Hoo Preview ’08: Defensive Backs

The Roster

1: Trey Womack – 5’11”, 182, So.

4: Vic Hall – 5’9″, 190, Jr.

17: Brandon Woods – 6’2″, 211, Jr.

19: Ras-I Dowling – 6’2″, 200, So.

22: Byron Glaspy – 5’11”, 206, Sr.

23: Dom Joseph – 6’1″, 195, R-Fr.

26: Rodney McLeod – 5’10”, 180, Fr.

29: Rico Bell – 5’10”, 190, So.

30: Ausar Walcott – 6’4″, 200, Fr.

31: Chase Minnifield – 6’0″, 192, R-Fr.

32: Brandon Jarvis – 5’9″, 185, Sr.

34: Matt Leemhuis – 6’1″, 201, So.

40: Corey Mosley – 5’10”, 197, R-Fr.

42: Devin Wallace – 5’11”, 200, Fr.

43: Mike Parker – 6’2″, 200, So.

* Numbers subject to change

When it comes to the Virginia secondary in 2008, it’s easy to have mixed feelings in the preseason. After all, many of the names are recognizable. Byron Glaspy. Vic Hall. Ras-I Dowling. Beyond the familiar, there is arguably more depth than any time in the Al Groh era. Still, it’s hard to shake a nagging feeling of uncertainty.

Why? Two proven contributors and experienced veterans are gone in Nate Lyles and Chris Cook . Outside of Glaspy, there isn’t a long list of demonstrated performance as Groh likes to say.

Hall didn’t have as disastrous of a season as some critics like to claim and in all likelihood, he is going to be better. Still, it sure felt like opposing offenses were picking on him at times last season. Hall ended up with 58 tackles, but a lot of those stops came after his receiver caught the ball in front of him undeterred. Certainly, some of that was by design (zone defenses), but he will have to have more pre-catch success this season to elevate his game another step.

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