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they're working really hard and matter-of-factly believing that if they do this, we will have success." The Wahoos are coming off their fifth losing sea- son in six years, but they have a lot of talent coming back — including redshirt fourth-year quarterback Matt Johns, fourth-year running back Taquan Mizzell and most of the offensive line. Defensively, the Wa- hoos must find a way to replace cornerback Maurice Canady, defensive tackle David Dean, who was fifth on the team in 2015 with 49 tackles, and defensive end Mike Moore, who posted 12.5 tackles for loss with seven sacks last fall. However, in Mendenhall's new 3-4 scheme Virginia is going to look a little dif- ferent no matter what. "My original thought," he said, "was that I would have to fight harder for initial credibility. Right from the beginning it was just, 'This is going to work. What do you want us to do?'" Outside of just what the team will look like when spring ball ends, Mendenhall is as focused on the will of his team more than anything else. And in his conversations with the players, their hunger for change has been evident. "I haven't coached a team yet where there were so many of the same responses in terms of how much better it feels, how much more they're enjoying it, how much more fun they're having," he said. Going into the spring, Mendenhall wasn't sure what his players would be able to earn, meaning that he wasn't positive they'd even get all the way to football. But they have progressively impressed him, and he feels he has a very good handle on their talent level and the way it fits with his staff's plans. "I like our team," Mendenhall said. "I like who they are first as people. I like who they are chemistry- wise and how they support each other. I like how they work. "They're going to play well. That's what I believe … I have a lot fewer questions than what I thought I would at this time when I was hired." — Brad Franklin