Takeaways from the end of UVa’s preseason camp

Virginia is wrapping up its annual fall camp this week, less than two weeks before the Hoos are set to face Coastal Carolina in their season opener on Aug. 30. With head coach Tony Elliott preparing his team for its first game week, here are three takeaways from the finals days of camp.

Elliott is encouraging guys to “keep pressing” ahead of Week 1

UVa’s head coach has repeatedly made it clear in the past few weeks how tough preseason camp can be. Elliott said on Monday that in the 14 days of camp up to that point, the Hoos had 11 contact practices, two of those being full scrimmages. Considering players are used to playing only once a week and practicing with full pads twice, their bodies are understandably hurting.

But Elliott isn’t letting his players rest on their laurels. Last week, he invited a guest speaker, former NFL player turned motivational speaker C.L. Shepherd, to speak to the team, and he delivered a message about continuing to press forward. 

Elliott echoed that message on the start and end of practice on Monday, hoping that a strong end to camp this year will translate to strong finishes in the fourth quarter of games this season.

“This is when growth really takes place in these kinds of days.” he said, “and I told them that the good Lord has taken it easy on with the weather, so we have to figure out how to create that adversity, because it’s going to come, and we need to do we need to be able to play through it.”

Injuries continue to impact the Hoos

While the Wahoos are looking to press on, they’re also dealing with another injury to a key contributor. Elliott explained that standout linebacker Kam Robinson took a shot to the collarbone on the first day of full contact, with a CT scan later revealing a slight fracture that has now been surgically repaired. But Elliott said they anticipate him to be out for a few weeks.

This is yet another injury to a key contributor before Week 1, with offensive linemen Monroe Mills and Makilan Thomas along with CBs Jam Jackson, Dre Walker and Ja’Maric Morris all already having suffered long-term injuries. 

It’s become a rather concerning trend for UVa, and one that could spell disaster once the Hoos finally start the season if it continues. But only time will tell how bad the injury bug will get or if things will start to level out.

UVa has made it no secret how high expectations are, but with much of the focus on reaching a bowl game and potentially even the ACC Championship, there are plenty of milestones along the way the Hoos are keeping an eye on. 

One of those is protecting Scott Stadium this season.

The Hoos will play seven of their 12 games at home this season. During Elliott’s three seasons as head coach, UVa has gone 2-4 at home every year. It’s a far cry from 2019, the last year the Cavaliers played in a bowl game, when they went 7-0 at home. 

Elliott said he hasn’t talked about protecting Scott Stadium much yet, but with the Hoos already holding two scrimmages there, he’s made it clear to his players that “the grass is sacred.” 

Tight end Sage Ennis, who is entering his second season in Charlottesville, echoed his coach, calling the stadium “hallowed ground.” 

With UVa emphasizing finishing games this season, both the coach and tight end hope that will translate to some much needed home wins.

“When anybody comes into Scott Stadium, we’re defending Scott Stadium,” Ennis said, “and we’re going to give it everything that we’ve got.”