With UCLA facing Virginia Saturday, here’s the scouting report on Virginia’s top offense and defense players:
OFFENSE: RB Kevin Parks (No. 25, Sr.)
A diagnosis of Virginia’s offense brings about a simple conclusion: it’s anemic.
If you’re looking for the remedy, senior running back Kevin Parks would be the closest thing to a dose of iron that you’d find.
He rushed for 1031 yards (4.5 yards-per-carry) and 11 TDs last season. With the potential to be an All-ACC running back this year, Park has the potential to also pick and prod the UCLA defense’s holes.
Most of Virginia’s runs come up the middle, where Parks keeps his legs churning, often times shedding, or even dragging, would-be tacklers. The Bruins will need to stay away from arm tackles and wrap up Parks thoroughly.
“He runs hard, downhill. And he’s a little bit shifty too,” said senior inside linebacker Eric Kendricks. “So we have to stop it.”
Also expect Virginia to go to Parks in short-yardage situations. UCLA’s front seven will need to hold its ground on those plays.
DEFENSE: SS Anthony Harris (No. 8, Sr.)
Simply put, senior strong safety Anthony Harris is a terror for opposing quarterbacks. Last season, he snagged a nation-high eight interceptions.
The way redshirt junior wide receiver Devin Lucien sees it, Harris is a ball hawk. Too bad for him, Lucien is too.
“Usually when you have eight picks in a season (it) means you’re a ball hawk,” he said. “And I’m a ball hawk. So he’s going to try and take the ball from me and I can’t let that happen.”
UCLA’s receivers, as junior receiver Jordan Payton pointed out, will have to play the ball more to keep Harris – and Virginia’s talented secondary, which has six defensive backs who have 112 combined career starts, good for second-most nationally – from running amok, and making plays.
So the Bruin receivers may be best served by running with Lucien’s thought.
“(Harris) had like eight picks so I’m looking for him to be everywhere.”
Compiled by Chris Kalra, Bruin Sports senior staff.