Virginia Receivers Eager For Bigger Opportunities

Virginia Cavaliers Malachi Fields
Virginia receiver Malachi Fields completes a touchdown catch against Pitt. ~ Photo By Kris Wright/TheSabre.com

The focus for the Virginia football team’s wide receivers this spring will be continuing to develop as there was a lot of production lost with guys like Dontayvion Wicks and Keytaon Thompson entering the NFL Draft. The roster includes a mix of older players looking for breakthroughs, a transfer, and younger players potentially on the rise.

Halfway through spring practice, there are four guys who have needed to step up for the Cavaliers to have success through the air: graduate student Malik Washington, senior Demick Starling, junior Malachi Fields, and sophomore JR Wilson. Washington is a transfer from Northwestern where he played in all 24 games over the past two seasons for the Wildcats. For the other three, the 2023 season will serve as a chance to have a breakout year after playing a smaller role previously.

Virginia coach Adam Mims is in his first season in charge of the wide receiver room. Despite little production in the past from this crop of players, Mims has liked what he’s seen throughout the first few spring practices.

“It’s been good seeing these guys bounce around, have fun, play fast, be physical and ultimately make plays,” Mims said. “We got a lot of guys that are somewhat unproven, so they come out with a great hunger every day. They’ve come out with a great attitude every day and that makes it so much easier to coach.”

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