Last year, the Virginia football team’s defense was anything but good. Ranked 118th in defensive efficiency, 122 in value drive rate, and 127th in adjusted line yards, the unit held the team back from a potentially spectacular season under the leadership of starting quarterback Brennan Armstrong.

Now, 2022 marks the beginning of a new era for Cavalier football. Coach Tony Elliott’s arrival led to a new defensive staff. Elliott brought on John Rudzinski, a former coach at Air Force, as the defensive coordinator. While both Rudzinski and former defensive coordinator Nick Howell are similar in their use of a base 3-4 defense, they differ in their philosophical approaches to defense. Though it will surely take time for the Virginia defense to adapt to its new leader, Rudzinski will hopefully be the spark to turn around a unit that really struggled last year.

While Rudzinski can provide the spark, though, it is the players who must fuel the fire. Last year, key players included Mandy Alonso, Noah Taylor, Nick Grant, and Joey Blount, who all concluded their time in the orange and blue. Now, it is up to the next generation.

Let’s take a look at some of Virginia’s potential defensive stars and sleepers for the 2022 season.

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