As the Virginia football prepares to wrap up spring practice, the Cavaliers are focused on acclimating new players to the systems in place and cleaning up some problem areas from 2023 like turnovers and an ineffective pass rush. The Hoos conclude practices with their free Spring Game on Saturday at Scott Scott Stadium at 2 p.m. Let’s check out some notes for UVA.

What The Hoos Learned From Malik Washington

Last season, receiver Malik Washington made the most of his only season with Virginia. He set single-season school records with 110 receptions and 1,426 receiving yards. Those catches and his 9.17 receptions per game both set the single-season ACC record too. He also grabbed 9 touchdown catches.

The Northwestern transfer managed all that production with little to no drop-off at any point later in the season when defenses obviously knew UVA’s intentions to get him the ball. That forced the Wahoos to play a little bit of “Where’s Waldo?” with Washington in order to keep him in play as a threat vs. solely using him as a decoy with all the attention. That included motioning him within the offense, lining him up in different spots, and changing where he would release into the routes at the snap.

Obviously, Washington managed to juggle all of those assignments and still produce. Did Virginia offensive coordinator Des Kitchings learn anything from the the game-planning and scheming needs for Washington? He said the Hoos have approached teaching a little bit differently this spring.

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