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April 14, 2007
Charlottesville, VA – Prior to the start of Saturday’s annual Spring Football Game, Virginia coach Al Groh announced the three players who will serve as captains for the 2007 season. That group includes senior defensive end Chris Long (Ivy, Va.), senior tight end Tom Santi (Nashville, Tenn.) and junior guard Branden Albert (Rochester, N.Y.).
Long served as a team captain in 2006. He has already received several preseason All-America honors this spring and is expected to be a candidate for the Outland Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lombardi Trophy as one of the nation’s top defensive players. Long earned second-team All-ACC honors last year while helping the Cavaliers’ rank 17th in total defense. He started all 12 games and finished the year with 57 tackles. He led Virginia with 12 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback pressures. He had four sacks.
Santi enters his senior season with 61 career receptions. He had 29 receptions as a junior which ranked fourth among all ACC tight ends. A three-time letterwinner, he was named to the All-ACC Academic Football team last season.
Albert will enter his third season as a starter in 2007. He is one of four returning starters on the offensive line. He has started UVa’s last 24 games at left guard and is a two-time letterwinner. He allowed just one sack last year.
In addition to the captains being announced, the coaching staff also named the recipients of the Rock Weir Awards presented to the most improved players during spring drills. Junior tackle Eugene Monroe (South Plainfield, N.J.) was named the most improved offensive player while junior linebacker Antonio Appleby (Virginia Beach, Va.) was tabbed for the honor among the defensive players.
Monroe played in all 12 games last season, starting six times. He successfully returned to the lineup after suffering a dislocated knee cap injury last spring that required surgery. Appleby started all 12 games in 2006 at inside linebacker. He finished second on the team with 68 tackles.
Virginia opens its 2007 season on Sept. 1 at Wyoming.