When Opportunity Knocked, “ZZ Stop” Was Ready To Answer The Call

When Zane Zandier made his initial recruiting visits to Charlottesville deciding where he’d want to spend his college years, he admits he always felt a special connection.

After all, he did attend Thomas Jefferson High School in Pittsburgh, so maybe it was a natural fit all along.

“When I was here, it just always felt right, it always felt like I was at home,” said Zandier, who chose UVa over Michigan State, Penn State and West Virginia, among others. “I felt like the coaching staff definitely took to me and it just felt like it was going to be a good opportunity for me.”

The second-year inside linebacker has since developed into a key member of the Cavalier defense — in a rather short amount of time — and his positive mentality has been a determining factor in his success.

UVa redshirt senior Malcolm Cook battled through injuries over his career and had made it back to the top of the depth chart heading into the season. However, the injury bug bit Cook again during the Indiana game and he’s fighting hard to return to action as soon as he can.

As a result, Zandier — who has earned the nickname “ZZ Stop” — has stepped into the starting role and has made several big plays during Cook’s absence.

“It’s happened pretty fast,” said Zandier. “I think with preparation comes confidence, so being able to understand what’s going on around me, what to expect from the team that we’re going to play that week, I think that definitely helps out with the confidence and being able to lead out there.”

Zandier didn’t see much action as a freshman, but did appear in 12 games. After making only three tackles over his first 13 contests as a Cavalier, Zandier made a splash during a momentum-swinging defensive stand in a tight ballgame against Louisville in just his second career start.

During that sequence, on three consecutive plays, he made two crucial solo stops and was in on a third tackle, limiting the Cardinals to a field goal after taking over at the Virginia 3-yard line.

In his first start, the previous week against Ohio, the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder recorded a game-best 10 stops (1.5 for loss) along with 1.5 sacks.

So far this season, Zandier is fourth on the team in total tackles with 27. As he explained, it was his mental approach and determination that has prepared him for his increased responsibility.

“In the offseason [I knew] I was going to have an opportunity to be able to play,” he said, “so I just worked really hard in the offseason and also in fall camp. Just worked as hard as I could basically, with the mindset that I’d be a starter even though the first and second game I didn’t start and then with the injuries I was able to get that opportunity.

“So just having the mindset that I would be a starter, even if I wasn’t the first two games, that definitely helped me be able to get in there and just be ready to play.”

With those early injuries to Cook and junior Jordan Mack, the inside linebacker depth is depleted. Both Zandier and fellow sophomore Rob Snyder have filled in admirably and realize it is of the utmost importance to be able to balance between going hard on every play and preserving their health to avoid what Zandier referred to as “silly injuries.” As Bronco Mendenhall put it, he loves what Zandier and Snyder have brought to the table, but “two is not enough.”

“That position is one play away from us being really thin,” admitted Mendenhall. “I’m completely comfortable with Rob and Zane. I’m not comfortable with the depth of the position, to make it more clear.”

The Wahoo defense will face Miami redshirt freshman quarterback N’Kosi Perry Saturday, who took over for then-starter Malik Rosier during the Florida International game on Sept. 22. Perry was hyped as one of the country’s top dual-threat QBs coming out of high school, and Virginia used part of its open date to watch him in action last week against Florida State.

“He’s super athletic, he can run, and he’s a pretty good thrower too,” Zandier said of Perry, who was 13 for 32 for 204 yards and four touchdowns as Miami rallied to defeat the Seminoles. “He is young so that always has an effect, but I think he’s definitely very capable, so something we’ll have to look out for.”

Zandier said the ‘Hoos will do as much they can to disrupt Perry’s rhythm and timing, and confuse him with different camouflaged looks. Even if Perry struggles with pressure, he has several weapons that can make a play if he is able to escape.

Jeff Thomas (396 receiving yards, 3 TD), Brevin Jordan (174 yards and 4 TD), Mike Harley (173 yards on 12 catches) and Lawrence Cager (207 yards and 6 TD) each have made significant contributions in the Hurricanes’ passing attack. Running backs Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas, meanwhile, have combined for 800 yards on the ground, and Perry has the ability to break off chunks of yardage with his feet as well.

It will be another test for the Virginia defense, but Zandier, Snyder and the rest of the unit will be up for the challenge.