As the Virginia football team stampedes toward kickoff - the season opener is now less than 20 days away! - coach Tony Elliott is getting a better feel for a squad with a lot of new faces. The Cavaliers brought in 54 new players this offseason from either the transfer portal or high school ranks.

Heading into the Hoos’ first full scrimmage of the preseason this past Saturday, Elliott said he has a motivated group.

“They’ve been competitive every single day. You don’t have to push them to go. They’re excited to get on the grass,” Elliott said. “They got a little bit of edge to them. We’ve crossed that line a little bit and had to remind them we can’t cross the line and the importance of why. We’ve hurt ourselves with some late-game penalties that were undisciplined. So an opportunity to learn how to go to the edge without crossing it.”

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Elliott emphasized that point in a post-practice huddle with players recently as well. During Saturday’s scrimmage when media was limited to observing the first few plays, however, a penalty negated a big gain for the offense right off the bat. That’s the sort of penalty that can get fans frustrated - think back to the 2024 Maryland game at Scott Stadium when a Malachi Fields’ holding penalty took a 65-yard touchdown pass to Chris Tyree off the table.

Penalties in general have shown an improving trend under Elliott, though. His first season, Virginia ranked in the bottom 25 nationally for penalties per game. Last season, the Hoos had nearly moved into the top 25 for fewest penalties per game.

  • 2024 - 5.2 per game/29th tie
  • 2023 - 6.5 per game/93rd tie
  • 2022 - 7.0 per game/106th tie

Elliott’s first two seasons did not show that he had set that tone in the preseason, but the 2024 team did. In August and September, both the 2022 and 2023 teams actually averaged more penalties per game than their eventual season-long average. The 2024 team sat just outside the top 10 nationally in penalties per game for August and September.

The emphasis this early, especially publicly in a media setting, possibly shows this is a priority for 2025. With so many new faces that may be a good approach in particular this season as players try to build timing and consistency with one another.

  • 2024 - August/September - 4.3 per game (11th tie)
  • 2023 - August/September - 7.0 per game (97th tie)
  • 2022 - August/September - 7.8 per game (112th tie)

No Nonsense Rud

Virginia defensive coordinator John Rudzinski joined the program after a long stint at Air Force as both a player and coach. That gives him a little bit of a different demeanor than some coaches maybe across the country. There’s a matter of fact edge to his style and critiques for players.

Da’Marcus Crosby II, a defensive back transfer from New Mexico State, figured that out quickly. He noticed it a little bit in the recruiting process but definitely once he was part of the program. He said he loves it.

“Coach Rud, he’s really black and white. You did the job or you didn’t,” Crosby said.

That’s not an individual meeting thing either. Coach Rudzinski will be that direct in team film meetings. Crosby, for one, likes that approach.

“Yeah, you didn’t do your job,” Crosby said. “That’s just how it is. I feel like that’s the best way to hold guys accountable is letting them know exactly what they did wrong and how they did it wrong and not trying to sugar coat and be like ah, you did good but you could’ve - flat out, you didn’t do the job. That’s Coach Rud. You did the job or you didn’t.”

Sparks Can Fly

The Athletic recently released its “College Football Freaks List” for the 2025 season, a list compiled by Bruce Feldman since 2005 that aims to “chronicle the strongest, fastest and most physical players in college football.” Virginia landed two players on this year’s list with linebacker Kam Robinson at No. 51 and punter Daniel Sparks at No. 90.

Yes, you read that right. Punter.

Sparks, a graduate student that handles the punting and kickoff duties for the Hoos, found a spot on the list. When you see the reported numbers, it’s easy to see why. Sparks checks in at 6’6” and 217 pounds and posted a 10’5.5” broad jump, a 33.5” vertical jump, and a 4.25-second shuttle time. For reference, that shuttle time is faster than all but four defensive backs at this year’s NFL Combine.

While that may be surprising to some outside observers, it is not to his special teams cohorts. UVA kicker Will Bettridge, who made 18 of 21 field goals last season, said Sparks’ Hoo teammates started to notice his athletic abilities during team sprints. Usually divided by position groups, Sparks did not run with the kickers in those competitive sets. He ran with and competed against players like Robinson, who the Freaks list reported with a 4.27-second shuttle and a clocked speed of 22.23 mph on the GPS systems used by college programs.

“It’s good. I mean I’ll give it to him, he’s a freaky athlete,” Bettridge said with a laugh. “He’s fast, he’s competitive, and it makes me better having to run against him and compete against him every day. We give him a hard time for it, though. He was the only punter on the Freaks list, the only specialist.”

Mor Chikin

Eric Ward, Virginia’s Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Marketing & Fan Engagement, announced on social media that Scott Stadium would have at least one new food option this season. Chick-Fil-A is now expected to be available for the home games this season.

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