The calendar flipped to August so that means kickoff can’t be far away for the Virginia football team. The Hoos open with UCLA on August 30 at Noon. The Sabre’s annual Hoo Preview gets you ready for the season throughout August and things get started with a “By The Numbers” article.
1
The ACC features one returning 1,000-yard rusher from 2013. That man is Virginia senior co-captain Kevin Parks, who rushed for 1,031 yards.
3
The number of open practices during UVa’s preseason preparation. The sessions will be open Monday-Wednesday, August 4-6 at the McCue Center practice fields. The practices begin at 7:15 p.m.
8
The number of interceptions last season for Cavalier safety Anthony Harris, who also wears jersey No. 8. That led the ACC and the nation for individual INTs. Harris, who also recorded 80 tackles, was named first-team All-American by multiple sources for that performance. He’s also on a number of preseason watch lists that track some of the best defensive players in the nation.
9.02
The average yards per completion for David Watford, Virginia’s starting quarterback in 2013. That number ranked 104th, or last, in the nation for players with a minimum of 15 passes per game (and who played in 75% of the team’s games). In the months since the end of the season, redshirt sophomore Greyson Lambert has risen from back-up to starter on the depth chart.
11
The number of rushing touchdowns for Kevin Parks last season. In addition to being the league’s only returning 1,000-yard rusher, he’s also the leading returnee in rushing touchdowns.
17
The number of interceptions thrown by UVa last season. Only Duke had more INTs with 19 in 2013. David Watford had 15 of the picks, which ranked last in the league.
28
The number of sacks by Virginia’s defense last season. That led to 229 lost yards for opponents. Defensive end Eli Harold led the way with 8.5 sacks, which ranked 10th in the ACC.
32
The number in percent for third down conversions by UVa opponents last season. By allowing just a 32% conversion rate, the Hoos ranked fourth in the ACC and ninth nationally.
49
The number worn by tight end Zachary Swanson. He’s one of just four tight ends on the roster and the only one with more than one career reception after the transfer of Jake McGee this summer.
56
The number of passes broken up by the Cavaliers last season. That number ranked second in the ACC and tied LSU for 19th nationally.
85
The number of punts for Virginia’s Alec Vozenilek last season. That placed him second in the ACC. He averaged 41.2 yards per punt.
89 and 91
The number of tackles by Virginia linebackers Daquan Romero and Henry Coley in 2013. Romero posted 89 tackles, which ranked 13th in the ACC, and Coley rolled up 91 tackles, which ranked 12th in the ACC. Both players return as part of an experienced defense for 2014.
122.4
The number for Virginia’s pass efficiency defense in 2013. The Hoos ranked fifth in the ACC in that category by intercepting 10 passes and allowing just 50.5% of passes to be completed.
348
The number of combined yards rushing and receiving for true freshman Taquan Mizzell in 2013. Mizzell missed two games and took time to come back from a high ankle sprain. The first five-star recruit to come to UVa since Eugene Monroe in 2005 (he’s since been joined by Andrew Brown and Quin Blanding), the Hoos hope to get Mizzell more involved in 2014.
400:34
The number in time of possession for Virginia in 2013. The Hoos led the ACC when taken on a per game average; they had the ball for 33:22 on average.
506
The number of passes attempted by Virginia in offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild’s first season. That led the ACC. With the Cavaliers trailing on the scoreboard for large chunks of the season, those numbers may be misleading. Will Fairchild continue to throw it around in 2014?
995
The number of plays by the Virginia offense in 2013. That ranked third in the ACC behind Clemson (1,037) and Duke (1,016). UVa represented the only team in the top five in the ACC that played 12 games. That means no one in the conference ran more plays per game than the Hoos. The offense needs to be more productive with those plays, though. The Cavaliers tied Wake Forest for last in the ACC in yards per play with an average of 4.4.
1,003
The number of kick return yards for Virginia last season. With 54 kick return attempts, that gave the Hoos an average of 18.6 yards per return. Only Wake Forest averaged less. The 54 kick return attempts, meanwhile, was second in the ACC behind Miami so maybe the Cavaliers should take a knee more often on kicks into the end zone? The poor kick returns certainly added to last year’s struggles. The Hoos ranked 106th nationally in starting field position delta, the difference between offensive starting field position and opponent offensive starting field position.
46,279
The average number in attendance for UVa’s eight home games in 2013. That’s the lowest average since the 2010-2011 season when it was 45,459.
