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16 CAVALIER CORNER and physically, you're going to battle," Hagans said. "You're going to be able to overcome anything that's put in front of you. You're ac- countable as a competitor, every time the film is rolling or you're competing against somebody you're responsible for that." The third requirement might not be as glamorous as hauling in long touchdown passes on Saturdays at Scott Stadium but is critical to the development of a UVA wide receiver — and that is to play special teams. Not only is it required to play, but it's re- quired to start on special teams. Reliability in the run game is the fourth requirement of a UVA wideout. The ability to protect the ball carrier in the run game and play a role in the team gaining yards without carrying the ball is the ultimate sign of a team-first attitude. The final requirement is one that may seem most obvious in the job of a wide receiver: be reliable in the passing game. "We put four things in front of catching, and so that just always tries to create the cul- ture and mindset that we do team stuff first, then us," Hagans said. "We always talk about how we sit at a round table. There's no head of the table [in the wide receiver room]." To align with Mendenhall's 4th Side mentality where everybody on the team is important, the pass catchers pride themselves on being the first ones to celebrate a touchdown with their teammates or the first guys to help another Cavalier off the ground. It's the little things within the program and posi- tion rooms that have manifested a successful culture. LOOK GOOD, PLAY GOOD To set the tone each week in the fall, Monday for the Cavalier wideouts is dubbed "Make it Count Monday." There is a weekly competition among the receiv- ers in which everyone has to dress up in nice clothes and present themselves to the group. "It's more of a mindset," Hagans said. "You set the tone for the week based on how you present yourself." It's serious competition. Fourth-year Ra'Shaun Henry came in one Monday in a suit. After meetings and the team lift, the players, along with Hagans, start populating the group text message thread with pictures. A group vote ensues, and a weekly winner is chosen. There is a season-long tally of weekly winners. CHARACTERISTICS OF A UVA WIDE RECEIVER The occupants of the Virginia wide receiv- ers room all have unique skill sets, but all are very different in what they bring to the offense. When you look around the room, you see Wicks, an explosive athlete who goes up and gets every ball. Then you see Henry, a smooth route runner who also can come down with contested catches. The veteran of the group, Kemp, is under- sized, but his speed, quickness and com- petitiveness are equalizers. Kemp is one of 27 Cavaliers to haul in 100 career passes and is knocking at the door of the program's all-time top-10 list. The addition of a big-framed athlete like Woods adds a whole different dimension in how he can separate from defenders with his size. Keytaon Thompson, listed as a "football player" on the team's depth chart, has been a pass magnet for UVA in the opening weeks of the season. On the other end, Hagans believes they all are similar. "They all love football, they all love to compete, and they all want to win," Hagans explained. "They are all selfless teammates. They could care less about who gets the credit. They just want to show up ready to work every day and do whatever is neces- sary for us to win." A trait that the group prides themselves on is catching with their hands and not their bodies. When practice is over and the field is clear, one thing you'll likely hear in the distance is the chatter of encouragement and the thump of the football leaving the passing machine. "They believe in practicing, catching 150- 200 [footballs] every day," Hagans said. "It's just like a culture or a habit. We go to the hotel, they get 150. We go in the room, they get 150. You're talking about guys that just love catching the football." In recruiting talent to the wide receiver room, the coaching staff looks for athletes, guys who run track or play basketball in high school. If it hadn't been for a scholar- ship offer a month before signing day, Wicks " They all love football, they all love to compete, and they all want to win. They are all selfless teammates. They could care less about who gets the credit. They just want to show up ready to work every day and do whatever is necessary for us to win. " WIDE RECEIVERS COACH MARQUES HAGANS Billy Kemp IV is one of 27 Cavaliers to haul in 100 career passes and is knocking at the door of the program's all-time top-10 list. (Photo courtesy UVA)