"He's great," sophomore guard Mark Farrington said. "He's got amazing speed and a good sense of when to cut."
Lundy has gotten more carries than any other player so far this year, and has proven impressive, spinning and cutting past defenders for an average of 3.5 yards per carry.
Despite playing against a Colorado State defense that would shut down Colorado's running game a week later, Lundy put up 96 yards in his first collegiate game, although he had more difficulty with the speed of Florida State's defense.
"After two games against quality opponents, he's done real well," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "If he can do that in his first two break-in games, we're hopeful about the next 42."
Groh has given Lundy every opportunity to break out early in his freshman year, calling his number 33 times on the ground and five times through the air.
"I know I wanted to play this much right away, I just didn't know if I was going to," Lundy said. "Things work out for a reason. I'm getting a chance right now to show what I can do."
Fans had high hopes for Lundy and fellow freshman Michael Johnson, both of whom were part of Virginia's highest-ranked recruiting class ever, but, Lundy doesn't listen to the critics.
"It's not a lot of pressure. I don't think that any of our freshman recruiting class is feeling pressure," he said. "We've been playing football all our lives, so we just go out and play and don't worry about the pedestal that people put us on."
He was named to the All-State team as a wide receiver his junior year in high school before changing to running back. Entering his first year at Virginia, he was not the running back most people were talking about. Instead, Michael Johnson, whose blistering speed earned him accolades from many analysts, was creating most of the buzz.
He not only has to compete with Johnson for both playing time and the hearts of the fans, but also with last year's leading rusher Alvin Pearman. Again, the competition doesn't phase Lundy.
"I feel like anywhere you go, it's going to be competition," he said. "I thought I might as well go where I felt best. I felt comfortable here, I thought it was the place for me."
Not only did he quickly assert his presence among the talented young backs, but also proved his mettle and made an immediate impact at the heart of Virginia's offense.
Lundy could potetially emerge as the next great back in a tradition of Cavaliers that stretches back to "Bullet" Bill Dudley and later Barry Word, and has been highlighted by top names like Terry Kirby, Tiki Barber and Thomas Jones.
Of course, Lundy faces a tough road ahead if he hopes to be compared to the most treasured names in the most fertile position in Virginia football. He is off to a strong start, and has the opportunity to shatter the career rushing record held by Jones, who lacked the playing time as a freshman (sitting behind Barber), that Lundy has seen.
For now, however, No. 33 is happy to focus on the present with only a hopeful glance at the future.
"It feels good," Lundy said. "Anytime you can come in and contribute to a team and help a team win, it feels real good. Hopefully we'll start winning and it will feel even better."
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