Kempton Shine piled up starting experience and stats at Eastern Michigan before joining the Virginia defense. ~ Photo courtesy of Jim Daves/Virginia Athletics Media Relations

With the countdown to kickoff underway, the Virginia football team sits a little more than three weeks away from its season opener. The Hoos host Richmond on Saturday, August 31 for the season opener at Scott Stadium at 6 p.m.

When the Cavaliers take the field, the secondary will feature a lot of veteran guys potentially leading the charge. After all, there are 10 players listed as juniors, seniors, or graduate students among the defensive backs. Many of those players already have been significant contributors at the college football level either at Virginia or in a previous uniform.

Will that age and experience help the defense bounce back from an injury-challenged 2023? Will the chemistry between players find a groove quickly with some new faces in the mix? The Sabre Summer Reading Series winds down with a look at the secondary.

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