Sports Blog

I went to U.Va.’s open football practice on Thursday to work on some upcoming stories on area kids playing for the Cavaliers. Here are a few notes on those kids out of practice:

Terence Fells-Danzer
The sophomore inside linebacker didn’t make the two-deep in the preseason, but got some reps with the second-team during 11-on-11 at the end of practice. He also worked with the first-team punt return team, lining up as a nose tackle to rush up the middle and one time picked up a blocked punt and took it in for a touchdown.

But it still looks like Fells-Danzer might have some work left to do to earn serious playing time this season.

Curt Orshoski
Another sophomore out of CCHS, Orshoski is listed on the two-deep at fullback. The bad news is that in the Cavs’ new spread offense it doesn’t look like there is much for the fullback to do. Nei-ther Orshoski, nor first-teamer Rashawn Jackson got many reps during the practice.

Quintin Hunter
The freshman out of Orange got a lot of reps with the first-team offense as a slot receiver and it looks like he’ll get a lot of playing time in his first year. He made a couple of catches during the 11-on-11, but also had a drop in the flat and still appeared to be learning where he’s supposed to line up in certain situations.

It was interesting to see the Cavs come out with Vic Hall at quarterback and two former quarter-backs – Hunter and Riko Smalls – at receiver. Having all three of those players on the field would have to present the possibility of some trick plays and keep opposing defenses off balance.

Connor and Kyle McCartin
The brothers out of Fauquier aren’t the fastest or the strongest players at their positions, but they are among the most technically sound players on the field.

Connor, a true freshman inside linebacker, got some reps with the third-team defense and looked good during linebacker drills. He was always around the ball and made some hard-hitting tackles. He still looks like he could use some time in the weight room though, and might be a likely candi-date to redshirt this fall.

Kyle is in his second year in the program and said he feels pretty comfortable with the switch to the spread offense, which is very similar to what he ran as QB at Fauquier. He looked good in the drills the quarterbacks ran, but he’s clearly behind Hall, Jameel Sewell, Marc Verica and Ross Metheney so it might be a while before he even gets many reps at practice.

Corey Lillard
I didn’t see much of the freshman defensive back out of Liberty High School. Many of the defensive drills were run across the facility from where the media stood and I couldn’t tell what Lillard was doing. He didn’t get any reps in the 11-on-11 and is another likely candidate to redshirt.