Thursday, February 7, 2008

Last Season: 9-4, with a 31-28 loss to Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl.

Top Players Lost: DE Chris Long, G Branden Albert, S Nate Lyles, PK Chris Gould, TE Tom Santi.

Needs Filled: Colter Phillips from Georgetown Prep matches the prototype for successful Virginia tight ends. Phillips is 6 feet 6, 240 pounds and may be next in line with the loss of both Santi and Jonathan Stupar to graduation. Quarterback Riko Smalls committed in part because of the uncertainty surrounding Jameel Sewell, who is not enrolled for the spring semester for academic reasons.

Best in Class: Mikell Simpson proved this season how successful players without a defined position entering college could thrive at Virginia. The Cavaliers hope they found a similar player in Torrey Mack, whom recruiting services listed simply as an athlete. Virginia lists him as a running back, but he also played wide receiver at Stratford High in Connecticut.

Sleeper: Defensive lineman Tory Allen did not play football until his senior season at Lovejoy High in Hampton, Ga., earning acclaim for his basketball ability instead. At 220 pounds, Adams needs to add size, but with his 6-6 frame and athleticism -- he also played wide receiver at Lovejoy -- he could excel at pass rushing.

One Who Got Away: Virginia was the first school to show interest in wide receiver Dyrell Roberts from Smithfield High in Virginia, but he chose Virginia Tech instead. Getting beat out by the Hokies was a common theme: Of the eight players both Virginia Tech and Virginia offered a scholarship, only defensive lineman Klinton Ruff signed with the Cavaliers. Virginia landed only three players from in-state.

Coach Al Groh: "There are players in this class at each position that are as talented as any players who have preceded them. There's a very good level of athletic ability within the class. If we could stock our team with players from Richmond, Lynchburg, Salem, Hampton, wherever it might be, that would be our preference. By the same token, we have to get what we need to get around here, wherever it might come from."

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Home Town
Tory Allen	DL	6-6	220	Hampton, Ga.
Javaris Brown	WR	5-11	180	Macon, Ga.
Steve Greer	LB	6-2	218	Solon, Ohio
Jimmy Howell	P	6-6	238	Florence, S.C.
Cameron Johnson	LB-TE	6-4	220	Washington
Torrey Mack	RB	6-0	190	Stratford, Conn.
Rodney McLeod	DB	5-10	180	Hyattsville
Matt Mihalik	OL	6-7	275	Middlefield, Ohio
Austin Pasztor	OL	6-6	310	Tillonsburg, Ontario
Colter Phillips	TE	6-6	240	Darnestown
Mike Price	DL-OL	6-5	265	Chesapeake, Va.
Klinton Ruff	DL	6-4	290	Norfolk
Bill Schautz	TE	6-4	220	Oradell, N.J.
Riko Smalls	QB	6-1	190	Plano, Tex.
Aaron Van Kuiken	OL	6-7	308	Cincinnati
Ausar Walcott	DB	6-4	200	Hackensack, N.J.
Devin Wallace	DB	5-11	200	Fort Washington
Rod Wheeler	TE	6-3	240	Highland Springs, Va.