Ras-I Dowling, in orange, should be a force for the UVa defense this season.

UVa’s situation at cornerback – and really, on the entire defense – changed drastically the moment Ras-I Dowling surprised many and decided to return to Charlottesville for his last year of eligibility. Without Dowling, Virginia had a solid group of cornerbacks but no established shutdown corner around which the coaches could plan. With Dowling, things look a lot more rosy.

The Starters

Ras-I Dowling’s return was somewhat of a surprise simply because he has a lot of the measurables the NFL scouts are looking for. Size? 6’2″ and more than 200 pounds. Speed? Check. Recovery burst? Yup. Length? Got it. Jumping ability? Absolutely. Balance? No problem.

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