The Virginia football team welcomed back spring practice with open arms after missing out last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but some level of risk comes with the game of football and spring practice. Unfortunately, two key injuries have hit the Hoos since their return to the field. Wide receiver Lavel Davis Jr. and linebacker Chico Bennett Jr. both suffered ACL tears.
UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall answered a question about injuries with that news and the timetable for the duo’s return would push into late season games or beyond. One injury occurred as part of a non-contact drill, while the other happened in a helmets only practice when two players got tangled up. Both happened on natural grass.
“I’ve kind of been thinking about the right time [to announce it but] two significant injuries so this will be news,” Mendenhall said. “Chico Bennett, our transfer from Georgia Tech, got an ACL as well as Lavel Davis got an ACL. So those are the only two players that have been injured to this point and both are possibly back in November from what I understand, but two significant injuries that we’ve had and that’s always the risk of spring practice.”
The news on Davis is a major blow for the Cavaliers on offense. The South Carolina native made a big splash as a true freshman last season . He made 7 starts over 8 games played and finished No. 1 in the ACC with a 25.75 yards per reception average. That was good enough for No. 2 nationally behind Western Michigan’s Jaylen Hall (26.92). Davis was the only player in the nation with at least 500 receiving yards on 20 or fewer catches. He ranked No. 5 in the nation among freshmen with 5 receiving touchdowns and No. 7 among freshmen with 515 receiving yards.
In other words, he made an instant impact.
At 6’7” with good hands, speed, and leaping ability, Davis also brought en element to the passing game that is hard to replicate. The obvious one on one routes near the end zone is a starting point, but he could also stretch the field for underneath receivers when farther away from the goal line and he showed an emerging ability to threaten along the seams in the intermediate game too.
The Wahoos lost Dontayvion Wicks in preseason camp last season so the hopes of pairing the 6’1” physical presence with breakout potential and Davis for the first time has been shelved for now. The loss of Davis will push more opportunities to others such as returning grad student Rashaun Henry, Wicks, or receivers.
“He’s a really good player. We expected and knew that he was capable of even more than he did a year ago,” Mendenhall said. “What I have seen is Rashaun Henry has had an amazing spring and Dontayvion Wicks, who sat out last year, basically is doing a really nice job also. Unfortunately, we’re kind of trading Lavel for Dontayvion one for one – our hope was to have both, so frustrating for all of us.”
Bennett’s loss, meanwhile, shuffles the competition at outside linebacker. The Georgia Tech transfer had started off well this spring after enrolling at the start of the semester. Bennett led all freshmen GT tacklers in 2019 before a season-ending injury cut that year short as well. Mendenhall repeatedly has said that the program doesn’t take transfers unless they are targeted for roster needs so Bennett’s loss impacts the outlook.
That makes one of the key position competitions for 2021 even more interesting as players battle for snaps in the linebacker group. The Hoos need to replace long-time contributor Charles Snowden alongside the returning Noah Taylor on the outside and Zane Zandier alongside standout Nick Jackson on the inside.
In addition to super senior Elliott Brown, back with the unexpected extra year due to the pandemic rules change, sophomore Hunter Stewart is in contention on the outside. Josh Ahern is out this spring with an injury, but could factor into the equation on the inside once preseason practice rolls around in late summer. Mendenhall said he wouldn’t be surprised to hear both their names in the mix this fall.
“Hunter is currently listed at No. 1 at that position. Noah and Nick Jackson both have lots of experience so now it’s ‘who’s next?’” Mendenhall said. “Chico, we were counting on and he already had been off to a really nice start, but Hunter is really doing a nice job currently. … The offseason really helped him. He had a great offseason. He’s leaner, he’s faster, he’s stronger, but quite frankly just more committed. … Hunter’s really done a nice job.”
