Virginia Football: 2019 Spring Practice Storylines

Two spring practices are in the books for the Virginia football team. Twelve more remain until the Spring Game takes place on April 27.

UVA, which is looking to build on its first winning season since 2011 and first bowl victory since 2005, kicked off spring practice 2019 on Monday (March 25) with star quarterback Bryce Perkins cleared to throw after undergoing finger surgery on his throwing hand earlier in the offseason. Coach Bronco Mendenhall noted that the 6’3” rising senior was “much more accurate than I expected” given his lack of throws this offseason. Mendenhall reiterated that the coaches will be eyeing Perkins closely and will adjust his volume of work if necessary.

Perkins, who joined former Oklahoma Sooners and potential overall No. 1 NFL Draft pick Kyler Murray as the only two players in all of Division 1 college football to rack up over 2,600 passing yards and over 900 rushing yards last season, is one of the keys to next season’s success, especially on offense. He’ll need help, however, and Virginia heads into the 2019 campaign needing to replace its leading rusher and leading receiver.

Spring Storyline: Finding Perkins’ Supporting Cast

As mentioned, Virginia returns its most important skill position player, quarterback Bryce Perkins, who flourished to the tune of 2,680 yards passing and 923 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns (25 passing, nine rushing) in his first year with the Hoos. Gone, however, are last year’s leading rusher Jordan Ellis, leading receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, as well as reliable tight end Evan Butts, who had 16 catches for 141 yards and two scores. This spring will be important for player development at both the running back and wide receiver positions, with running back being the top priority given the lack of proven playmakers.

The leading candidate to replace Ellis, who rushed for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior, is junior PK Kier. The 6’0”, 230-pound running back has played in 25 games his first two seasons in Charlottesville, so he has some experience. Kier has had some nice carries but has totaled only 112 yards rushing, including 32 yards on six carries as a true freshman and 80 yards on 26 carries last season.

Fellow rising junior Lamont Atkins, who had 33 yards rushing on four carries in 2018, will also get a chance to show off his talents, although Mendenhall has consistently mentioned him as a “Speed Back,” meaning he will probably see some carries and catch the ball out of the backfield but probably won’t be the workhorse back Ellis was.

So, this spring is big for both Kier and Atkins. If the coaches aren’t sold on any one running back as the primary replacement for Ellis, Mendenhall said last week the staff could utilize more of a committee approach next season. Allow me to make a not-so-bold prediction. Even if Kier and/or Atkins perform well, look for incoming freshman running back Mike Hollins to receive a significant share of carries next year. He is more of an Ellis/Kier type, and with his talent it’ll be hard to keep him off the field.

The running back position is less certain than wide receiver, which returns seniors Hasise Dubois and Joe Reed. Those two combined for 77 receptions (52 for Dubois, 25 for Reed) and 1,043 yards (578 for Dubois, 465 for Reed) in 2018. Zaccheaus was a huge part of the offense, though, and Perkins’ favorite target (93 catches). This spring is an opportunity for Perkins to develop a rapport with other wideouts besides Dubois and Reed.

“Right now, it’s as if we’re starting with a clean slate with a lot of these guys,” Mendenhall said.

“We still need to find out exactly what (wide receiver) Terrell Jana can do, what (H-back) Billy Kemp can do, what (wide receiver) Tavares Kelly can do, some incoming receivers, as well as what PK and Lamont and those guys in the backfield,” Mendenhall added. “So, some unproven players on offense that this spring will be helpful for.”

Senior Tanner Cowley is a reliable starter at tight end, but this spring will be important for redshirt freshman Grant Misch, who moved over from defensive end/linebacker, and junior Christian Baumgardner, who is back on the team and back at tight end, to learn the position as well. Misch should be able to help as a receiver and as a blocker, while the 6’5”, 250-pound Baumgardner will likely be used mostly as a blocker.

Spring Storyline: Building Offensive Line Depth

Center Tyler Fannin is one to watch this spring and into fall camp. Redshirt freshman Micah Mariteragi, playing right tackle here, and redshirt freshman Martin Weisz, playing right guard here, are also looking to show off their talents this spring. ~ Photo courtesy of Virginia Athletics

Virginia is looking to replace departed starters Jake Fieler and Marcus Applefield. Additionally, Mendenhall reported that four offensive linemen are out this spring due to injury: junior Dillon Reinkensmeyer, junior Chris Glaser, sophomore Gerrik Vollmer and sophomore Bobby Haskins.

Reinkensmeyer has played in 26 games the past two seasons, starting all except for two while seeing action at tackle and center. Glaser has played in 18 games with nine starts. He, too, has experience on the inside and outside of the line. Haskins played in 13 games as a right tackle last season, while Vollmer saw playing time in one outing in 2018.

Reinkensmeyer is a sure-fire starter on the offensive line along with left tackle Ryan Nelson. Glaser should be a starter and Haskins could well be in the mix for one based on his true freshman season performance. Reinkensmeyer, Glaser, Haskins, and Vollmer are expected to be ready to go in the fall, but for now the door is open for other offensive linemen to see major action this spring.

Some linemen I’m anxious to see this spring include …

Joe Bissinger, Guard – The redshirt freshman is a player I liked a lot coming out of high school. Virginia needs help on the interior with Fieler and RJ Proctor moving on.

Tyler Fannin, Center – Fannin excelled last preseason before an injury sidelined him for the season. This spring is a chance for him to pick up where he left off pre-injury. He could be a valuable contributor at center or guard next season.

Victor Oluwatimi, Center – The walk-on transfer from the Air Force Academy is eligible to play next season and competing for playing time on the interior line.

Ryan Swoboda, Tackle – The 6’10” sophomore has intriguing size and moves well. He played tight end some last season but Coach Mendenhall said his future is on the offensive line.

Spring Storyline: Leadership

Following the first spring practice of the year, Mendenhall said: “I was really anxious to see identity and competitive spirit and edge and eagerness to play the game, so I actually thought practice was cleaner than what I expected in terms of assignments and in terms of execution. Certainly, the depth immediately showed up with some of our injured players. I thought I would notice. I didn’t think I would notice quite as much as I did, and so that’s going to be a management issue through the spring. But again, our execution and the way we played the game is cleaner than I expected. What I didn’t see today was edge and intensity and maybe the competitive nature that I was hopeful for, and we’ll have to address that and get that right Wednesday.”

He added: “I think the team is learning what it’s like without Chris Peace, without Jordan Ellis, and without Olamide. There’s a different dynamic. Those guys have been here a long time and have been consistent forces, and so I think the team was looking and kind of wondering, ‘Oh. They’re not here.’ I think that possibly contributed to our lack of identity on day one, in terms of just maybe bigger leadership voids than they had maybe anticipated in this setting.”

From Perkins to cornerback Bryce Hall to defensive lineman Eli Hanback, Virginia has plenty of players who should be able to step up into leadership roles. At Wednesday’s practice, Perkins certainly seemed to be up to the task of being a vocal leader for this squad.

Spring Storyline: Finding a Punter

Lester Coleman was outstanding as UVA’s starting punter each of the past two seasons. He is gone now, though, and juniors Brian Delaney and Nash Griffin are among those competing for the job this spring.

Delaney finished 2018 as the team’s place-kicker, but he entered college as a more highly regarded punter than place-kicker. There certainly is a possibility that he could handle both the punting and place-kicking duties. Meanwhile, Griffin, who you can read more about in this terrific article by Jeff White, is the team’s holder but was recruited by the Hoos as a preferred walk-on punter.

Spring Storyline: Defensive Backs to Watch

Safeties Joey Blount, Chris Moore, and Brenton Nelson may miss the entire spring because of injuries. The Hoos are looking to replace safety Juan Thornhill and cornerback Tim Harris. Who are some DBs to watch this spring because they could be called upon in the fall for significant roles?

De’Vante Cross – The oft-moved talent out of Pennsylvania seems to have found a home at safety. With the aforementioned Blount, Moore, and Nelson sidelined, Cross can really get a crash course of development this spring.

Chayce Chalmers and Antonio Clary – These two enrolled on Grounds in January of 2019. With the injuries and departures, they have an opportunity to impress this spring as true freshmen safeties. A good chance for them to learn the defense and at least provide some help at safety next season.

Germane Crowell – The talent is there for Crowell, but can he stay healthy? Mendenhall says he should be back and participating in spring practice at some point, which his important because UVA needs depth at corner. If healthy, Crowell could make the cornerback rotation for the Hoos.

Joseph White – The Virginia Beach native redshirted last season. He has potential as a safety or cornerback, wherever the staff wants him to play. I like his versatility and athleticism.

Final Storyline: Will the Fans Show?

Mendenhall and company have guided the Hoos form a 2-10 campaign in 2016 to a 6-7 record and a bowl appearance in 2017 to an 8-5 record in 2018 that included a bowl win. UVA has improved every year under Coach Mendenhall. I think fans are excited, but will we see this in the stands for the April 27 Spring Game? Let’s hope so, because this program feels it is on the right direction. Go Hoos!

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  1. Nice article Chris. Isn’t Grant Misch considered a redshirt freshman since he only played in one game last year as a true freshman?

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