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Aug. 17, 2007
The Cavaliers practiced under sunny skies Friday afternoon in front of a full set of stands at the practice fields behind the McCue Center.
With training camp heading down the home stretch several newcomers have made an impression on head coach Al Groh and his coaching staff. Among those making the biggest impressions at this point are long snapper Danny Aiken and wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, two members of the recruiting class who are expected to play early this season. There could be others who could also bid for playing time this fall.
Aiken, a Roanoke, Va., native who prepped last season at nearby Fork Union Military Academy, is looking to replace reliable two-year starter Tyrus Gardner. Aiken’s roots continue a recent trend for the Cavaliers–long snappers from the I-81 corridor in southwest Virginia. Gardner hailed from Wytheville, while his predecessor, Ryan Childress, was from Shawsville.
“We’re impressed with what Danny’s done,” Groh said earlier this week. “As has been our expectation, he’s got the most velocity on the ball coming back that we’ve had in our snap operations since we’ve been here.”
Inman, who kind of flew beneath the recruiting radar after missing most of his senior season last year, is a natural pass receiver. “He’s got that little show of confidence about him,” said Groh. “He feels as if the belongs (playing) on this level.
“He goes and gets (the ball). He plays like the ball belongs to him.”
Last year’s redshirts making a move
NT Nate Collins was the only true freshman to play last season, the fewest to see the field under Groh. The other 15 members of his recruiting class redshirted last year giving Groh a list of talented players ready to step forward for this season.
“There’s three or four members of (last year’s) class that are having a positive week right now and are giving encouraging signs that things are clicking in a little bit and (B.J. Cabbell) is one of them,” he said.
This group, not unexpectedly, is progressing at varying rates. According to Groh, it takes time for some to get ready to play as they mature physically and emotionally at different times. “They’re just going to need to continue through that growth process,” he said. “There are some of that class that are starting to move forward faster than some others.”
Notes:
Saturday morning’s practice is open to the public. It is scheduled to go from 8:45-10:45 AM. The temperature has been in the 90s for much of the week but local weather forecasts indicate the temperature is expected to drop this weekend and continue into early next week.
Inside linebacker Antonio Appleby has had a very good training camp according to Groh. “He and (Jon Copper) really are in sync with each other,” said Groh. “The four of them operating as a unit, along with Clint (Sintim) and Jermaine (Dias), are really on the same page with a lot of things. (Appleby and Copper) inside, particularly, really communicate well; they see things the same way and they respond to situations the same. Their talents mesh and their personalities mesh together very well.”
Groh said LB Olu Hall will not be on the team this fall. The head coach indicated Hall is in good academic standing with UVa, but not the NCAA. “He’s been so easy to root for and he’s put so much into this,” said Groh. “You just want to see something positive happen for him. Whatever plan that we’re able to put in place for Olu will be with that in mind. We’ll see what we can do to give him a chance to really have some fun and have some production and get that degree that is so important to his future.”
Friday’s Question of the Day
What is your favorite video game right now?
Gordie Sammis: NCAA 08
Chris Cook: NBA 2K7
Hall Simmons: NCAA 08
Aaron Clark: Tiger Woods Golf
Cary Koch: Guitar Hero
Nate Collins: Guitar Hero
Alex Field: Tiger Woods Golf
Zak Stair: Call to Duty 3
Jack Shields: NCAA 08
Byron Glaspy: NCAA 08
Brandon Jarvis: Madden
Sean Gottschalk: Gears of War
Maurice Covington: NCAA 08
Antonio Appleby: NCAA 08
Order Your 2007 Fan-Shirt
The official 2007 Virginia football fan-shirt is now available exclusively at the Cavalier Team Shop online and the Cavalier Team Shop at the John Paul Jones Arena. The Virginia athletics department has partnered with Nike to produce this season’s shirt. Click Here to order your shirt today!
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Heath Miller, a former UVa tight end, current Pittsburgh Steeler and member of the Cavalier Nation, sports his 2007 Fan-Shirt
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