Virginia football’s recent heartbreaking one-point loss to Maryland was compounded when senior defensive tackle Brent Urban went down with a leg injury. The loss of Urban could not have come at a worse time for the Cavaliers, who are reeling after three straight losses.
Through the season’s highs and lows, Virginia’s defensive line has been a consistent bright spot, wreaking havoc on opposing backfields. The Cavaliers rank ninth in the country in tackles for losses, and Urban has played a primary role in the unit’s success.
Urban’s play was also beginning to make waves beyond the collegiate bubble, with NFL scouts beginning to take note of the 6-foot-7, 295-pound defensive tackle after the Cavaliers’ first few games. Some scouts felt that Urban’s size and ability to play all four downs would translate well to the professional level.
“He’s our best defensive player, that’s the only way to really put it,” senior defensive end and captain Jake Snyder said. “He’s been a force this year, and no one has been able to stop him. He’s the guy that everyone can rally around.”
Snyder moved over to defensive tackle after Urban’s injury, performing commendably. The shift from defensive end to defensive tackle is often difficult for many players, but it did not appear to be for the veteran Snyder.
“You know, Jake is a veteran player,” coach Mike London said. “He understands the position, the inside and outside part of playing a defensive end and tackle. You may see more of that.”
If Urban is unable to play against Duke this weekend, Virginia could face difficulty mounting significant pressure on Blue Devil junior quarterback Anthony Boone and his backfield.
Cavalier freshman Donte Wilkins, who would be asked to fill in for Urban, would be thrust into action against a formidable Blue Devil offensive line, which has forfeited just 1.33 sacks per game in 2013. Though Wilkins may not be fully ready to match up against veteran collegiate players, his coaches say he has shown promise over the last few months.
“He started out as a backup on the defensive line and worked his way in that position because he’s dynamic,” London said. “He’s got great get-off. Like all young players, particularly on the line, the biggest disparity is the physical strength part.”
While Wilkins may prove serviceable against Duke, the Cavalier defense will anxiously await Urban’s return as the team heads into a grueling second half of its season. Urban was in a medical boot after his injury, although it could be purely a precautionary measure. The team will be carefully monitoring Urban’s progress throughout the week, but as of now his availability for Saturday’s game is in question.
“We don’t practice today,” London said Monday. “We’ll go [Tuesday] and then we’ll see how things progress. But Thursday is normally when we turn in the ACC injury report as far as probable, doubtful and all those things.”
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