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AUGUST 2022 21 BY JEFF WHITE A s Ben Smiley III heads into his fourth year at the University of Vir- ginia, his standing in the Cavaliers' football program has changed. No longer is he seen as a talented but raw defensive lineman from whom a signifi- cant contribution would be an unexpected bonus. Smiley was among UVA's most improved players dur- ing spring practice, and his coaches are counting on pro- duction from him this fall. "That motivates me a lot," said Smiley, who has been hindered by medical issues at UVA. "I definitely don't want to be a letdown to them, or for the program and the team. "Coming out of high school, I was supposed to make an early impact. That didn't work out, so now is the time I feel I can really impact this program, coming in healthy." The Blue-White Game, held April 23 at Scott Stadium, capped Virginia's first spring under head coach Tony Elliott. During the press conference that fol- lowed the intrasquad scrimmage, El- liott singled out Smiley. "I think he's probably the most versatile of all the D-linemen," Elliott said. Smiley, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 264 pounds, can line up as a 5-technique, on the outside shoulder of an offensive tackle, or as a 3-technique, on the outside shoulder of an offensive guard. "He's strong enough and physical enough to go inside and be like a Jonathan Allen," said Elliott, who as Clemson's co-offensive coordinator had to scheme against the All- America defensive lineman from Alabama. "I'm not saying he's Jonathan Allen … but he's got that kind of flexibility and versatility." Smiley, who's majoring in American stud- ies, has been in Charlottesville since the end of the spring semester, learning the playbook and working out under the direc- tion of Adam Smotherman, the program's new strength and conditioning coach. "Coach Elliott and the defensive coaches want me playing defensive end and defen- sive tackle this year," Smiley said. "In the spring, I was mostly a defensive end, and my focus on the plays was on defensive end. But now I have to learn both positions, so that will be the most important thing. "As far as my body and my weight, I've gotten a whole lot stronger and a whole lot faster to be able to play both positions." Smiley enrolled at UVA in 2019 after graduating from Indian River High School in Chesapeake. He was a heralded recruit who also had scholarship offers from such NOW NOW IS THE IS THE TIME TIME After Being Derailed By Health Issues His First Two Seasons, UVA Defensive Lineman Ben Smiley III Is Determined To Reach His Full Potential After seeing action in just two games in each of his first two seasons, Smiley played in eight games with three starts in 2021. (Photo by Pete Emerson/courtesy UVA)