Depleted UVA secondary to face dynamic L’ville passing game

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia will face Louisville’s explosive passing attack with a depleted secondary on Saturday in a huge game for both programs. The visiting Cardinals (3-2) are 7.5-point favorites over the Cavaliers (4-1) in a 3:30 p.m. clash (ACC Network).

UVA will be minus starting strong safety Antonio Clary, the ACC’s third-leading tackler and safety Malcolm Green, who asked for a redshirt and has left the program. Clary has a swollen knee and Tony Elliott said he doesn’t anticipate the team’s leading tackler to be available this weekend.

Elliott said Greene decided to exercise his redshirt option and has left the program.

“I respect the decision,” Elliott said. “He did everything the right way. With one season left, he wanted to try to maximize that opportunity. He’s going to exercise his redshirt option and look elsewhere next year to be able to find a position that he feels like he can maximize that one year of eligibility that he has left. No issues there. It’s just kind of where we are in college football.”

Sophomore Caleb Hardy is listed as Clary’s backup. He’s a 6-foot-3, 207-pound safety from McDonough, Ga. Hardy has played in four games this season and has two tackles to his credit.

Louisville will bring the nation’s 14th-ranked passing attack to Scott Stadium. The Cardinals are averaging 303.4 yards passing per game with 13 touchdowns through the air.

Quarterback Tyler Shough has thrown for 1443 yards (303.4 per game), 13 TDs and has been intercepted only twice in five games. He has a fleet of speedy receivers, led by Brooks Ja’Corey, who has 25 catches for 489 yards, six TDs and a 19.5 yards per catch average.

“The biggest thing for us is the guys getting their opportunity,” Elliott said of backups in his secondary. “They’ve got to be ready. It’s all about preparation, so eye discipline, formation recognition, understanding situations and then trusting your preparation so that you can play fast because [Louisville] has speed all over the field.”

Elliott has been impressed with Shough, a 25-year-old who is playing in his third college program. He previously started at Oregon (2018-20) and Texas Tech (2021-2023).

“Their quarterback, man, he’ll pick you apart,” Elliott said. “Very accurate (65 percent), can throw it from the pocket. He can throw on the run and then he also makes a lot of the off-platform throws and different arm angles, like, how did he get the ball to that guy.”

Louisville is ranked 8th nationally in explosive pass plays of 20+ and 30+plus yards. A lot of that is Shough, whom Elliott said looks comfortable in the Cardinals system. Slough gets the ball to his playmakers and can also pick up yards on the run

“I think the first play of the Notre Dae game, he pulls it on a zone-read concept or a design read, but goes for about 50 himself,” Elliott said. “So I think it’s a combination of the system and then they do a great job of challenging you with multiple personnel (groupings).

“They give you a lot of different sets. They challenge your discipline. They also challenge your toughness because they’ll come right downhill at you and then they’ve got geat skill and tight ends that can really roll. There’s certain guys you can watch on tape and see that he’s got that ‘it’ factor where he knows how to make a big play.”