U.Va. loses tight end;Shoulder injury sidelines Torchia for the season

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:04 a.m. ET

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College football: U.Va. tight end lost for the season

Now five games into the season, Virginia is digging into its depth chart as injuries occur and freshmen start distinguishing themselves.

There was some of each for the Cavaliers in a 33-21 loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Most significant was the loss of tight end Joe Torchia for the season with a shoulder injury.

Torchia had been plagued by shoulder problems for the past couple years but entered his senior season with renewed optimism. The tight end was an expanded part of coach Mike London's new offense, and he is roommates with Marc Verica. Torchia is taking guitar lessons from the quarterback.

After reaggravating his shoulder against Florida State, it appears he is done for the season.

"It just got to the point that, in talking to our doctors and everything, that this is probably going to be it for Joe," London said. "He's scheduled to have surgery here real soon."

Replacing him in the rotation is sophomore Colter Phillips, and stepping into the No. 2 role, which is occasionally used in the offense, is Paul Freedman. London said that the backup role is tentatively going to offensive lineman Luke Bowanko, a redshirt freshman who would be used primarily as a sixth blocker. The coaches are working with defender Jeremiah Mathis, a freshman linebacker who played tight end in high school.

London said that freshmen Jake McGee (Collegiate) and Zachary Swanson will not play this year to preserve their redshirt eligibility.

The offensive line also saw two new additions yesterday, one by injury and the other by design. Freshmen Sean Cascarano and Morgan Moses played significant minutes against the Yellow Jackets.

Cascarano entered for Landon Bradley, who injured his hand.

"He did a decent job of hanging in there and blocking and knew his assignments and things like that," he said. "There's two young players we're throwing into the mix early. They're going to have to get ready to play, because we're at about the halfway point to the season right now, and nobody is 100 percent healthy."

For Moses, it was a move to the right guard position, where he got nearly 30 snaps. He had been playing behind Oday Aboushi at right tackle, a more technically complex position.

"I think Morgan is probably better suited to be inside - it's kind of his niche," London said. "He likes guard because you're playing next to the center and the center makes the calls. I don't want to put him back out to the outside and confuse things. We'll probably just keep him there and make sure he gets in the game and plays."

Cavs fans shouldn't expect a youth movement at the most high-profile position, though. Marc Verica remains the team's quarterback going into a Saturday night game with North Carolina, where he'll rely on his new-look line to buy him some time in the pocket against the Tar Heels, who are coming off a 21-16 victory against Clemson.

Contact Michael Phillips at

(804) 649-6546 or

mphillips@timesdispatch.com