CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—
Virginia's football team faces a number of defensive questions as a new season begins. In 2011 the Wahoos had the third best defense in the ACC in terms of yards allowed per game. But the group has to replace seven of those starters this year, including three-fourths of the secondary.
Tra Nicholson, who started as a true freshman, is the only returner.
All-American Chase Minnifield is gone, as are safeties Rodney McCleod and Corey Mosley.
With all that experience out the door, the defensive backs will be the unit to watch in preseason camp.
"There's some really, really talented guys back there," Virginia linebacker Steve Greer said. "They've put in a lot of extra work this offseason. We've had a couple player-held walk-throughs and film sessions just to get a head start."
Cavaliers coach Mike London said, "Anthony Harris is a sophomore who played as a true freshman who is going to start out back there. We're going to have to find a replacement for Rodney McCleod, who is in a NFL camp. I think the back end is something, with a lot of talented players that we have, to be able to find some depth and some guys that can play first, second, third down. And then just go from there."
