SB Nation Bay Area: All Posts by Matt Trogdon

Virginia Football: Junior RB Clifton Richardson transferring

2013-05-17T14:36:57Z

Virginia football coach Mike London released a statement yesterday announcing that junior running back Clifton Richardson has decided to leave the team. Richardson hoped "to pursue opportunities elsewhere,” London said. “Clifton will be leaving the University in good academic standing. I wish the best for Clifton as he pursues his academic and athletic goals.”

Richardson's departure comes as a surprise to many. With the graduation of Perry Jones this spring, Richardson seemed poised to challenge fellow junior Kevin Parks at the top of the Virginia depth chart at running back. Richardson rushed for 425 yards on 96 carries during his Virginia career. He shined as a freshman before suffering a lower-body injury that limited his sophomore campaign. Before coming to Virginia, he was a consensus four-star recruit out of Menchville High School in Newport News.

The loss of Richardson leaves Virginia with four scholarship running backs for the 2013 campaign. Parks will be the likely starter headed into fall camp. Junior Khalek Shepherd will be the only other tailback with a carry at the college level. Redshirt freshman Kye Morgan and incoming freshman Taquan Mizzell will round out the running back stable. Mizzell was a five-star recruit from Bayside High School in Virginia Beach.

Check back here at Streaking the Lawn for more analysis about the Virginia football off-season.

Virginia Basketball: Will a roster logjam cloud the future for UVA hoops?

2013-04-15T14:30:04Z

A Virginia basketball program that has played short-handed in recent memory will suddenly find itself with a great deal of playable depth next season. The Cavaliers lose only one player to graduation in 2013 (point guard Jontel Evans) and will add four players to the depth chart next fall. True freshmen Devon Hall and London Perrantes will join sophomores Anthony Gill and Malcom Brogdon to give Tony Bennett's team 13 scholarship players. But the flock of new players may have some unwanted roster ramifications down the road. Virginia will feature seven sophomores next year. If that class stays in tact, it will leave quite the roster hole when it graduates.

Before we go further, let's look at Virginia's projected roster by graduation year.

2014: Joe Harris, Akil Mitchell

2015: Paul Jesperson, Darion Atkins

2016: Malcolm Brogdon, Anthony Gill, Mike Tobey, Evan Nolte, Justin Anderson, Taylor Barnette, Teven Jones

2017: London Perrantes, Devon Hall

2018: B.J. Stith (verbally committed)

In the most extreme case, Virginia's current roster construction could leave Tony Bennett with only six scholarship players come the 2016-2017 season. That might not be a worry at the moment, but no coach wants to lock his program into a rebuilding year if he can avoid it. The Cavaliers have built momentum each year under Bennett, but he would be the first to tell you that their margin for error is thin. The addition of perennial powers like Syracuse and Louisville will only make his job tougher.

Of course, it's possible that Virginia's roster will undergo some attrition that makes this a moot point. Bennett's tenure at Virginia has seen a great deal of it already. But a couple of strategic redshirts might also ease the problem. It's hard to imagine Taylor Barnette seeing an increase in playing time this coming fall. Would Barnette be worth a redshirt to bump him back a year? What about Evan Nolte? With Anthony Gill entering the fray next season and Justin Anderson beginning to blossom, where does that leave the sharpshooter from Georgia?

As Virginia moves into the off-season, there will be a number of storylines to watch before next year. This roster anomaly probably won't be solved immediately, but it will be interesting to see if Bennett makes any moves.

UPDATE: Since this story's release, media outlets have reported that Virginia guard Paul Jesperson will be transferring. This will leave Virginia with 12 scholarship players for the 2013-2014 season. The impact of Jesperson's transfer is not immediately apparent, though it may make a Taylor Barnette or Evan Nolte redshirt less likely. Stay tuned to Streaking The Lawn for more information on the changing basketball roster.

UVA vs. Georgia Tech basketball: Cavaliers swat Yellow Jackets 82-54

2013-02-24T21:59:52Z

The Virginia Cavaliers used a 20-3 second-half run to pull away from Georgia Tech 82-54 Sunday in Charlottesville. Junior forward Akil Mitchell paced Virginia with 18 points and 8 rebounds, while senior point guard Jontel Evans added 10 points and 8 assists. The win pushed UVA's record to 19-8 overall and 9-5 in the ACC. The Cavaliers are currently tied with North Carolina for third place in the league.

Virginia led for most of the first half and took a 12-point lead into intermission. Georgia Tech, however, capitalized on some hot shooting and pressure defense to pull within 45-40 with just over 14 minutes remaining. It was all Virginia from there. With Mitchell, Evans, and freshman shooting guard Taylor Barnette leading the way, the Cavaliers pushed their lead to 20 over a matter of minutes. Georgia Tech never threatened again.

Virginia's offense racked up over 70 points for the fifth time in the last six games and did so with a balanced effort. On a day when Virginia star forward Joe Harris struggled from beyond-the-arc, UVA put four starters in double figures and dominated Georgia Tech in the paint. The Hoos shot 54% from the field, including a combined 15-for-20 from Mitchell, Evans and Barnette. Barnette's three second-half three pointers electrified the crowd and served as the knockout combination.

Sunday's victory also saw the return of freshman center Mike Tobey, who missed the previous five games with mononucleosis. Tobey played 15 minutes and had seven points. He delighted fans with a three-pointer of his own to increase Virginia's lead late in the game. Tobey's return coincided with an absence from the lineup of Darion Atkins. The sophomore forward did not play Sunday, but it's unknown exactly why. Atkins has suffered from stress-related pain in his shins all season.

With the win, Virginia avenged a disappointing 66-60 loss in Atlanta in early February. The Cavaliers also notched their 15th straight victory at the John Paul Jones arena. Virginia has only lost once at home all season: an early-season upset by Delaware.

Most important, the Cavaliers kept their hopes alive for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. While a home victory over the 14-12, 4-10 Yellow Jackets won't likely turn any heads, this was a game Virginia couldn't afford to lose. The schedule gets harder from here. Virginia hosts 6th-ranked Duke on Thursday night before hitting the road for away games at Boston College and Florida State. After the win over Georgia Tech, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage pleaded with fans to rock the house when the Blue Devils come to town. A win against Duke would significantly brighten Virginia's postseason chances.

Virginia Basketball: Mike Scott, Roger Mason Jr. and Sean Singletary are making strides

2013-01-24T12:00:09Z

Getting more players into the NBA isn't the main goal of the Virginia basketball program, but it would certainly be a welcome development. When recruits sit in Tony Bennett's office, he'd surely love to point to successful UVA alumni making names for themselves in The League. Unfortunately, Virginia hasn't had much of a presence in the NBA during the last...oh...decade. But with Mike Scott (Atlanta Hawks) joining Roger Mason Jr. (New Orleans Hornets) in the pro ranks, and the possible NBA return of a favorite Virginia point guard, things may be looking up.

Scott's rookie NBA season started slowly. He played 17 minutes total in the entire month of November and took a short trip to the NBDL in early December. But things have turned around in the new year. Scott has played in five of Atlanta's last six games and had a career-high 11 points, 7 rebounds and 22 minutes in Atlanta's 104-96 win over Minnesota on Martin Luther King Day. While he hasn't become a consistent rotation player just yet, he's certainly meeting expectations.

Mason Jr. has continued to be a steady league presence. After being waived by Washington last April following a season-ending finger injury, he caught on with Hornets and has split time as backup shooting guard. The Hornets have won seven of their last ten, and Mason Jr. has contributed nicely during that run. His season was highlighted by a 17-point, 16-minute effort in a win against Houston earlier in January. He's averaged 19 minutes per game so far and is shooting around 45%.

The off-the-radar story surrounds former Cavalier point guard Sean Singletary, who's been excelling in the NBDL for the Texas Legends. Singletary got some press recently after a 14-point, 11-assist effort in a win on January 7 and topped that with a 38-point performance in a loss Tuesday night. He hasn't been called up to the NBA yet, but he's doing all he can to make the case.

If Singletary were able to make it back to the big leagues, it would be a significant moment for the Virginia program. Virginia hasn't had three or more alums in the NBA simultaneously since 2000-2001. John Crotty, Bryant Stith and Olden Polynice were in the twilight of their careers then, and Jamal Robinson joined them with a 6-game stint for the Miami Heat. Imagine, then, how thankful Tony Bennett would be to be able to point to some relevant success stories. Most recruits these days have no idea who Crotty or Polynice were, but they've heard of Singletary, Scott and Mason Jr.

Virginia has a long way to go before it becomes a hotbed of NBA talent. But if this trio of Hoos can keep up their momentum, it will only help as the Cavalier brand continues to rebuild and prosper.

Virginia Football: Chris Brathwaite leaves hole on defensive line

2013-01-23T14:51:20Z

The Virginia football team took a hit last week when it was announced that defensive tackle Chris Brathwaite had lost his eligibility and was no longer in the program. In his statement, Virginia coach Mike London said that Brathwaite "did not make the commitment he needed to succeed off of the football field." Translation – Brathwaite flunked out of school, or came close to it. A rising junior, Brathwaite would have been a favorite for a starting spot on the defensive line in 2013. Let’s quickly look at what Virginia loses with Braithwaite and where its defensive line stands.

Make no mistake – the loss of Brathwaite is a big one. As Doug Doughty points out, the New York native was Virginia’s most "productive" lineman last season. He had 41 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3 and ½ sacks. Brathwaite was instrumental in Virginia’s dominant defensive performance against NC State and helped lead the charge in the defensive slugfest at Virginia Tech. He would have had two more years to play for the Cavaliers, and it seemed like he was just hitting his stride.

With Brathwaite gone, Virginia will only have two defensive tackles with significant experience going into 2013. Rising senior Brent Urban started every game for Virginia in 2012 and will be projected to do the same this fall. Justin Renfrow, also a rising senior, should be penciled in at the other starting spot at this point. Having two senior starters isn’t the same as having two proven performers, however. Despite their seniority, Urban and Renfrow only ranked 15^th and 20^th on the team in tackles last year, respectively.

Behind the seniors, the picture gets even muddier. Rising sophomore David Dean recorded only three tackles in 2012. With Brathwaite gone, he slides into the on-deck spot. Behind Dean are Marco Jones and Vince Croce. Both players were highly-regarded members of Virginia’s 2011 recruiting class but neither has produced yet on the field. Further down he depth chart, rising redshirt freshman Andre Miles-Redmond is a converted offensive linemen.

While the near future of Virginia’s defensive line is murky, the out years might prove brighter. London has landed commitments from a pair of four-star defensive tackle recruits for 2013 – Donta Wilkins and Tyrell Chavis. There was some concern that both players might be flight risks before signing day, but that appears to have settled down. Virginia fans should temper their expectations, however, if they think Wilkins and Chavis will be ready to contribute significantly as true freshman. Even the most talented freshman need to adjust to the size and speed of the college game.

With Brathwaite’s departure, a hole has opened up in Virginia’s otherwise solid defensive roster. London and his defensive staff will need to shore up the line if the Hoos hope to return to a bowl game in 2013. It's unclear at this point who they'll count on to do it.

Virginia Football Recruiting: Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell Arrested in Charlottesville

2013-01-21T19:37:54Z

Star running back Taquan Mizzell was arrested for underage possession of alcohol early Sunday morning, according to a Charlottesville news source. Mizzell, who was on his official recruiting visit to UVA, was seen attempting to kick a passing car on 14th Street near the UVA campus. He cooperated with the arresting officer.

There has been no official word out of the University on what impact Mizzell's arrest will have on his status with the Cavaliers, though no change is expected. Mizzell is widely-considered to be the jewel of Virginia's 2013 recruiting class. He's rated a five-star running back by Rivals.com, and is Virginia's first five-star recruit since Eugene Monroe in 2005. Per NCAA rules, Virginia coach Mike London cannot comment on incoming recruits until they sign letters-of-intent. National signing day is February 6th.

Mizzell's arrest will undoubtedly bring back memories of other legal run-ins top Virginia recruits and players have had in Charlottesville. Former Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich was arrested in 2008 for underage drinking and then dismissed from the team after breaking his probation. Ahmad Bradshaw, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, signed to play for the Cavaliers in 2004 but never enrolled following an arrest that summer.

Stay tuned to Streaking The Lawn as the story develops.

Florida Gators recruiting: Caleb Brantley decommits

2013-01-03T00:48:57Z

Crescent City, FL defensive tackle Caleb Brantley decommitted from the Florida recruiting class Wednesday, according to the Gainesville Sun. He plans to take visits to Florida State, Southern California, Alabama and Auburn. He hasn't removed Florida from consideration and may still ultimately sign with the Gators.

The Sun suggests that Brantley's experience at the Under Armour bowl practices may have swayed his decision. Brantley has been around a number of uncommitted star players since Sunday, and their accounts of the recruiting trail may have whetted his appetite to take recruiting visits.

Brantley is a Top 150 prospect according to ESPN, and he's a 4-star prospect according to Rivals.com. The Gators had Rivals.com's third-best 2013 recruiting class before Brantley reneged on his pledge. National Signing Day is on Feb. 6, at which point players will sign binding letters of intent. Florida's 2013 class contains another 4-star defensive tackle: Darious Cummings of Scooba, TN.

Matt Ryan pleased with return of Dirk Koetter

2013-01-03T00:22:27Z

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan expressed excitement today that offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter decided to return for the 2013 season. Koetter interviewed for the Kansas City Chiefs head coaching position on Tuesday. He was rumored to be a candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns positions as well before removing his name from consideration and deciding to stay in Atlanta. Ryan's excitement echoed that of Falcons head coach Mike Smith.

"I’m excited about it," Ryan said. "He’s obviously a great coach and has helped us out a bunch this year. I think the guys enjoy working with him and learning from him. I’m excited he’s going to be here, and I know the guys are, too."

Under Koetter's tutelage, Ryan threw for a franchise-record 4,719 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.

"I think the thing everybody respects and likes the most is that he trusts our guys to go out there and make plays," Ryan said. "He’s not afraid to be aggressive and it’s been fun."

The Falcons earned home-field advantage in the NFC and currently await their opponent for the divisional playoffs.