The Virginia football team continues to work its way through the early stages of preseason practice and while the Hoos haven’t been hitting in full pads yet during the first days, the coaches have already turned up the heat on their expectations. That was evident in the words of Cavalier coach Tony Elliott after Monday’s evening session.

Elliott pointed to the running back race as an example of a spot where the competition for playing time is creating challenges for the players. Elliott has pushed Mike Hollins to step up his attention to details, while senior Perris Jones has been trying to break out thanks to that very thing. The head coach said the player who does the job best will win the starting job. That race is currently between Hollins (5’9″, 208), Jones (5’8″, 180), and Miami Hurricanes transfer Cody Brown (5’10”, 227) since Amaad Foston (6’0″, 218) has missed some practice time with a knee injury.

“I’m still challenging [Hollins]. Again, talented, but got to become more detail oriented,” Elliott said. “Right now, if I had to – Amaad’s been out for a little bit with his knee – so Perris has actually been the guy that’s been trying to separate himself by doing the little things right. I anticipate that Mike’s going to turn it on because he’s going to see the best guy’s going to play. I told the team and told Perris in front of the team, if you want the job, go take the job. I don’t care if you came here as a walk-on. If you’re the best guy, it’s going to be your job. Hopefully, that’ll light a fire in Mike. We know we’re going to need Mike and I just need him to be his best. In order for us to establish the run, we’ve got to have multiple guys playing at a high level, not just one.”

Brown, meanwhile, is playing catch-up as a transfer. He came to Virginia this summer and is still learning the playbook, terminology, and the demands of the program. The potential is there, Elliott said, but that things are still spinning for the transfer.

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