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18 CAVALIER CORNER NEW FACES A coaching transition is never easy, espe- cially in the "transfer portal era." The Cava- liers were hit hard in a few key positions, specifically the offensive line. Between grad- uation and the portal, UVA lost its top six offensive linemen from a year ago, a group that combined for 179 career starts. Elliott and offensive line coach/recruit- ing coordinator Garett Tujague went to work quickly, adding experience up front from the transfer portal. The Cavaliers were able to add transfer John Paul Flores, who is coming off back-to- back Ivy League championships at Dartmouth and has 20 career college starts to his name. Andrew Canelas, a 6-9, 315-pound tackle from Lehigh, is also a portal addition. With competition wide open, expect contributions from some of the seven true first-year offensive linemen on the fall roster. Second-year Logan Taylor and third-year Jonathan Leech (two career starts) will be looked at to serve a larger role this season. The guys up front will play a key role in Elliott's commitment to developing more of a balanced attack on offense. In 2021, UVA had the fifth most pass attempts (553) in the country compared to 339 runs, the fourth fewest in all of college football. The Cavaliers are well equipped in the backfield with a running back group led by Mike Hollins (4.3 yards per carry), who is returning for his third season. Miami transfer Cody Brown along with second-year Amaad Foston, fourth-year Perris Jones and fifth- year Ronnie Walker Jr. add to the depth at the running back position. MAN IN THE MIDDLE The Cavaliers return one of the top defen- sive players in the ACC at one of the most crucial positions on the defensive side of the ball. Fourth-year linebacker Nick Jack- son led the ACC in tackles with 117 last season, a year after finishing second in the league with 105 stops in 2020. He's the first Virginia linebacker to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since Mi- cah Kiser in 2016 and 2017. Elliott tabbed former Air Force defensive coordinator John Rudzinski for the same role in Charlottesville. Under Rudzinski in 2021, the Falcons allowed 299.5 yards per game, the fifth fewest in the country and ranked 34th nationally in yards per play al- lowed (5.24). Throughout the spring, Rudzinski has placed a high emphasis on fundamentals. "Every detail matters," Jackson said. "We're working on every single little thing that you can imagine. From tackling to hand place- ment to just going back to every fundamental that you learn in Pee Wee football. He defi- nitely practices what he preaches." Third-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks broke Herman Moore's 31-year-old single-season receiving yards record by amassing 1,203 yards in 12 games last fall. (Photo by Pete Emerson/courtesy UVA) Last season, fourth-year linebacker Nick Jackson paced the ACC in tackles with 117 and was named second-team All-ACC. (Photo by Pete Emerson/courtesy UVA)