The UVA football team returns its top three running backs and tight ends along with an experienced offensive line when fall camp opens in less than two weeks.
With three quarterbacks competing for playing time, the offense hopes to build on last season's success.
Michael Rocco started every game last season at quarterback for the Wahoos, and coach Mike London says Rocco will go into August training camp as the starter. Rocco threw 13 touchdowns last season with 12 interceptions. London expects his rising junior to be more accurate this season.
London said, "The older that you get, the more understanding of the offense and the expectations of it, then the better you should be, and I think he's at that stage right now in his career, knowing the offense, knowing the players that he'll be throwing to, knowing the pitfalls of doing this and doing that. You only get that through experience and playing in games, and he's gained that. Now the big thing for him is to go out and do it on a consistent basis."
Alabama transfer Phillip Sims will provide stiff competition.
The 'Hoos should be solid on the offensive line with maybe the best pair of offensive lineman in the ACC. Mike London hopes that Oday Aboushi and Morgan Moses will allow his quarterback time to throw downfield and let the Cavaliers be more explosive on offense.
"We have a lot of speed at the wide receiver position, myself and the other two running backs," said UVA rising senior running back/captain Perry Jones. "We are all coming back. We have a few veterans on the offensive line, so I think we're going to be quite explosive this year."
Jones accounted for 22% of Virginia's all-purpose yards last year. He and Kevin Parks have high expectations for themselves this season.
"We've been talking about how important our rushing attack is to the offense, and ultimately our goal is to have over two thousand-yard rushers," said Jones. "That's our goal. I know it's something to shoot for, but that's the type of mindset that we have going into the season, and in my mind, I think we are more than capable of doing that."
The Cavaliers open the season at home September 1 against Richmond.
