As the Virginia football team prepares for its April 18 and 19 games, the Cavaliers will be practicing 20 hours per week. This is the first chance for the coaching staff to size up the 2003 squad.
Because only enrolled students can participate, incoming freshmen are excluded from these practices, but this will have a markedly lowereffect on this year's spring practices since fewer freshmen are expected to play essential roles next season. Consequently, the coaching staff has taken this into account when designing practices.
"In the structure of it, this year's spring practice will be very different than last year's spring practice," coach Al Groh said. "Last year, we knew a lot of the players who would be taking part this [season] weren't here yet."
One highly anticipated freshman, however, is expected to play an integral role in these sessions. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks enrolled in the University for the spring semester and will see his first action in spring practice. This also will be the first time most of the coaching staff will see him play live as well.
"Very few of us have seen Ahmad with pads on except on tape," Groh said. "The whole staff is very anxious to see him. This is something he's been anticipating for seven or eight months longer than everyone else in his class."
Brooks was the headliner of the most highly touted recruiting class in the University's history when he signed his letter of intent a year ago, but spent this past fall at Hargrove Military Academy, a nearby high school.
"I am excited to get out there on the field," Brooks said. "I have waited for this a long time, and there are a lot of things I can learn out there. Everyone is like a family around here, and practicing with everyone for the first time will help me get to know everyone even more."
Brooks was named Defensive player of the year by ESPN recruiting guru Tom Lemming and USA Today when he was recruited. Groh said he was excited about Brooks' ability to play both inside or outside linebacker.
Although most analysts rated Brooks as an inside linebacker and many expected him to fill the shoes of single season tackle record holder Angelo Crowell, Groh mentioned the possibility of playing him outside opposite Darryl Blackstock, who set the ACC freshman sack record this season.
"I think he's talented enough to play both," Groh said. He has great "size and range."
In addition to a first look at Brooks, spring practices will provide the first opportunity for the young Cavaliers to play together and prepare since the Continental Tire Bowl win over West Virginia. For the freshmen of the 2002 season, this will be the first spring mini-camp.
"The impact has been significant," Groh said of the young players completing their first workout. "But one of the things we tried to stress to the players was that becoming bigger, stronger, more explosive is not what makes you a better football player. What makes you a better football player is playing better football."
The positive experience of the season is not an indicator that nothing will change and a number of players are expected to be looked to for contributions at different positions.
Many of the position changes result from the loss of seniors wide receiver Billy McMullen and safety Jerton Evans. Red-shirt freshman Stefan Orange will get looks at both cornerback and safety, as will Junior Jermaine Hardy. Senior cornerback Art Thomas also will get a look at wide receiver.
Perhaps most intriguing is what will happen to backup quarterback and punt return specialist Marques Hagans. Hagans received limited playing time at running back and wide receiver this year and was usually only utilized on trick plays. Hagans made a splash when he came in for ACC player of the Year Matt Schaub in the first game of 2002 to give the Cavaliers their first score, and finished the season with a punt return for a touchdown in the Tire Bowl.
"I want to cut down on the amount of time that I can talk to him during the games next year," Groh said, meaning he wanted Hagans' playmaking ability on the field more next season. "He's got an excellent competitive attitude. We'll play him in the game. We don't need a quarterback
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