Ogletree’s long road back

There was a glaring omission from the players featured on the front and back covers of Virginia’s newly released media guide.

The scar on Kevin Ogletree’s knee explains the reasoning for his absence from the high-profile platform that included the team’s four captains and a handful of players entering their final campaign.

Now 17 months removed from the season-ending ACL tear, the wide receiver is officially back in the mix and gearing up for his long-awaited return to the starting lineup.

“I feel good,” Ogletree said during a teleconference Monday. “I am healthy, which is exciting, and I am looking forward to what is in front of us.”

There is reason for excitement after just two days of practice. Ogletree caught a team-best 52 passes in 2006, becoming just the ninth player in program history to eclipse 50 catches. Last season, with the Queens, N.Y., native on the shelf, Virginia’s entire collection of wide receivers combined for just over 70 receptions.

Ogletree, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 189 pounds, admitted he has a list of things he would like to accomplish this year, but those were outweighed by a grander vision.

“I have goals, just like anyone, but my team goals are far bigger than my personal goals,” he said. “I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t want to achieve some things with personal stuff, but I try not to think about numbers, just what can help our team.”

It would be natural for any player returning from an injury as severe as Ogletree’s to have doubts about regaining his old form. It has been almost two years since he trotted off the field in Blacksburg following the 2006 season finale.

“I’m not trying to hold back anything,” said Ogletree, who mentioned that he could potentially be in the mix to help with returns on special teams. “I just really try to not even think about [the injury] as much as people think I do just because it has been a long process. Surgery was a long time ago.

“I kind of leave the wondering to writers and the playing to us.”

Virginia coach Al Groh said last month that Ogletree gained valuable upper-body strength during a diligent rehabilitation process.

That strength — and a newfound mental toughness — have Ogletree eager to return.

“Obviously it was a step back — I got injured and it’s part of the game,” he said. “It was something I had to deal with. At the time it wasn’t really what fit in my thought process — not what I wanted — but it happened.

“It is part of the game. I am kind of ready now to just move forward and be injury-free and just help my team do some things. We are trying to establish this ‘team power’ so we can be who we think we can be.”