The Virginia football team is led by an experienced defense. At all three levels, the Cavaliers have multiple returning starters. Guided by a new position coach, the linebacker room holds a solid balance of experience and younger talent.

New linebackers coach Mike Adams has 26 years of coaching experience. Adams has built quite the resume, including 15 previous players that have gone on to the NFL. UVA coach Tony Elliott and Adams were assistants together at South Carolina State for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

In December of 2023, Adams accepted the job to become the new defensive coordinator at the University of West Georgia after spending the previous five seasons at Mercer. Coach Adams ultimately left UWG in March after just three months to become the linebackers coach here with the Hoos. What drew coach Adams to the University of Virginia was the reputation of the school, as well as the individuals that make up the football program.

“It’s about all the people here at the university, within the program, and those that surround this place,” said Adams on what intrigued him about this job. “The impression coming in was that everyone is the style of people that you want, the professionals that you want, and then the players, you know this is a highly regarded academic institution, so the players are going to be catered to that.”

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