Canty suffered his knee injury on this fourth-quarter play.

Al Groh accurately described Chris Canty as among the most enthusiastic, energetic, intense and passionate members of Virginia’s football team. Unfortunately, he also was among the most indispensable.

On defense, anyway, Canty may have been the one guy the Cavaliers could least afford to lose. Which is why his season-ending knee injury is such a big downer for a team that seemed destined for great things this season. That’s not to say those hopes and dreams are dashed. Far from it. But losing a great player sure makes it tougher to achieve greatness.

And make no mistake, Canty had turned himself into a great player. His rise from lightly-regarded recruit to coveted NFL prospect was one of the best individual stories about Virginia football. It was a testament to his potential, his hard work and the program’s emphasis on player development. Canty came to UVa looking like a basketball player – he played just two years of high school football – and transformed himself into a 6-7, 290-pound terror.

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