Virginia OC Des Kitchings Is Still Confident in the O-Line Group Despite Recent Injuries

Every program is hoping to avoid injuries in fall camp, but Virginia has not been so lucky. Projected starting right tackle Makilan Thomas went down with a foot injury that is going to keep him out for a few months. This comes after transfer Monroe Mills went down for the season in the spring, a big blow to a Cavaliers O-Line that allowed 47 sacks last season, second worst in the ACC.

Virginia still has two weeks before they face Coastal Carolina in week one and offenisve coordinator Des Kitchings still has belief that this group is going to come together:

"Yeah, you know, you always wanna be fully equipped, right? But just because we rotated a bunch in the early part of camp, just 'cause we're trying to get a better evaluation of some guys. And I felt like there have been some guys who have stepped up, right? Consistently gotten better. There's some guys who still need to take another step, you know, some of the younger kids that are just kind of learning how to do it. But as far as the new acquisitions that we've had for new additions, like I've been pleased with those guys, right? And more so pleased with how they've integrated with that group of office alignment, right? That's like a band of brothers, right? The tighter they are, the better they are. Communicate with each other, plan for each other, and work for each other. And that's and that's the strength of our team with that. We want to be strong through the middle, right? The o-line quarterbacks, running backs, right? Just the inside-out type approach of football. And that's not to minimize the skill guys, 'cause we need them too. But if we can be strong through the middle, then we feel like we have a good chance to be successful."