Freshman LB enters the mix

Asked last month about first-year linebacker Cameron Johnson, Virginia's new defensive coordinator, Bob Pruett, couldn't contain his enthusiasm.

"I think his future and our future with him is so bright we have to wear sunglasses," Pruett told reporters. "He's got a chance to be a very, very good football player."

U.Va. coach Al Groh had hoped to redshirt Johnson, but now, with senior Aaron Clark lost for the season, those plans have changed. On the depth chart released Monday night, Johnson is listed as junior Denzel Burrell's backup at one of the outside-linebacker spots in the Cavaliers' 3-4 defense.

Clark, who is expected to receive a medical redshirt and return next year, tore his right ACL early in the third quarter Saturday in the opener against Southern California.

Against USC, Virginia played two true freshmen: punter Jimmy Howell and, on special teams, offensive guard Austin Pasztor. Two of their classmates could make their college debuts this weekend against Richmond: Johnson and inside linebacker Steve Greer.

Johnson, who's listed at 6-4, 220 pounds, is perhaps the most talented player in U.Va.'s freshman class. At Gonzaga High in Washington, he was a basketball star and played wide receiver and safety in football, so he's new to his position. But Johnson already has passed redshirt freshman Aaron Taliaferro on the depth chart.

"He's got size, he's got athletic ability, he seems to grasp things fairly quickly, but he's only been here four weeks and hasn't been in too much action," Groh said. "We'll see what we see."

League of their own

As an assistant or head coach, Groh has spent nearly 30 seasons in college football. He won't soon forget the Trojans, who ripped his Cavaliers 52-7 at Scott Stadium.

"That's physically the best-looking college football team I've ever seen in terms of size, speed and athletic ability," Groh said Monday night on his radio show.

No QB drama

At this time last week, people outside the U.Va. program were wondering which of the three candidates - sophomore Peter Lalich, sophomore Marc Verica or graduate student Scott Deke - would start at quarterback against USC.

Not until game day did it become clear that Lalich was the guy. Heading into the UR game, however, there's no such uncertainty, inside or outside the program. And that's good for the offense, senior wide receiver Cary Koch said yesterday.

"Throughout preseason camp we were having a new quarterback every other series," Koch said, "and to get that mesh within the huddle, you need to have the one quarterback who's going to lead us. It's easier now to know that Peter's the starter."

Change on corner

Sophomore Ras-I Dowling, expected to be one of Virginia's starting cornerbacks this season, missed the USC game with a leg injury, and his status for this weekend isn't clear.

Redshirt freshman Chase Minnifield started in Dowling's place against the Trojans and struggled in his first college game. Sophomore Mike Parker is listed ahead of Minnifield this week and is expected to start against UR.

Minnifield's father, Frank, was a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Cleveland Browns. So Minnifield grew up knowing that the life of a corner isn't always easy.

Groh said he offered words of encouragement to the younger Minnifield, but "I think Frank got to him long before we had the opportunity to." - Jeff White