Collins back in end zone

It marked the first time in four years that Nate Collins had been a part of a touchdown.
The play, a 32-yard interception return, helped make the defensive end the ACC defensive lineman of the week.
More importantly, it came in a victory, something that could not have been said when Collins helped account for a score in his final prep football game at King & Low-Heywood Thomas High in New York.
“I was playing quarterback and I feel like I threw a touchdown to a teammate in our last game, our rivalry game,” Collins said. “We ended up losing.”
Comically, the 290-pound senior quickly mapped out part of the reason for the setback.
“I threw five picks that game, too,” he quipped.
With just 50 kids in his graduating class, playing football meant playing on both sides of the field in games.
After a late-season injury, Collins was summoned to play quarterback, his favorite position.
“I was decent,” he said. “But I was just filling the spot for the team. I went to a small school … so sports wasn’t really a big
priority.”
Much will be asked of Collins on Saturday against No. 11 Georgia Tech (6-1, 4-1 ACC). The Yellow Jackets and their option-happy offense average 281 yards per game on the ground.
After watching Georgia Tech rattle off a pair of lengthy drives last year, Virginia managed to slow the Yellow Jackets attack and salvaged a 24-17 victory in Atlanta.
“Coach Groh told us from the start of the game that things probably weren’t going to go the way we wanted to right off the bat because it is an offense they were used to and that we aren’t used to seeing at all,” Collins said. “You play against it, that type of offense, maybe once, maybe twice a year, if that. “It is something that we have to practice and prepare for with the scout [offense] whereas they are doing that everyday.
“Coach [Al] Groh told everyone to stay calm [and] the first couple of drives weren’t going to go our way. He was absolutely right. Once we got the hang of it and we saw what was going to happen, everyone made the adjustments, followed together and we ended up stopping them for the rest of the game.”
Injury update
The status for three key contributors for Virginia remains up in the air.
When asked about the availability of quarterback Jameel Sewell, who left the Maryland game with an ankle injury, Groh balked.
“If I knew I probably wouldn’t tell you,” he said.
Sewell was not on crutches on Monday and was walking gingerly without a boot.
The chances for defensive end Matt Conrath (ankle) and tailback Mikell Simpson (neck) to play are also uncertain.
Simpson has practiced on the side but must be cleared by team doctors.
“Clearly there are more important things in life than just football, especially with a young guy like that who’s got everything in front of him,” Groh said. “We’re going to strictly go on whatever the medical people say, but at the same time, if forced to make [a decision] on it, we will certainly be on the cautious side.”
Should Conrath be unable to play, he would be replaced by sophomore Zane Parr.
Down the stretch
Virginia (3-3, 2-0) will be playing just its third league game on Saturday.
Georgia Tech had accomplished that feat on Sept. 26 and boasts just three league games remaining.
That was news to Groh, who claimed he has not studied the standings in the league.
“I didn’t know that,” said Groh upon learning Georgia Tech’s league mark. “I learned the value of [ignoring standings] from some people who used to be pretty successful.
“I didn’t even know they played that many games.”
Should Georgia Tech win on Saturday, Virginia would need the Yellow Jackets to lose at least one game to have any chance of winning the Coastal Division. The Yellow Jackets host Wake Forest on Nov. 7 and travel to Duke on Nov. 14.
Playing copy cat
With Jameel Sewell and Vic Hall set to complete their eligibility this fall, Riko Smalls is likely to climb the depth chart.
That is of little consequence this week.
Smalls has the important task of copying the Georgia Tech quarterback Nesbitt as the top scout team quarterback.
That process started in practice Sunday evening.
“Riko’s pretty good at it too,” Virginia linebacker Denzel Burrell said.
Sitting out for the year?
Virginia linebacker Jared Detrick has not traveled to a road game this season.
A special teams demon in the past, it seemed like an odd decision.
There is an explanation.
“We are probably going to redshirt him this year,” Groh said.
Detrick had surgery last year and was believed to have recovered well enough to play this season, but he suffered a setback in training camp and continues to rehab.
After playing the last two years in 20 total games, Detrick would have two years of eligibility remaining should he be redshirted.
He has made 13 career tackles.
Extra points …
Georgia Tech has not won at Scott Stadium since 1990, having lost eight straight. … Virginia’s contest with Duke on Oct. 31 will start at 3:30 p.m. It will not be televised, but will be available on espn360.com. … Steve Greer, the Cavaliers’ starting inside linebacker, has 17 tackles during the team’s current winning streak. Cornerback Ras-I Dowling ranks second during that span with 16.