Poindexter, Scott provide energy for UVa staff

Anthony Poindexter suddenly has a sidekick.

At a recent Virginia practice, wide receiver coach Latrell Scott left his feet to celebrate a head-turning play with a pupil.

In past seasons, those acrobatics and other chest-pumping antics were left for Poindexter and former defensive coordinator Mike London, now the head coach at the University of Richmond.

“The old knee is kind of hurting, so I better watch out for the flying chest bumps,” said Poindexter, now Virginia’s secondary coach, with a laugh. “I don’t want to tear up the knee again.”

Jokes aside, sharing and even producing energy on the field in practice and games is something that Poindexter is willing to share as Virginia enters its ninth season under coach Al Groh.

“[Scott] is as crazy as I am, so we do a lot of drills together,” Poindexter said. “He has a lot of passion for the game. We get it mixed up at times out there.

“We have a little fun on the field. It is great for the players.”

While Poindexter has been as cult-like figure around the Cavalier program for over a decade, Scott is a relative unknown in his first year with the program.

What was known when he joined, however, was that he was regarded as one of the top recruiters in the region. That is a label that he takes pride in, but hopes to build upon.

“I want people to know that coach Groh hired me because I can coach the game of football,” said Scott, who joined Virginia’s staff after a season at Tennessee. “The thing that we try to do as a staff is put these kids in the best situation but the thing that we also have to do is go out and get good football players.

“I hope that I have the ability to bring both to this staff.”

Scott said the “transition” from Tennessee, a program that boasted former coach Phil Fulmer, was one that was made with ease.

“It was very easy because [Fulmer and Groh] are consummate professionals,” he said. “They are two of the best coaches in the history of college football so I was really looking for a situation where I could be around someone that would help me continue to grow in this profession.”

It helped that Scott was returning home.

“Virginia was a fit. Tennessee was a great place, a great atmosphere, but I am from Virginia,” Scott said. “I know what the Virginia-Virginia Tech game means to the state of Virginia, and things like that mean a lot to me.

“It was very important to be in a great situation with a great group of coaches and to work for a great boss.”

Discovering a depth chart

Today, Virginia will hold its second scrimmage with a lot on the line.

Earlier this week, Groh said that the closed session would help provide a better picture on the pecking order at numerous positions, notably quarterback, wide receiver and placekicker.

It should also provide further indication as to whether first-year players will be counted upon in the opening weeks of the season.

“There are certain positions that we can clearly see that the addition of some of these rookie players will be very beneficial to the team at some point,” Groh said. “So while they may not be high enough on the depth chart for someone from the outside to say they are going to be factors, we can see if we can bring this player along by October, that might be the first time he sees action, but all the sudden at that time he might make the position better.”

Thus far in training camp, veterans have raved about a host of rookies including wideouts Tim Smith and Quintin Hunter, a standout at quarterback last year at Orange County High.

“Quintin and Tim have seen some early time so far and I think they have responded well,” said quarterback Marc Verica. “They are both athletic kids and I think they can help us this year.

“Bobby Smith and Kevin Royal are also impressive. They are a little bigger. They are physical guys and they compete for the ball. They seem pretty hungry and they work hard and those are good signs. We are expecting some big things from them.”

Groh has not tipped his hand as to how many true freshmen could see the field this year, but look for a handful based on past campaigns.

“There is a pretty good size list that I would anticipate are going to help us this year,” he said. “At least at this stage, with two weeks to go they are showing that they certainly could solidly put themselves in the mix.”

Extra points

Redshirt freshman Tory Allen-Ford has landed a new role. It is one that the rookie hopes help land him on the field. Allen-Ford, who entered at 198 pounds and is now at 220, said he is working with the second-team unit on the dime package as a linebacker behind Cam Johnson. “I am just trying to get some playing time with that,” he said. … Running back Keith Payne, a junior, continues to impress in camp, according to Groh. Payne could push redshirt freshman Torrey Mack for the second spot on the Cavaliers’ depth chart behind starter Mikell Simpson. … Wideout Kris Burd (knee) has returned to practice and has shown signs of promise. … Former lacrosse standout Matt Kelly was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament earlier in camp. He had hoped to make an impact on special teams.