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14 CAVALIER CORNER Jackson and cornerback Fentrell Cypress II. Many Cavaliers, however, weighed their options and decided to remain in the program, among them fifth-year defensive lineman Chico Bennett Jr., graduate student defensive lineman Kam Butler, sixth-year de- fensive lineman Aaron Faumui, fourth-year defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter, graduate student defensive lineman Paul Akere, sixth- year tight end Grant Misch, fourth-year tight end Sackett Wood Jr., fifth-year linebacker Josh Ahern, fifth-year linebacker Hunter Stewart, fifth-year safety Antonio Clary, fifth- year safety Coen King, and second-year tailback Perris Jones. On defense, Jackson — one of the most prolific tacklers in program history — will be difficult to replace, and Cypress and John- son formed an elite duo at cornerback. Still, that unit showed dramatic improvement in 2022, its first season under coordinator John Rudzinski, and a strong core returns, especially up front. Bennett and Butler are talented pass rushers, and options inside include Carter, Faumui, Akere, fifth-year Ben Smiley III, third-year Mike Diatta and fourth- year Olasunkonmi Agunloye. Safety should be another position of strength, with Clary, King, third-year Jonas Sanker, third-year Langston Long and fourth-year Donovan Johnson Jr. back. At linebacker, Ahern, Stewart, third-year James Jackson, second-year Stevie Bracey and second-year Trey McDonald are the top re- turning players. On special teams, fourth-year wide re- ceiver Demick Starling flashed promise on kickoff returns, and so did third-year wide receiver Ethan Davies on punt returns. As a true first-year in 2022, Will Bettridge had an uneven season after taking over on field goals and extra points, but fourth-year Dan- iel Sparks made the All-ACC second team at punter, and that unit should be improved this year. Offense figures to be the major question mark for Virginia this year. In 2022, under new offensive coordinator Des Kitchings, UVA struggled to transition from a pass- heavy offense to a more balanced attack. The Cavaliers ranked last among ACC teams in scoring and 10th in total offense, and they're replacing many of their most experi- enced players. After seven seasons as UVA's offensive line coach, Garett Tujague left to take that same position at North Carolina State. In January, Elliott filled that slot with Terry Hef- fernan, Stanford's offensive line coach in 2021 and '22. After losing its top six offensive linemen from 2021, Virginia was inexperienced up front last season, and that figures to be the case again this year. Third-year center Ty Furnish, second-year tackle McKale Boley, third-year guard Noah Josey and third-year center Jestus Johnson III are among the returning players with whom Heffernan will work this spring, but four linemen who started at least five games apiece in 2022 are gone — Taylor, Flores, Jonathan Leech and Derek Devine. In Misch and Wood, the Cavaliers return experienced tight ends. Elsewhere on of- fense, the receiving corps lost Davis, Kemp, The UVA Strong Fund was established to honor the memories of D'Sean Perry (No. 41), Lavel Davis Jr. (No. 1) and Devin Chandler (No. 15) — who were shot and killed on Nov. 13 upon returning to Grounds from a class field trip to Washington, D.C. — and to help victims, survivors and their families, as well as students, deal with the tragedy. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA)