Cavalier Corner

April 2016

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"I think he's a really good wide receiver prospect," Friedman said of the 6-3, 195 pounder. "He's a big guy who covers a lot of ground, he could play a variety of spots and he has a knack for the big play. I think maybe not so much early in his career at UVA, but down the line I think that's really going to show itself. He's a very impressive prospect." All told, it proved to be a good start on the recruiting trail for the new coaching staff. "When this kind of staff comes in, they can use their experiences," Friedman said of Vir- ginia's recruiting efforts. "They're specialized and used to going after a certain type of player. In the past, that was a high academic guy who wasn't going to get in any sort of trouble. "That fits well at UVA — those standards are similar. The staff has a good idea of the type of player they want and they have a good idea where to go to get that player. I think you'll see them really start to recruit Virginia harder and harder as they get out. "They have to do well in their region and in their state, and that's where adding Coach [Ruffin] McNeill really helps them. His con- nections, especially in North Carolina, are re- ally going to be useful. They will spot recruit players in other regions based on connections and need, but ultimately they'll find the guys to keep getting this roster a talent upgrade." ◆ When Virginia hired Bronco Mendenhall in De- cember, he had no way of knowing how his new players would respond. But over the nine weeks between the start of the semes- ter and the beginning of spring practice in late March, the an- swer was emphatic. "What I have learned relatively quickly is that this team is not resistant," he said prior to the start of spring practice. "They're eager, and they're hungry. "I didn't know where they would be," Mendenhall added, "but I've been really impressed with how hard they want to work and how willing they have been to embrace the level of de- tail that we've asked for. "I've really been impressed with their desire to embrace the concept and the principle of earned not given." With a new coaching staff in place, it's been a very different second semester at UVA. Play- ers have been working with director of football performance Frank Wintrich to meet Mendenhall's standards and doing so without any UVA logos or colors on their clothes. Once spring practice started, there were no numbers on their jerseys. Just strips with their names on the tops of the hel- mets. "I've asked them to do some things that are pretty extreme, with not wearing Virginia gear and no wearing numbers for practice," Mendenhall explained. "Our team simply wants to know what standard it will take for us to have success, and they're trusting me that I'm setting that standard for them. And because of that initial level of trust, THE CAVALIERS ARE EAGER AND HUNGRY THIS SPRING 2016 SCHEDULE Date Opponent Sept. 3 Richmond Sept. 10 at Oregon Sept. 17 at Connecticut Sept. 24 Central Michigan Oct. 1 at Duke Oct. 15 Pittsburgh Oct. 22 North Carolina Oct. 29 Louisville Nov. 5 at Wake Forest Nov. 12 Miami Nov. 19 at Georgia Tech Nov. 26 at Virginia Tech

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