Three-List Game Preview: Virginia Football Hosts Richmond To Open 2018

By: Chris Horne |
Senior Juan Thornhill, who is now Virginia’s starting strong safety, leads a talented defensive back group against a productive trio of Richmond receivers on Saturday.

FCS foe Richmond returns to Scott Stadium for the first time since September 3, 2016, when the Spiders ruined Bronco Mendenhall’s debut as Virginia football’s head coach with a dominating 37-20 win over the Cavaliers. The feeling of shock that permeated through Scott Stadium remains vivid, at least for me, and I suspect that the UVA players who were part of that game are anxious for the rematch.

After the win at UVA, Richmond compiled a 10-4 record that included an 8-3 regular season record and two FCS playoff victories. The Spiders took a step back last season, though, finishing with a 6-5 mark and missing the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2013. It was the program’s first season under head coach Russ Huesman, who replaced now Delaware head coach Danny Rocco.

The Spiders are once again a formidable foe, something Mendenhall acknowledged during his August 27 press conference.

“I think the league that Richmond plays in, and William & Mary and JMU, I think it’s a really good league,” Mendenhall said. “I don’t think good football is tied to perceived level. Good football is good football. I think the majority of teams in that league play good football. They’re coached well; there is good talent. The biggest difference is they’re just not as deep in number of scholarships. I like the receivers a lot. I like the quarterback. I like their system. The other thing is they have a history, and they know how to win. Those are the expectations and just part of their identity. So, yeah, I like the test. It’ll be a good one.”

Virginia, meanwhile, improved substantially from Year 1 of the Mendenhall era to Year 2. The Hoos finished 2016 with a 2-10 record before improving to a 6-7 mark last season, reaching a bowl game for the first time since 2011. Navy brought Virginia’s 2017 season to a tough end with a blowout win over the Cavaliers in the 2017 Military Bowl. The final loss stung, but Virginia heads into 2018 with confidence from last year’s improvement and the determination to continue to ascend.

Richmond must replace five offensive starters from last year’s squad, including quarterback Kyle Lauletta, who shredded Virginia in 2016. While young on the offensive line (the Spiders have three new starters), Richmond returns quality running backs and wide receivers. Huesman told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that his offense will move toward a read-option, spread offense with dual-threat performer Kevin Johnson the new starting signal caller.

Richmond returns seven players on defense, which runs a 4-2-5 base set. Both starting linebackers are back along with three starters on the defensive line, which is led by 6’3”, 290-pound Andrew Clyde. Last year’s defensive unit surrendered under 200 yards passing per game while allowing 169.4 yards rushing per contest. However, two of five starters return in the defensive backfield.

For the home team, Saturday brings the anticipated debut of new starting quarterback Bryce Perkins, who takes over for the departed Kurt Benkert. Perkins gives Mendenhall the dual-threat quarterback he has desired since arriving on Grounds. Virginia desperately wants and needs to improve its running game, and Perkins has the potential to help the team do just that.

Virginia boasts a rock-solid stable of running backs led by the powerful Jordan Ellis. H-back Olamide Zaccheaus figures to get the ball early and often, either through the air or on handoffs, as Virginia’s best offensive player heading into the season. The wide receivers played well in camp, drawing praise from Mendenhall. Junior Joe Reed is one to watch in terms of a breakout year, while freshman Tavares Kelly could be one to watch. Reliable tight end Evan Butts returns as a potential security blanket for Perkins. Virginia’s offensive line has talent but does not have proven performance as a unit.

Despite the loss of All-Americans Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding, this year’s defense has the potential to be better than last year’s unit … if the defensive line can come together. Virginia is razor thin on the defensive line. The strength lies in the secondary, while the linebackers should be solid.

On special teams, Richmond’s placekicker, Griffin Trau, made 12-of-15 field goals and 37-of-41 extra points last season. He made only 1-of-3 from 40 yards or more. UVA’s placekicker, A.J. Mejia, went 8-of-12 on field goals last season but didn’t make one of 40 yards or more. Punter Lester Coleman is coming off a terrific year for Virginia, while Richmond will feature a new punter.

Virginia Football Essentials

Three Big Questions

1.How will the new quarterbacks fare?

Mendenhall said quarterback play will have to be “exceptional” for the team to do well this year. That’s a lot on Bryce Perkins’ shoulders. The 6’3”, 215-pound junior enrolled at UVA this past January, earned the starting job this past spring, has the dual-threat capabilities Mendenhall prefers, and on Saturday takes the field for the first time as the Cavaliers’ starting signal caller. Reviews have been positive so far, but is Perkins ready and able to be the “man” on gameday?

On the other side, the Spiders must replace Lauletta, who the New York Giants selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Richmond turns to redshirt junior Kevin Johnson, who like Perkins has dual-threat abilities. The 6’0”, 202-pound quarterback’s primary experience came in the 2016 FCS Playoffs, where he completed 50-of-76 passes for 761 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Spiders to two postseason victories before falling at Eastern Washington. Johnson was redshirting that season before Lauletta went down with an injury.

2.How good will Virginia be in the trenches?

Virginia has questions on both sides of the line. On offense, redshirt freshman Ryan Nelson gets the first start of his collegiate career, manning the left tackle position and Perkins’ blindside. Sophomore Chris Glaser starts at left guard after emerging late last season to play the final five games at right tackle. There is quality experience at all other positions; however, the unit has yet to take the significant step forward the offense truly needs. Will this be the year?

The defensive line is a bigger concern, although there is some good news with Mandy Alonso and Richard Burney back at practice this week. Both players missed some time in fall camp due to injury. The dependable and underrated Eli Hanback is listed as a starting defensive end after starting all of last season at nose tackle. Burney is listed as the other starting defensive end. Mendenhall is going with true freshman Jordan Redmond as the starter at nose. There are five defensive linemen listed in the two deep – Hanback (starter at end, backup at nose), Burney, Redmond, Alonso (backup to Hanback at end) and true freshman Aaron Faumui (backup to Burney at end). Two true freshmen and two players coming off injury (Burney with a concussion, Alonso with a lower leg) equates to uncertainty.

3. Who will emerge alongside Jordan Mack at inside linebacker?

Virginia had Micah Kiser to, among other things, fill the gap up the middle against the run. Junior Jordan Mack moves over to Kiser’s spot and sixth-year senior Malcolm Cook is the listed starter at Buck linebacker over sophomore Zane Zandier. With a true freshman starting at nose, you can bet Richmond will test the middle of the defense. Mack is outstanding, but what can we expect from the other spot? Mendenhall was pleased with the competition between Cook, Zandier and Dominic Sheppard, but we’ll see how they perform on Saturday.

Three Big Foes

1.Richmond’s wide receivers.

Cortrelle Simpson (60 catches, 1,019 yards, 6 TDs), Dejon Brissett (63 catches, 896 yards, 7 TDs) and Tyler Wilkins (62 catches, 876 yards, 7 TDs) formed a dynamic trio of receivers last year, combining for 185 catches for 2,791 yards and 20 touchdowns. Although Lauletta is gone at quarterback, Richmond returns all three of these standout receivers, who Mendenhall described earlier this week as “productive, consistent, confident, and they make a lot of plays.”

Mendenhall continued: “I think the simple key is the more you focus on one of the receivers, the other two then become capable and more dynamic. The workload has been spread evenly, and I don’t think that’s by accident. You have to defend them all.”

2.Richmond’s running backs.

The Spiders feature three capable backs. There is junior Xavier Goodall, who rushed for 452 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry last season. 6’0”, 225-pound Gordon Collins rushed for 242 yards and four scores last season. Deontez Thompson, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2016 but missed four games last year due to injury, returns as well. If Thompson returns to form, the Spiders could have a very good stable of running backs to go along with a dual-threat quarterback.

(Note: Goodall reportedly will miss the Virginia game due to a knee injury.)

3.Andrew Clyde.

The redshirt senior defensive lineman led the CAA in sacks a year ago. He has amassed 25.5 tackles for loss in his Spider career, with 11 of those coming in the 2017 season. Clyde is one of three returning starters on the Richmond defensive line, which could provide a significant test to the Cavalier offensive line. In addition, linebacker Dale Matthews and linebacker Justin Rubin return. Rubin, an inside linebacker, led the team in tackles last season. Matthews was third on the team in tackles and tallied four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2017.

Three Big Matchups

1.UVA front seven versus the run.

Wide receiver may be the strength of the Richmond offense. However, as Kris Wright wrote in this “99 Thoughts” feature, look for opponents to run right at the Cavaliers. There is a good chance the Spiders will try and create room for their receivers by establishing the run against a thin UVA defensive line and a Micah Kiser-less linebacking corps. The Cavaliers need to shut down the run and make Richmond’s new quarterback throw against its potentially stout secondary.

2.UVA’s secondary versus Richmond’s receivers.

Bronco Mendenhall has praised the play of his secondary, especially safety but also corner, where young players Darrius Bratton and Heskin Smith have played well along with sixth-year senior Tim Harris and junior Bryce Hall. Juan Thornhill and Joey Blount are the starters at safety, but reigning ACC Defensive Rooke of the Year Brenton Nelson and Chris Moore have been playing high-quality football as well, Mendenhall said. This group of defensive backs versus Richmond’s productive receiving corps will be fun to watch. Virginia’s secondary should prove to be a tough test for Richmond’s new starter to face.

3.UVA’s offensive line versus Richmond’s defensive line.

As mentioned above, the Cavalier offensive line has yet to establish itself as a strong unit in the Bronco Mendenhall era. Although the Spiders have some quality players up front, the Hoos need to be able to control the line of scrimmage and establish a physical identity. If the line can’t do it against Richmond, it’s hard to get too excited for the remainder of the schedule.

Hey, Remember When …

Virginia last beat Richmond in Scott Stadium? It certainly wasn’t in 2016. The victory came two years prior, when the Hoos crushed the Spiders, 45-13.

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