In the eyes of Stanford coach Frank Reich, who previously held the same role in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers, Virginia has a standout defensive lineman.
Reich would know, too, given his background as a former coach, offensive play-caller and quarterback in the pros and having to properly evaluate defensive talent.
“Number 90 is a really good player,” Reich said earlier this week about Hoos sixth-year defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter. “[Carter is] really stout against the run.”
Reich said Carter is the Cavaliers’ best defensive lineman.
Stanford (1-2, 1-0 ACC) visits UVa (2-1, 0-0 ACC) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Scott Stadium.
Through three games this season, Carter has eight tackles including half a tackle for loss. Most of his production came against N.C. State in Week 2, when he matched a career-high with six tackles against the Wolfpack.
And Carter’s coach, Cavaliers fourth-year headman Tony Elliott, said Carter remains motivated to keep getting better.
That’s even after more than a half of a decade in UVa’s program and having appeared in 58 career contests with 47 starts. He’s in line to make his 50th career start as a member of the Hoos when they play at Louisville next month.
“If you come out and you watch Jahmeer at practice, even in our walkthrough when it’s truly a walkthrough,” Elliott said, “he has bands on his hands to work on keeping his hands tight. His pad level is very low. He’s intentional with his hand placement. So, he’s constantly working, which has allowed him to continue to improve.
“He’s going to be a guy that’s going to constantly push for that ceiling,” Elliott said. “He’s going to get every inch and every ounce out of his ability as he can.”
Defensive coordinator John Rudzinski said Carter is always the first player to arrive at the Cavaliers’ facility each day and one of the last to leave.
Elliott said Carter had a great offseason, took his diet seriously and transformed his body.
About avoiding complacency deep into in his UVa career, Carter said: “I have so many goals — personal goals, team goals — that motivate me week in and week out. Going to Charlotte for the [ACC] championship, that’s a goal of ours and going to a bowl game. Playing in the NFL, so many different goals. I can go on and on. That keeps me grounded and humble, and always knowing there’s room for improvement.”
Last Saturday, in UVa’s blowout win over FCS William & Mary, Carter played only five defensive snaps because Cavaliers were able to rest him in their rout of the Tribe.
That rest could prove useful over the next three weeks — Saturday against the Cardinal, on Sept. 26 against Florida State and on the first Saturday in October at Louisville — because Carter said he’d estimate that this season he’s been double-teamed on about 90% of the snaps he’s taken.
“It’s not frustrating just because I understand that if I’m being double-teamed then someone else has opportunity to make a play,” Carter said.
He said he’s eager for what’s ahead, and that while he’s appreciative of Reich’s comments, “I’m someone who likes to prove it week in and week out.
“Words are nice,” Carter continued, “but if I can’t show that week in and week out, it doesn’t really mean anything.”
*****
— Rudzinski is understandably thrilled — like everyone in UVa’s program is — for linebacker Kam Robinson to make his season debut on Saturday night against the Cardinal.
Robinson missed the first three games of the season while recovering from a collarbone injury he sustained during the first week of preseason training camp.
“You just look at Kam and it’s a testament to him,” Rudzinski said. “He did a tremendous job of overcoming adversity.”
Rudzinski said Robinson got his strength and conditioning to a level in which he can play after returning to practice last week.
“And now I think he’s ready to roll,” Rudzinski said. “He’s a guy who has had great play-making ability throughout his career.”
— Rudzinski and the defensive coaching staff is tasked with smoothly acclimating Robinson as well as safety Antonio Clary (knee) back into action for the first time this season.
There’s a balancing act, according to Rudzinski, with determining how much of a work load they can take on in their first game of the year.
“There always is for an athlete,” Rudzinski said. “Just like when you’re training for a marathon, you can’t go out Day 1 and think you’re going to put 18 miles in. It’s the same thing for an athlete when we get them back and incorporate them. We’ve got to do a great job as a staff, making sure they get the appropriate amount of volume and at the same time, being able to make sure to push them to the brink [in practice] to make sure they’re ready to play.”
He said the Cavaliers still plan to use Landon Danley frequently on Saturday.
Danley filled in for Robinson through the first three weeks, and Danley leads UVa with 17 tackles.
— Cavaliers sophomore tight end John Rogers had three catches for 30 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown reception, in this past Saturday’s victory over the Tribe.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound sophomore is beginning to flash his potential, Elliott said.
Elliott and the Hoos recruited Rogers out of Episcopal School in Alexandria as part of their 2024 recruiting class. Rogers said then UVa was the first Power Four school to offer him, and at the time that Duke and Wake Forest only began showing interest in him after UVa offered him. His other offers were from a mix of Group of Five and FCS programs.
UVa offensive coordinator Des Kitching recruited Rogers, and all of a sudden after redshirting last season, he’s now showing he can help the Cavaliers.
“He came in here probably around just at 220 pounds,” Elliott said. “Now he’s hovering about 235ish. And because of that, he’s a little bit more physical at the point of attack. We knew in the recruiting process that he was a dynamic athlete.”
Rogers was an excellent baseball player at Episcopal, too.
“John can really run, change direction, has some explosiveness,” Elliott continued, “something that is different than some of the other guys in the position room. But he’s got so much to learn as well. And what you’re seeing now is that he’s getting a better understanding of the scheme, which is allowing his physical traits to now really kick in.”
— Saturday marks Reich’s first trip to Scott Stadium since 1984 when he was Maryland’s quarterback.
The Terrapins knocked off the Cavaliers, 45-34, in late November to clinch the ACC title.
Reich threw for 173 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
“We won the game, we won the ACC,” Reich said, “back many, many years ago.”
Greg Madia
gmadia@dailyprogress.com
@GregMadia on X
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