Jahmeer Carter anchors a Virginia defensive line with a lot of experience. ~ Photo courtesy of Jim Daves/Virginia Athletics Media Relations

The Virginia football team posted three wins in each of the last two seasons, but the tale of each year looks different for the defense.

In 2022, the Hoos ranked in the top 50 nationally for total defense at 357.6 yards per game and the general opinion was the unit improved dramatically from the previous year. In 2023, the Cavaliers dropped all the way to No. 104 defensively allowing 409.3 yards per game. That brought into question whether 2022 was more of a fluky turnaround than a sign of progress, though 2023 stands alone as John Rudzinski’s only season as a defensive coordinator with a total defense that ranked outside the top 50.

With the 2024 season now on the doorstep, the UVA defense will try to prove it has a bounce back effort in the tank. To do that, the Hoos will be leaning heavily on experience, especially up front where the defensive line brings back four starters with 162 games of college experience.

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