Michael Rocco led the 'Hoos to an 8-5 record last season starting every game at quarterback. Coach Mike London says Rocco heads into training camp as the starter but he has stiff competition from Alabama transfer, Phillip Sims.
Rocco says,"I believe its my job to lose and I'm not going to lose it, my teammates believe in me, my coaches believe in me. I really felt like I gained a lot of confidence and leadership ability through last year and the competition we had in training camp so that will go into this training camp. There's always going to be competition."
London says, "The biggest thing with our quarterbacks is the decision making abilities and that's always a key thing. We have to wait and see where Phillip is in learning our system, concepts and terminology."
Sims played in eight games last year as a redshirt freshman at Alabama. He had high credentials coming out of high school in Chesapeake where he holds the Virginia state record for passing yards and touchdown passes.
UVa offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor says, "There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to a player I've never seen throw in person. I've seen video of Phillip throw, I've never seen him throw in person. Coaching in the NFL I learned a long time ago that its critical to see a guy throw in person to evaluate him and just how does that ball come out of his hand."
UVa receiver Tim Smith says, "Competition makes a person better and players better and just having three quarterbacks going at it will just help the team."
The Cavaliers won a lot of close games last season. This year, the 'Hoos are picked to finish fourth in the ACC's coastal division. The guys want to prove last year wasn't a fluke.
UVa offensive lineman Oday Aboushi says, "We had a good season last year but we are not just ok with being 8-5. We are capable of doing a lot better, we had guys stay here for 12 weeks of training during summer and just individual work and group work just paid off and for sure we're going to build off of last year. We don't think we're a one-time hit."
London says, "We have to prove ourselves again. We have to win on the road, we have to play well at home, win the games we're supposed to. There's no delusions about who we are or what we are. We're hopefully a team that is rising to the level of our abilities that will help us continue to be in those bowl games."
