Cavs’ Cabbell gets his chance after two-year wait

In just a few years B.J. Cabbell has gone from small town to big time — football, that is.
The Nelson County product is competing for the starting position at right guard on Virginia’s offensive line.
Last year, Cabbell saw his first action in a Cavaliers’ uniform, playing as a backup guard and on special teams. But what Cabbell lacks in experience, he makes up for with his competitiveness.
“Each day is a competition — you go out there, you work hard and try to better yourself,” Cabbell said. “Competition makes people better. Your spot is not guaranteed, so every day you’ve got to bust your tail and go out there and work.”
And work he has. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder has also done quite a bit of learning from his teammates.
“All of us are one big family — we’re all trying to help each other get better,” Cabbell said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Cabbell couldn’t have asked for better tutors than last year’s starter at right guard, Ian Yates-Cunningham and right tackle Will Barker.
“It’s unbelievable how much you can learn,” said Cabbell, a sociology major. “Ian is very, very smart. The way he knew the offense was crazy — he knew each position and the concept of each play. Hopefully one day I’ll get that same experience and the savviness that he had.”
Cabbell appeared in four games for UVa last season, which coach Al Groh said helped adjust to playing in a Division-I program.
“I don’t think it did much to help his game as a guard, but it helped his mental approach to be in games,” Groh said.
Added Cabbell: “I know I don’t have the really big game experience, but being in there, you feel the pace of the game,” he said. “Everything is much faster, it’s another level.”
Cabbell was a standout on both sides of the line for the Governors, earning all-district and all-region honors in high school. In fact, he is the first football player from Nelson County to earn a scholarship from a Division I school in over 25 years.
Since then, Cabbell has made great strides, and there is no doubt UVa is where he wants to be.
“I love [UVa]. I love being able to work here and go home [on] weekends. There’s a lot of Nelson County fans supporting UVa right now.”