Al Groh is a man with a plan.
When the football coach came to
Virginia, he professed a desire to recruit size, speed and athleticism. His goal was for Virginia to compete for the ACC championship in 2003 and a national championship by 2004. You can now move that latter goal up a year.
Despite this being a down year for in-state talent, Groh went national to reel in a second straight top-20 recruiting class, signing 11 players from outside Virginia.
Groh now has the pieces in place to make a title run as early as this coming year.
"We got good firepower at receiver, a real good shut-down corner, and linebackers that can run," Groh said.
Last year's Virginia class, rated as high as fifth, featured 10 guys with four or five stars. The most amazing part was that of those 10, only running back Wali Lundy, outside linebacker Daryl Blackstock and defensive end Kwakou Robinson saw regular action.
This year's class features even more size, speed and athleticism. Groh went out and recruited specifically to fill his needs. While the stars might not be as high, it is important to note that Rivals made its ratings system tougher.
One place Groh has made major upgrades is his linebacking corps. Groh always has been a defensive coach, and this defense could rank among the best next year.
He signed 6-foot-6 Vincent Redd, a freakish pass-rushing outside linebacker who runs the 40 in 4.65 seconds and also will play basketball at Virginia, evoking comparison to former UNC two-sport star Julius Peppers. Groh went into eastern Tennessee, an area long dominated by Virginia Tech and Tennessee, and stole Redd.
"This is a player who's got some big-time ability," Groh said. "It's going to be hard to throw that three-step drop over him."
Groh also signed Lemming's ninth best outside linebacker, Jermaine Dias, a relentless pass-rusher who benches over 300 pounds.
One linebacker who could force his way into the lineup is New Jersey linebacker Marvin Richardson. Virginia's first commitment, he is a versatile athlete with 4.45 speed. He was not as highly regarded coming out of high school, but is a player much like Jason Snelling, and one who could vastly exceed expectations.
These three recruits only deepen the talent base that Groh already has amassed. ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Darryl Blackstock will return, along with two of last year's five-star recruits that didn't suit up last fall. Ahmad Brooks, 2001's USA TODAY Defensive Player of the Year already has enrolled at Virginia after spending first semester at Hargrave Military Academy, and Kai Parham, a Parade All-American last year who redshirted this fall both are top-notch players. These six players give Virginia linebackers who will strike fear in ACC offenses for a long team.
"Once these young players continue to develop and get some time in our system, we're going to have some pretty imposing linebackers," Groh said.
In the defensive backfield, Philip Brown's blazing 4.35 40-speed should help right away if the Hampton native qualifies academically. Should he do so, rivals.com's number eight corner should start as a true freshman. Virginia also got a big, rangy free safety in hard-hitting Virginia Beach native Robbie Catterton, who could see immediate playing time.
Brown "is a shut down corner," Groh said. "Those guys are hard to find. [And] Robbie just shows up where the ball is. He's got a good ruggedness about him."
Groh also will have a much-improved offensive line for Continental Tire Bowl MVP Lundy to run through. He went down to Florida and grabbed the nation's top center, Jordy Lipsey, from under Miami's nose. He went into Texas and took SuperPrep's number six offensive lineman, 309-pound Ian-Yates Cunningham from Oklahoma and Texas. In state, he signed 6-foot-6, 318 pound tackle Marshall Ausberry. Groh signed five lineman total, all at least 6-foot-3 and 272 pounds.
"They're a pretty imposing group," Groh said. "They reflect the way we want offensive linemen to look, plus they're pretty athletic."
With Heisman candidate Matt Schaub returning at quarterback, Groh also has added some new weapons to the arsenal that will fill the void left by graduating All-ACC receiver Billy McMullen. One receiver to watch is Fontel Mines, a 6-foot-5, 205 pound specimen from Richmond who has been timed as fast as 4.4 seconds in the 40. Groh recruited guys who can stretch the field, like 6-foot-3 track star Deyon Williams. In fact, Mines' impressive 40 time may be the slowest among the four incoming receivers, three of whom top 6 feet.
Williams "is the so-called size-speed receiver," Groh said. "He's got good ability to jump on the run and good ball skills."
Virginia got a tight end in Jon Stupar who could make an instant impact. Groh went into State College to get Stupar, whose parents were both Nittany Lions.
Groh also nabbed Schaub's potential successor in Kevin McCabe who, like Schaub, is a big Pennsylvania native. Ranked by rivals.com as the fifth-best pro-style quarterback in the country, he shows tremendous instincts and accuracy, cast much in the mold of Schaub.
McCabe "has good accuracy, but what I like most about him is that he's all about winning," Groh said of the only quarterback targeted in this class.
More than anything else, that hunger is what Groh has targeted. He wants guys who know how to win and want to win, because that is what Virginia is ready to do. Virginia has upgraded its size and speed, which is needed to compete with the country's top programs. Groh has gone into markets traditionally cornered by other football powerhouses and emerged with four and five-star recruits. He also knows how to take lesser-heralded prospects like Snelling and makes them stars.
There won't be as many immediate contributors to this year's team, but the talent level continues to rise in the Cavalier program. Groh has elevated the talent level in two years to where top recruits will have to compete for jobs.
"Perhaps we won't play or start as many" true freshman, Groh said. "But I think there will be a good amount of action."
This team will feature some frighteningly good athletes next year and will only get better with 2004 projected to be a recruiting year rich with in-state talent.
By that time, Groh will have a national championship ring to entice recruits.
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