Tony Elliott wants Virginia’s defensive line to resemble the outstanding defenses he saw at Clemson early in his coaching career.
The Tigers could use eight or nine defensive linemen in a game without much or no drop in performance between their starters and their backups. Of course, it didn’t hurt that future pros Grady Jarrett, Vic Beasley, Shaq Lawson, Carlos Watkins and DJ Reader were all on the same Clemson team Elliott was referencing.
“We didn’t find out who was going to start until Friday when we were preparing for the game,” Elliott said. “That’s what made the competition so exciting and created depth, and that’s what we’re really after.”
And Hoos defensive tackles coach Kevin Downing and his DTs have taken Elliott seriously. Downing said their mission this offseason has been to add depth to the group, even as they replace former three-year starter Aaron Faumui.
People also read…
“I think our strength is in our numbers. That’s what we hope,” Downing said.
That’s why, even though senior Michael Diatta and sophomore Jason Hammond are vying to succeed Faumui, they have chosen to encourage each other throughout the position competition in training camp.
Virginia’s Michael Diatta celebrates after making a tackle during the Cavaliers’ victory over Duke last November at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
CAL CARY, DAILY PROGRESS
“Not one D-lineman plays the whole game,” said Diatta, who had 18 tackles and a sack as a backup in 2023, “so it’s good if the guy behind me is as good as me or the guy in front of me is as good as me.”
Hammond said, “I try to keep the mindset that I’m not fighting for a position, I’m trying to compete with my brother and push him, and at the end of the day, that makes us all better.”
Elliott said he has seen progress from both Diatta and Hammond.
Diatta has gained nearly 30 pounds since the end of last season and is the bigger, more powerful athlete at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, who Downing said is adept at playing defense. Hammond, 6-foot-1 and 280 pounds, is smaller and faster, Elliott said, and Downing noted that Hammond knows how to counterattack offensive linemen.
“Hammond is a little bit skilled enough to sense blocks,” Downing said. “He senses a block and can play against the pressure.”
Elliott said: “You can see Diatta is playing better with his hands. His padding level is improving. His stamina has increased and if you watch him from when we arrived here to now, you can see him putting in the effort and thriving in training rather than just trying to survive.”
Hammond said he benefited from the seven games he played last fall in his first season with the Cavaliers.
“Last year, I think most of the time I was just thinking about doing my job when I was there,” Hammond said. “This year I’m starting to look at the game a lot more closely, take it a little slower and realize what I’m looking at to play fast.”
The pair’s progress over the past few weeks has left the Hoos feeling like their D-line is in better shape than it was a year ago, with the three mainstays up front showing greater depth ahead of next week’s season-opening game against FCS Richmond.
Defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter is back for his fifth year, and defensive end Kam Butler (seventh year) and defensive end Chico Bennett Jr. (sixth year) have also returned to UVa.
Butler has fully recovered from the shoulder injury that caused him to miss the final eight games last year after recording 3.5 sacks in just four outings, a team-best performance.
Virginia defensive end Kam Butler walks across the field before a game against Tennessee on September 2, 2023, in Nashville.
George Walker IV, Associated Press
He is one of the team’s leaders and said he picks one element of his game to work on each time he practices in training camp. During the first few weeks of August, he focused on quick pass-rush moves, Butler said, but recently he’s decided to focus on powerful pass-rush moves.
“Whenever I’m out here, I try to pick up a little something,” Butler said.
The Cavaliers are confident that with the return of Butler and Bennett, who played last fall despite injuries, and their top form, the team will achieve more than last season’s 11 total sacks – the fewest in the entire FBS.
Behind Bennett and Butler, senior Ben Smiley will be the primary backup at end. Terrell Jones, who trains as an end and tackle, could also be used at the outside position after expected key player Mekhi Buchanan underwent hip surgery last month. Buchanan’s injury also opened the opportunity for freshman Jewett Hayes, the son of former Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonathan Hayes, to potentially be an immediate backup at end.
Carter, Diatta and Hammond aren’t the only defensive tackles set to play this fall. Anthony Britton could be, too.
“Realistically, we need four guys in the infield that can go and roll,” Elliott said, “because that’s what you see more often at the D-line position in college football right now.”
“If you have eight or 10 guys, who cares who the starter is?” he continued. “They’re all going to play in critical situations and we’re going to use those guys. It makes it difficult for the offense when you can put fresh guys in and then have different skill sets.”
