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APRIL 2018 21 fit for UVA with that assessment being prior to actually playing football, which we move into that phase next week. "The closest comparison — and it's not identical and in fact it's far from identical — but the closest comparison would be to Taysom Hill at Brigham Young, in terms of the athlete, the athleticism, the leadership, the competitive spirit. Early to say yet in terms of the yield and the outcome he's able to produce or the durability, but in terms of athleticism and style of play, that's probably the closest comparison but certainly not identical." Aside from welcoming a new quarterback and making changes to its scheme, Virginia is also looking to replace two key wide re- ceivers in Andre Levrone and Doni Dowling. But with fourth-year Olamide Zaccheaus back as well as the emergence of special teams star Joe Reed a season ago, there's plenty to work with. Volume, though, will be the key as the staff tries to get the third-year Reed more touches from scrimmage. "I think it has to be a priority," Menden- hall said, "and I'll just frame it this way: We already know when the ball comes to him, with space before defenders arrive as in kickoff, that he is very skilled. We know what he is capable of. Now when you frame that also against Doni Dowling and Andre Levrone are both gone, we need the number of touches and the yield to not only match what happened, but [it] has to increase from what it was a year ago. "As we saw, the kind of lack of sustain- ability as the season went on, so not only Joe Reed but Olamide, both those players, their roles, their touches and the outcome in terms of points, that has to be more reflec- tive of what they're both capable of doing." Though he'll be at best limited this spring with a right ankle injury, De'Vante Cross is also a key part of UVA's plan at receiver. After cross-training at both wide receiver and cornerback last season, the former quar- terback has a skill set that lends itself to playmaking ability. "When he comes back, we're looking to play him at wide receiver, and again, we're looking for more touch points for proven play- ers but also players who can fill the shoes of Andre and Doni Dowling at the receiver position," Mendenhall said. "We think he's ca- pable of that. So while Joe Reed and Olamide are kind of different in terms of what their skill set is, De'Vante Cross probably has the most likely and natural skill set to fit at receiver. "He'll receive some training still at quar- terback but not to the same kind of no- man's land he's been in because we need more help at receiver with somewhat of a more comprehensive and depth-oriented plan that's happening at quarterback now." On the defensive side of the ball, Vir- ginia will return two sixth-year seniors that should provide a big boost. Cornerback Tim Harris, who broke his wrist on a freak play in the opener against William & Mary, will return to boost perhaps the ACC's best sec- ondary this fall. Joining him in returning for one more year is fellow Richmond native Malcolm Cook. His move from outside linebacker to the inside could help UVA fill in the gap left by Kiser's departure while also allowing younger players like Charles Snowden and Elliott Brown to get more time to prosper on the outside. The issue UVA will have on defense is not only replacing Brown, but also the over- all lack of depth on the line. The Wahoos are at a point where one grad transfer (former Ohio State defensive end Dylan Thomp- son) joining the program this summer won't be enough. Mendenhall made clear that he would look for more this spring and he hopes to add help on the defensive line. "It's likely that there will be another grad transfer announced relatively soon and our intent through spring will possibly be to add one or even two more," he said. "There's still too much difference between youth and experience on our team and depth. "We still are in a position to have to ad- dress it with some grad transfers that again will fit in at UVA and do really well aca- demically and get their master's. So those filters are pretty tight." Ultimately, as year three approaches, the Hoos are hoping to be in a position to reload rather than rebuild. "There is a very specific plan and it started from the minute our bowl game was over," Mendenhall said. "In the business world, it's called succession planning and that has to be in place not only to have bodies in the offices or the chairs or in the positions that become open, but [to have] capable leadership and competent perform- ers that can actually do the job. "Our offseason design this year has been significantly different than it was the year before, not only in terms of physical and the physiological preparation but leader- ship training, competitive and team building types of exercises and the combination of all of those things at the same time. "This offseason has been distinct and dif- ferent. … It has all been intentional. There is a plan for it and it has usually yielded very good results in terms of giving the next tier of player coming up their best chance to fill the shoes that are open." Second-year linebacker Charles Snowden (left) is among the players the Cavaliers need to step into a more prominent role on the defensive side of the ball. PHOTO BY JIM DAVES/COURTESY UVA "At quarterback, at middle linebacker and at free safety — which are the three most impactful positions on our team and in our systems — those are all being replaced. However, what I expect and what our team expects and what we're holding ourselves accountable to is performing as a football program that's in year three, not year one." MENDENHALL