CHARLOTTESVILLE — Although he didn’t catch a pass in Virginia’s final three games and had a total of nine receptions for the 2007 football season, Cary Koch knew his time was coming.

So did the Cavaliers’ receivers coach Wayne Lineburg.

“First of all, he’s really smart,” Lineburg said. “He probably runs the best routes of the whole [receivers] group. And, he’s got tremendous hands. He might have the best hands in the group.”

Koch’s only problem last year was that he played behind Tom Santi, though not at Santi’s accustomed spot, tight end.

At midseason, the Cavaliers moved Santi to slot receiver, but he suffered a high ankle sprain early in an Oct. 6 game at Middle Tennessee State.

Santi missed one full game and saw only spot duty in an 18-17 UVa victory at Maryland. With increased playing time, Koch had two receptions in that game and, one week later, had three receptions, including a touchdown pass at North Carolina State.

At 6 feet and 192 pounds, Koch bears little physical resemblance to Santi, a 6-5, 250-pounder now in camp with the Indianapolis Colts, but he might be better suited for slot receiver.

“He’s a little more nifty,” Lineburg said. “You like to have guys who can maneuver around linebackers and get up under the safeties. He’s got a knack for all that inside stuff that we’re doing.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Groh said it would not be stretching the truth to describe Koch as a playmaker.

“He would certainly be included in that category,” Groh said. “We could see him really start to blossom last year. [In hindsight] there are some things I probably would have done differently to get him, Cary, more involved in the games last year.

“The biggest attribute Cary has is his football IQ. You tell him something that makes sense and he can make a correction immediately. In terms of being dynamic after the catch, he’s not one of those guys. But, in terms of really being open and creating more space than a guy who’s maybe faster, he can do that.”

Koch was a running back at The Dunham School in Baton Rouge, La., before moving to wide receiver as a freshman at Tulane in 2005.

Koch subsequently transferred to Virginia and was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However, he played in only two games and had one reception in 2006.

Last season, Koch suffered a knee injury in the preseason and missed the first two games. He has not started a game for the Cavaliers and may not be listed as a starter this year, but he stands to receive significant playing time.

“It’s definitely the best opportunity I’ve had so far at Virginia,” said Koch, who accounted for 2,861 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior in high school. “I was here all summer, working out and getting into reading coverages. It’s all starting to pay off.”

As a senior, he’s running out of eligibility, but he’s not unhappy with the turns his career has taken.

“When I got three passes at Maryland and caught all three, I think the coaches felt they could put some trust in me,” he said. “Tom was a senior. He was a great player. When he came back, he was going to play.”

Koch was rewarded for his perseverance when he was awarded a scholarship when the Cavaliers reported for camp, Aug. 3.

That wasn’t just a courtesy. Barring injury, Koch will play more than he has at any point in his UVa career.

“You could put him at any position,” Lineburg said. “ He knows every position, which on top of everything else makes him even more valuable.”

Notes
Staton Jobe, a starting outside receiver in 12 games last year, ambled into practice Saturday on crutches and was wearing a knee-high boot on one of his ankles. However, it is anticipated that Jobe will return to practice by the time the Cavaliers start preparing for their Aug. 30 opponent, Southern California. ... Jobe had been backing up Kevin Ogletree, who had 52 receptions in 2006 but missed the 2007 season after reconstructive knee surgery. ... Bob Pruett expressed concern about the availability of cornerback Ras-I Dowling for the opener. Dowling has been slowed by what head coach Al Groh calls a “sore leg.”