Virginia football fans have grown used to Charles Snowden being front and center. He’s a team captain, outspoken about issues, and one of the most productive linebackers on the team in recent seasons. He earned honorable mention All-ACC recognition last season and entered his senior year on a handful of award watch lists.

Through two games, however, Snowden hasn’t been front and center. The Cavaliers forced 7 turnovers in the opener, but none of them involved Snowden. Linebackers Zane Zandier and Nick Jackson have been piling up double-digit tackles. Richard Burney and Noah Taylor lead the team in sacks. Snowden does lead the team in pass break-ups.

That shouldn’t be setting off alarm bells just yet, though. Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said Snowden has been effectively doing his job. The goal, of course, is to add a little more zest to the meat and potatoes. That would mean the sacks that Snowden’s become known for and being a bigger factor in the havoc categories that the defense pursues.

“I would say Charles has been steady to this point,” Mendenhall said. “Steady is short of being a dynamic or impactful. He has yet to truly break out and take over a game or truly influence the game. That doesn’t mean he’s not being effective because he’s being effective down-in and down-out and play-in and play-out. So, steady and consistent, solid has been his performance. In terms of truly changing a game or having signature plays or things that are maybe noteworthy, not yet, but it will come.”

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