http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/players/chris_brathwaite/129816 Recent articles about Chris Brathwaite en-us The spring game has come and gone, and now spring practice as well.  The football team got to break in its fancy new practice facility, which is a vast improvement over walkthroughs on the JPJA floor.  You'd think we'd have some answers as to how things might look in the fall, and it so happens we just might.  I've been taking notes, and as usual here's what I think: STUFF THAT GOT CLEARED UP: -- Quarterback, sort of.  Just having something resembling a depth chart at this stage of the game is an improvement over the past.  At the beginning of spring practice it was clear that Phillip Sims had somehow worked his way to the bottom of it.  Mike London made noises about how nothing's decided this is just a guide of sorts blah blah blah, but it became clear pretty quickly that Sims was being sent a message.  David Watford and Greyson Lambert more or less split the first-team quarterback duties, and one starts to get the sense that Watford has a slight leg up on Lambert.  And that Sim Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:19:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_still_left_with_questions_after_spring_football/13427167 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_still_left_with_questions_after_spring_football/13427167 Virginia still left with questions after spring football http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/virginia_still_left_with_questions_after_spring_football/13427167 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png It's almost time for that little midoffseason oasis of fun known as Virginia football spring practice.  When we get to ridiculously overanalyze the ability of players to take on tackling dummies and fret about whether that long touchdown bomb means good things for the offense or bad things for the defense. First, an update on the depth chart.  The following players (not including graduated seniors) are no longer listed.  Also given: the impact of their departure. -- DT Chris Brathwaite.  Impact: Huge.  Even as a reserve, Brathwaite was the most disruptive defensive lineman we had, and led the team in TFL.  With Will Hill graduating, Brathwaite was on the cusp of fulfilling the irrationally high expectations I had for him.  Seriously, I'd been talking this guy up for two or three years.  In his initial recruit post I specifically said I was chugging the Kool-Aid.  (I also called him a linebacker because that's what Al Groh recruited him to do.)  Brathwaite had good high school grades at Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:01:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_football_spring_practice_preview/13083967 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_football_spring_practice_preview/13083967 Virginia football spring practice preview http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/virginia_football_spring_practice_preview/13083967 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I don't know about you but I think Virginia just had the best kind of signing day that it's possible to have: no losing recruits to UNC or Ohio State, minimal drama over a player who was pretty likely to pick UVA anyway (and did), and a little bonus surprise to top it off. Mike London added two Signing Day additions to the class, in the forms of offensive linemen Eric Tetlow and George Adeosun.  Tetlow is a near-complete surprise, at least to me.  UVA tried to pry him from Wake Forest, where he'd been committed for about six weeks, in December around the week before Christmas.  Tetlow was like "nope."  So that, I thought, was that.  Adeosun was less surprising; he was a late bloomer who I'd have tracked a little more heavily (or, like, at all) if the 2013 board was still in operation.  He was at UVA on the big official visit weekend and after that was over his recruitment went nuclear.  Oklahoma and Georgia were probably the biggest two schools to offer him and make a ru Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:30:01 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_signing_day_a_huge_success/12863638 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_signing_day_a_huge_success/12863638 Virginia Signing Day a huge success http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/virginia_signing_day_a_huge_success/12863638 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png   Nothing really worked out for the Hoos this year on the gridiron. And while we will address the elephant in the room later this week, let’s take a look at the team by position, with what went down this year and what the future has in store. Quarterback This season: I should really call this section ‘Quarterbacks’ because that summed up the entire campaign this year. Coming into this season, many fans were looking at a competition between incumbent Michael Rocco and 1st year Greyson Lambert. But in comes transfer Phillip Sims and everything changed. With the word that David Watford was going to redshirt along with Lambert and fellow rookie Matt Johns, it would be a two horse race. Rocco knew the offense by the raw ability of Sims was hard to ignore. It seemed early on this season that Rocco still suffered from the same consistency issues that plagued him last year, mainly the inability to throw the long ball and interceptions. The Hoos made the decision to insert Sims i... Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:39:45 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/uva_football_exit_interview/12292654 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/uva_football_exit_interview/12292654 UVa Football Exit Interview http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/uva_football_exit_interview/12292654 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Redemption November continues.....hopefully.  Last week's game was evidence the Hoos have a pulse, and maybe more.  It was proof of what happens when things go right instead of all wrong.  Now we'll see if it was a mirage or a trend.  Miami comes to town fresh off a big win of their own, and they have their eyes on a division title. Date/Time: Saturday, November 10; 12:00 TV: ABC Record against the Canes: 4-5 Last meeting: UVA 28, Miami 21; 10/27/11, Miami, FL Last weekend: UVA 33, NC State 6; Miami 30, VT 12 Line: UVA by 1 Injury report: Virginia - OUT FOR SEASON S Pablo Alvarez, DT Marco Jones, WR Mario Nixon OUT DE Diamonte Bailey, DE Eli Harold DOUBTFUL None QUESTIONABLE K Ian Frye, DE Billy Schautz PROBABLE DT Chris Brathwaite, DT Vincent Croce Miami - OUT FOR SEASON LB Ramon Buchanan, RB Eduardo Clements, OL Ben Jones, WR Malcolm Lewis, WR Robert Lockhart OUT DB Deon Bush DOUBTFUL LB Denzel Perryman -- UVA run offense vs. Miami run defense Top backs: Kevin Parks: Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:39:18 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/game_preview_miamivirginia/12167560 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/game_preview_miamivirginia/12167560 Game preview: Miami/Virginia http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/game_preview_miamivirginia/12167560 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Last week: 3-2 Overall: 52-23   Florida State vs. Virginia Tech This would normally be a huge matchup for the ACC. But not this year. This has been one of the worst Virginia Tech teams in the last 20 years. The offense has been offensive to watch. The defense is not defensive, and the special teams has not been special at all. But despite that, they have yet to lose at home. Granted, they have only had one actual home game in the last month. Blacksburg on a Thursday night is one of the best atmospheres in college football, and the Hokies will need that in this game. They will need to hope that Florida State continues to turn the ball over like they have in the last three games. The Noles have turned it over eight times, even though they have won all three. They still have one of the best defenses in the nation, and I think they'll be able to control the game with their defense, and make EJ Manuel not have to do a lot. I still think the Hokies will be up for this game, but I don't think they're Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:18:27 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/wills_week_eleven_predictions/12157858 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/wills_week_eleven_predictions/12157858 Will's Week Eleven Predictions http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/wills_week_eleven_predictions/12157858 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png OFFENSIVE BACK – Tajh Boyd, Clemson, R-Junior, QB, 6-1, 225, Hampton, Va.Boyd completed 16-of-23 passes for 344 yards and five touchdowns in the Tigers’ 56-20 win over Duke. He guided the Clemson offense to 718 yards of total offense, the second most in school history and the most by an ACC team this year. Boyd threw all five of his touchdown passes in the first half and also scored on a 21-yard run, giving him six TDR, the most by an ACC player in a game this year. He finished with 416 yards of total offense and a passing efficiency rating of 240, the third best in school history given a minimum of 20 attempts.OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Brandon Thomas, Clemson, R-Junior, OL, 6-3, 305, Spartanburg, S.C. Thomas graded 95 percent for his 62 snaps in the win over Duke and had five knockdown blocks in helping the Tigers score 56 points, the most in the program’s history in Wallace Wade Stadium. The 95 percent grade was the highest of his career and the highest for a Clemson starting offensive lineman in a game t Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:38:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_players_of_the_week/12141712 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_players_of_the_week/12141712 ACC Players Of The Week http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/acc_players_of_the_week/12141712 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png GREENSBORO, N.C. – Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and offensive lineman Brandon Thomas headline a list of nine players named as the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week, announced by the conference on Monday. Boyd tied the ACC record for touchdown responsibility with six, all in the first half, and Thomas helped the offense accumulate 718 yards for the 10th best offensive performance in conference history in the Tigers’ 56-20 win over Duke. Two Hurricanes garnered accolades after Miami’s 30-12 win over Virginia Tech. Running back Duke Johnson amassed 217 all-purpose yards, including 100 rushing, and was named the Rookie of the Week for the third time. Linebacker Gabe Terry blocked a Virginia Tech punt to set up the first Miami score and was named the Specialist of the Week. Wake Forest’s Michael Campanaro, the Receiver of the Week, tied a conference record with 16 receptions and cornerback Kevin Johnson, the Co-Defensive Back of the Week, had seven tackles and an intercept Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:42:21 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_announces_football_players_of_the_week_115/12136324 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_announces_football_players_of_the_week_115/12136324 ACC Announces Football Players of the Week 11/5 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/acc_announces_football_players_of_the_week_115/12136324 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png So a lot of things went right yesterday.  Finally.  Not everything went right.  But finally, enough went right to cover up the mistakes.  It's amazing how you create your own breaks by playing well enough to earn them.  And whatever things did go wrong, 33-6 lets you ignore them.  Or at least rationalize them. Of all the impressive things from yesterday, maybe the best of all is this: a coaching staff that kept a team interested in football even through a season-wrecking six-game losing streak.  They stayed interested enough that just maybe the fans will stay interested too.  On second thought, scratch the maybe; they played well enough that some people are actually talking about winning out. That wouldn't be happening if the Hoos had squeaked through, Penn State-style.  Not only did a 2-6 team upset a likely bowl-bound one, they won by enough that fans of the formerly 2-6 and now 3-6 team are thinking about a bowl game themselves.  Huh?  It's crazy.  But maybe not that crazy. That Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:23:04 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_football_ends_streak_with_win_over_nc_state/12130906 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/virginia_football_ends_streak_with_win_over_nc_state/12130906 Virginia football ends streak with win over NC State http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/virginia_football_ends_streak_with_win_over_nc_state/12130906 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Five football games involving ACC clubs that were exclusively league contests were played over the weekend, and each game was a blowout. Even clubs such as Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Virginia were on the positive ends if three lopsided affairs, another indication just about anything can happen in the ACC, which has to be the most difficult conference in the national to get a handle on. With respect to Boston College QB Chase Rettig, WR Alex Amidon and LB Nick Clancy, Duke safety Jordon Byas and WR Jamison Crowder, Clemson S Rashard Hall, and LB Spencer Shuey and WR Sammy Watkins, Wake Forest LB Justin Jackson, Georgia Tech LBs Jeremiah Attaochu and Quayshgawn Nealy, Miami LB Eddie Johnson, N.C. State S Earl Wolff, Virginia DT Chris Brathwaite and CB Maurine Canady here are this weeks Big Men on Campus: Big Men On Campus DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson The junior wide receiver became the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions by snagging four passes for 128 yards and three scores in a 56-20 ro Sun, 04 Nov 2012 14:25:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_honor_roll_week_10/12129805 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_honor_roll_week_10/12129805 ACC Honor Roll: Week 10 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/acc_honor_roll_week_10/12129805 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Five football games involving ACC clubs that were exclusively league contests were played over the weekend, and each game was a blowout. Even clubs such as Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Virginia were on the positive ends if three lopsided affairs, another indication just about anything can happen in the ACC, which has to be the most difficult conference in the national to get a handle on. With respect to Boston College QB Chase Rettig, WR Alex Amidon and LB Nick Clancy, Duke safety Jordon Byas and WR Jamison Crowder, Clemson S Rashard Hall, and LB Spencer Shuey and WR Sammy Watkins, Wake Forest LB Justin Jackson, Georgia Tech LBs Jeremiah Attaochu and Quayshgawn Nealy, Miami LB Eddie Johnson, N.C. State S Earl Wolff, Virginia DT Chris Brathwaite and CB Maurine Canady here are this weeks Big Men on Campus: Big Men On Campus DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson The junior wide receiver became the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions by snagging four passes for 128 yards and three scores in a 56-20 ro Sun, 04 Nov 2012 14:25:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_honor_roll_week_10/12129826 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/acc_honor_roll_week_10/12129826 ACC Honor Roll: Week 10 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/acc_honor_roll_week_10/12129826 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png N.C. State wide receiver Quintin Payton (88) is hit by Virginia safety Anthony Harris (8) as cornerback Maurice Canady (26) and linebacker Daquan Romero (13). (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)N.C. State defensive end Brian Slay (55) hits Virginia wide receiver Darius Jennings (6), causing him to fumble, during the first half. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)N.C. State quarterback Mike Glennon (8) fumbles the ball after being sacked by Virginia defensive tackle Chris Brathwaite (56) and defensive end Jake Snyder (90). (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)Virginia wide receiver Tim Smith (20) celebrates after pulling in a 38-yard touchdown pass. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)N.C. State safety Earl Wolff (27) tries to stop Virginia running back Kevin Parks (25). (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)Sammy Watkins #2 of the Clemson Tigers makes an acrobatic catch along the sideline against defender Lee Butler #20 of the Duke Blue Devils during play at Wallace Wade Stadium on Nov Sun, 04 Nov 2012 12:07:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/untitled/12128839 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/untitled/12128839 http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/untitled/12128839 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Continuing the series from yesterday with the camp issues for the Virginia defense. 1. Can Eli Harold be a terror on the edge? The least proven ability on the entire defense is pass-rushing.  Your starting defensive ends are Billy Schautz and Jake Snyder.  Schautz has an outstanding head for football, but isn't athletic enough to speed-rush the quarterback, or powerful enough to bull-rush.  When he gets by his man, it's through technique and footwork.  Snyder is a big, strong-side run stopper, whose job is to hold the edge, and his backup, Brent Urban, is the same. Mike London moved Ausar Walcott down from linebacker - for real this time, not as a wake-up call after offseason foolishness - in an effort to provide some speed-rush for pressuring the QB.  But not one of these DEs has the raw athletic freakishness of top recruit Eli Harold.  Harold will get a chance right off the bat to make his presence felt in the backfield.  And truthfully, if he isn't yet up to the chore, this season' Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:42:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/questions_at_virginia_camp_for_the_defense/11321935 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/questions_at_virginia_camp_for_the_defense/11321935 Questions at Virginia camp for the defense http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/questions_at_virginia_camp_for_the_defense/11321935 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png They have worked all offseason to show Mike London & Company what they can do. On Saturday, they will show the world what they have learned. By the power of the internet, the Hoos will have their spring game broadcast around the world for all discerning eyes to see. If you are an avid fan, but was unable to head up to C’Ville for one of the practices or one of the three ‘traveling’ practices, this will be the first look at Virginia Football since just before the stroke of midnight on New Years. We have been talking about the individual performances of the players throughout these early practices. Now it’s time to put it all together and look at the matchups to watch for this Saturday. They will split the team up later this week into an Orange team and a Blue Team, but the matchups we will be looking for are positional. Spring Practice Format If this is your first radio, head over to VirginiaSports.com to learn about how to get in on ‘gameday’. If not, here is a quick rundown ... Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/uva_spring_game_preview/10541504 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/uva_spring_game_preview/10541504 UVa Spring Game Preview http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/uva_spring_game_preview/10541504 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png What a great time last night! Virginia pulled out all the stops and the fans were rewarded with a great practice. There is a lot to get to so let’s do this. General Notes CNU was a great venue for the event. I had not been to the stadium in a long time, but the field and are sports area in general are really, really nice, especially considering the Captains are a D-III school. The only knock is that there was TOO much space, and while last year at Darling Stadium everything was compact and inside the fences, it was a little more spread out this year. Other than that, I didn’t win anything in the raffle for a second year. Attendance was very strong. I saw several football alumni, 2012 incoming class members, and several prospects in the stands. VAF coupled the event with a meet and great tent that had some fans hanging around for a good while. It must have been the awesome people with the UVa Club of the Peninsula. Or the cash bar. Either way, good times had by all. So much for... Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:52:39 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/uva_spring_practice_cnu_review/10454248 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/uva_spring_practice_cnu_review/10454248 UVa Spring Practice: CNU Review http://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/uva_spring_practice_cnu_review/10454248 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png