NCAA Football Preview - Virginia Cavaliers
From The Sports Network

2004 SEASON IN REVIEW: There was certainly a great deal of talent on the Virginia roster in 2004 and it showed at season's end, as the Cavaliers had an ACC-best five players earn First-Team honors, with a record seven Virginia players selected in the NFL Draft. While the passing game was nothing much to speak of, the rushing attack was lethal, ranking ninth nationally at 242.8 yards per game. Al Groh's fifth year could bring much of the same, as the team finished the 2004 campaign with an 8-4 overall record and a third-place (tied) finish in the ACC at 5-3. The Cavaliers won their first five games of the season a year ago, all in impressive fashion, including a 51-0 whitewashing of Akron. The team's first loss was a humiliating one in Tallahassee (36-3). The team also dropped games to powerhouse newcomers Miami and Virginia Tech down the stretch, keeping an ACC crown well out of reach. By virtue of their solid record, the Cavaliers earned their third straight bowl appearance, but fell in a close game to Fresno State in the MPC Computers Bowl, 37-34 in overtime.
2005 ANALYSIS:
OFFENSE: Although the Cavaliers lose their top tailback from a year ago, with workhorse Alvin Pearman moving on to the NFL and taking his 1,037 yards and 10 TDs with him, there is every reason to think that Virginia will once again be one of the top rushing teams in the nation. Senior tailback Wali Lundy has been explosive at times in his career in Charlottesville and is a superb duel threat out of the backfield. Last season, he rushed for 864 yards and was one the country's top scorers, reaching the end zone an amazing 17 times. Michael Johnson will also get some carries in 2005, as will quarterback Marques Hagans, who rushed for nearly 400 yards a year ago. A duel threat in his own right, Hagans completed almost 63 percent of his passes last year, for 2,024 yards and nine TDs. All-American tight end Heath Miller (41 receptions, five TDs) will surely be missed, but junior WR Deyon Williams could be ready to take center stage. The return of Ottowa Anderson, who redshirted last season, will also aid the receiving corps. The offensive front will be without All-ACC performer Elton Brown inside, but left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson turned down NFL glory for one more season in Charlottesville. Ferguson was a First-Team All-Conference selection in 2004.
DEFENSE: While there is some key personnel missing from last year's squad, there is enough returning to the field to suggest a vast improvement on the defensive side of the ball for Virginia. The leader on this side of the football is clearly Second-Team All-American Ahmad Brooks. A superstar from the very first time he stepped on campus, Brooks has not disappointed and is coming off a huge year in which he led the team in tackles (90), while finishing second in sacks (8). Fellow junior Kai Parham will again line up next to Brooks. Parham was second on the team last season with 80 tackles and nine TFLs. Senior end Brennan Schmidt is the top performer along the defensive front, as he posted 50 stops and two sacks a year ago. Cornerbacks Marcus Hamilton (54 tackles, team-high four INTs) and Tony Franklin (78 tackles, one INT) will anchor the play in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS: As good a placekicker as there is in the ACC, Connor Hughes returns for his senior season. After earning All-American honors in 2003, Hughes made 17-of-24 field goals attempts last season with a long of 50 yards. Sophomore Chris Gould will handle the punting duties after taking over late and really improving the punt game for Virginia down the stretch.
OUTLOOK: The non-conference schedule for Virginia is appealing, with home games against Western Michigan and Temple, with a road trip to Syracuse on September 17th as the only real threat there. The ACC slate is always tough, but the Cavs do get Florida State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech all in the friendly confines of Scott Stadium. The road tests will come at Maryland, Boston College, North Carolina and Miami in the season-finale. The team is saddled with playing in the Coastal Division with the Hurricanes, Hokies and Yellow Jackets, so winning a division title won't come easy. Still, with another year under his belt, Hagans has a chance to lead his team to a solid season and its fourth straight bowl game.

Scott Haynes, College Football Senior Editor