Training camp starts Wednesday for the Wahoos, who are in their fourth year under head coach Tony Elliott, and Downing’s group includes Carter, Hammond, Britton, Jones, true freshman Sichan John and transfers Hunter Osborne (Alabama) and Jacob Holmes (Fresno State).
“We have the most depth we’ve ever had at that spot [during Elliott’s tenure], by far,” Rudzinski said, “which is really positive, because somebody’s gonna [twist] an ankle, somebody’s gonna dislocate a finger in the middle of a series. It’s just the nature of playing that spot. That depth is super important.”
Downing said his position room “is very diverse as far as guys’ strengths and what they can do. You got stout guys, you got good movers, you got playmakers, so it’s really exciting.”
It starts with Carter.
“Jahmeer has played a ton of football,” Downing said. “He’s the alpha, he’s the leader in the room. Britton is still a young guy, but he played a lot last year, so you will see a big improvement from him. And I thought Jason was really, really coming on until he got hurt, so it’ll be good to get him back going.”
Holmes logged 430 snaps for Fresno State last year. Osborne didn’t play much at Alabama, “but he’s a big, physical, strong kid that’s really smart,” Downing said.
Jones’ athleticism will serve him well at tackle, Downing believes, “and then you’ve got Sichan.”
John, who starred at Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia, was one of the six freshmen who enrolled at UVA in January, “so we got a chance to get him through some practices in the spring, which was really good,” Downing said. “He’s physically the most gifted first-year defensive lineman we’ve taken since we’ve been here. He has a chance to be a special player.”
The Hoos are deeper at defensive end, too, where assistant coach Chris Slade’s options include returning players Billy Koudelka, Mekhi Buchanan, Jewett Hayes, Chase Morrison and Gabe Sneed and transfers Mitchell Melton (Ohio State), Fisher Camac (UNLV), Cazeem Moore (Elon) and Daniel Rickert (Tennessee Tech).
“This is the biggest we’ve been since I’ve been here, in numbers and size,” said Slade, a former All-America defensive end for the Cavaliers who’s in his fourth year on Elliott’s staff. “We’re three-deep at both end spots.”
Slade said Downing’s tackles work “hand in hand” with his group. “They’re taking a lot of the doubles, which frees up a lot…