Much Will Be Expected Of Applefield This Season On Wahoo OL

On a Virginia offensive line that is thirsting for experience, graduate transfer Marcus Applefield should provide a ton of veteran leadership.

The former Rutgers standout, who moves from right guard to right tackle, is settling in nicely in his new role in Charlottesville, and is eager to show his younger teammates the ropes.

“I’m a big guy, obviously, with experience,” Applefield told reporters Friday. “I can move well on my feet and I’m a strong guy.”

It will all take some getting used to, but after Friday’s first fall practice, the 6-foot-5 lineman who started 10 games for the Scarlet Knights last year says he’s on the right track.

“Today I just had to get used to the vibe and the speed of things, and it’s what I expected would happen today,” he said, “and [Saturday] is just a day for improvement.”

With the departures of 2017 senior starters John Montelus, Jack English and Brandon Pertile, along with Jack McDonald and Steven Moss, the Wahoos were desperate for some help up front. Applefield is ready to help fill the void and be a mentor in the process.

“I think just as a guy with a lot of experience and a lot of guys being young on the team, they kind of look up to me naturally,” admitted Applefield, “and if [the younger players] have any questions, anything that out of experience I can give, I’m happy to give it to them.”

UVa offensive line coach Garett Tujague and head coach Bronco Mendenhall are both ecstatic to have the big guy on board.

“Marcus brings tremendous leadership and experience,” Tujague said. “It’s going to take a little time working him out at the tackle spot. He’s light as far as body fit. He’s doing fine. He’s [300 pounds] but he looks great and his feet are fast.”

Added Mendenhall: “Thank goodness that Marcus is here. He adds starts and experience. That helps any time you have a new quarterback.”

First things first. After missing spring practice, Applefield said he’s still not fully familiar with the playbook. He wants to get to the point where he knows it like the back of his hand, as he put it, by cleaning up any mistakes on film, especially after the positional switch. And he believes he’s not far off.

“If you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you’re not going to play full-speed, so the best thing to do right now is to know exactly what I’m doing every single play, before the ball is even snapped and I’ll play full-speed and play how I should be playing,” he said.

When choosing his landing spot for 2018, Applefield was attracted to the atmosphere growing around the program, and added that Tujague and Mendenhall sold him on joining and being a part of the ‘New Standard,’ even if it’s just for one season.

Applefield is ready and willing to help the underclassmen in any way, and sees massive potential in the young group.

“My approach is just, if any young guys have questions for me I’m gonna answer them, but for the most part I’m gonna lead by example,” said Applefield. “And a lot of the young guys just see what I’m doing and they want to do the same thing.”

He has formed a bond with new QB Bryce Perkins and believes in his abilities, and is ready to help protect him at all costs.

“His legs are crazy fast and his arm is crazy strong, so you have to take that into accountability — [he’s] not just an average pocket passer,” said Applefield. “He can move, and that’s definitely a threat to worry about.”

When asked about the offense’s lack of production in the final two games of the 2017 season, Applefield believes if everyone plays their part well, there will be no talk of going multiple quarters without scoring a touchdown.

“No one wants to have that outcome,” he said, “so we’re gonna score and party in the end zone as many times as possible.”