Matt Mihalik is one player working at center.

Virginia lost quite a few starters from last season’s bowl team and one of the most important positions to replace is at center on the offensive line. Anthony Mihota started all but one game (he played the majority of that one missed start that came due to disciplinary reasons) at center the last two seasons. With an experienced group of players dotting the offensive roster, finding a center that can handle the snaps and at least some of the protection calls is an important piece of the puzzle for the upcoming season.

“The center has so many obligations. I remember when I was here before that at one time we had Elton Brown, even though he played guard, as the guy who called the protections out. A lot of times your center is the guy who would call protections out – who is the MIKE and then that would predicate if they bring blitzes how the scheme up front would unfold,” London said. “I’ve been here where you take a guy with probably the most experience and you let him do some of those roles. … Some of the guys that could be that person like an Elton Brown was to us years ago are not practicing.”

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