for Mendenhall at Virginia, the former four-star defensive tackle was ranked No. 73 overall in his class. The 6-1, 295-pound Cincinnati native figures to be in the mix for early playing time based not only on his skills but also his acumen; the Under Armour All-American is as well-rounded a recruit as the program has likely ever signed. A musical savant with a computer sci- ence hobby, he just so happened to be the 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW CAVALIERS AT A GLANCE Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall 16-22 at UVA (4th year) and 115-65 career (15th year) 2018 In Review: 8-5, 4-4 ACC (T-3rd Coastal) Last Bowl Appearance: Defeated South Carolina 28-0 in the 2018 Belk Bowl Total Wins 2014-18: 25 (5-4-2-6-8) 2019 Preseason National Rankings: No. 25 by Athlon and Street & Smith's, No. 42 by Lindy's and No. 43 by the ESPN Football Power Index. Returning Lettermen: 46 (22 offensive, 21 defensive, 3 specialists) Returning Starters: 16 (6 offensive, 9 defensive, 1 specialist) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: QB Bryce Perkins (2,680 yards, 25 TD, 9 INT) Rushing: Perkins (923 yards, 9 TD) Receiving: WR Hasise Dubois (578 yards, 5 TD) Tackles: LB Jordan Mack (66) Sacks: Mack and LB Charles Snowden (2.5) Interceptions: Three tied (2) Fourth-year cornerback Bryce Hall was listed as a preseason first-team All-American by Athlon and Lindy's. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA