UVa’s young secondary features Anthony Harris at safety.

For the Virginia defense, 2012 will be looked at as a transition year. After finishing third in the ACC in total defense in 2011, the unit must undergo a major facelift this season. UVa must replace three starters on the defensive line and in the secondary. A plethora of freshmen and sophomores will get a chance to compete for starting jobs as the Cavaliers reload on defense. At the safety position, sophomore Anthony Harris is ready to step into the spotlight.

Harris was a standout performer in all three phases of the game at LC Bird High School, serving as a quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, kick returner, and punt returner for the Seahawks. The Chesterfield native was slotted at safety upon arriving on Grounds and he appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman, mostly on the kick coverage teams. Harris finished the season with 14 tackles. While Harris only saw a small amount of time at safety in 2011, the experience on special teams allowed him to get acclimated to the college game, and paved the way for him to take on a bigger role this season.

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