Having new faces in the huddle at the start of the season is a part of college football. With players only allowed four years of eligibility, new personnel is a part of the game. Constant player-turnover is something every program has to deal with, but this year, the Virginia football team has more than its fair share of new faces. Having lost seven players from last year's 8-5 team, there will be many young players looking to get their first start for the Cavaliers this season.
"You're not really worried about there being a whole lot of newcomers, because everybody has to start their first game sometime," senior wide receiver Ottowa Anderson said. "Every program goes through that, and Coach Groh has done a good job of getting the talent and depth at the positions so that we have the players to step up and play."
The depth Anderson mentioned will be on display tomorrow, as many players who have been on the roster for a year or two expect to see playing time against Western Michigan. One of those players is cornerback Chris Gorham.
Last year, Gorham was one of only 10 true freshmen to see playing time for Virginia. Gorham got his first action Oct. 23 against Duke and also played in the final three games of the season, including the MPC Computers Bowl against Fresno State. Because Tony Franklin will be moving to safety, a starting cornerback spot is opening, and Gorham could be the man to fill it.
"The coaching staff is going to do what they think is best for the team," the sophomore said. "Tony understood that, which is why he moved to safety. We're just trying to do what's best for the team. [Possibly starting] is definitely exciting, having a chance to showcase your talent."
Another player who was with the program last year and hopes to see action this year is linebacker Clint Sintim. Last year, Sintim dressed for all the Virginia home games -- in addition to games against Virginia Tech and Fresno State -- but did not see any playing time and red-shirted the season. Throughout preseason workouts, Virginia coach Al Groh has praised the play of the 6-foot-3, 250- pounder from Woodbridge, Va. and has said he is a strong candidate for a starting role. Despite the praise of his coach, Sintim said he still knows he has to prove himself.
"It's nice to know [Groh] thinks highly of me," Sintim said. "He probably thinks better [of] me than I think of myself. You can say I'm this and you can say I'm that, but I haven't really had the chance to prove myself. Hopefully, after Saturday we'll all know what Clint Sintim is about."
The defense is not the only unit that will see new faces in the rotation. In fact, the offensive line, one of the strongest units in recent Cavalier history, will have at least two freshmen vying for playing time this year. Both Eugene Monroe and Branden Albert are looking to get on the field in their first season at Virginia. Many people have high expectations for Monroe, the early star of his class, who was rated the No. 3 player in high school last year by rivals.com, and Groh already has said he will see playing time against Western Michigan.
"Right now, he's definitely going to play this year," junior nose tackle and former offensive lineman Ron Darden said. "He's going to get in the game this year, and a lot of that is going to come just getting his body better conditioned. It's really hard for an 18-year-old to come here with the amount of rigors and the things that we do, especially for the offensive line. I think he's doing a great job with it thus far, and I think he has a long way to go with it."
Albert also is a candidate to see playing time with his massive 6-foot-7 inch, 310-pound frame and athleticism. His combination of size and power at first confused Anderson when he saw Albert working out over the summer.
"In the summer time, I saw him playing bball in the AFC, and I thought he was here to play basketball -- he was that athletic," Anderson said. "He's working hard on the line, and he's going to do a good job for us."
The fact that many of these players are unknown to most Virginia fans doesn't stop them from wanting to prove they belong next to the stars of the program. Tomorrow they will get their first chance to show that they belong.
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