GREENSBORO, N.C. -- If it turns out that Virginia quarterback Marc Verica is a little more nimble this season, there might be an explanation.

Verica, an economics major who will be playing his fifth season as a graduate student, has been taking a dance class this summer.

"It's called 'The Social Change of Dance,'" said Verica, an eclectic sort who plays piano and guitar, "but it's not just two hours, non stop, of us cutting it loose. It's a lot of learning the history of dance. We learn about dance as a propaganda tool [in terms of] specific [cultural] movements, whether it's civil rights or maybe feminism."

Verica already had planned to spend his summer in Charlottesville and taking a class made it permissible for UVa to help with his housing.

"Adrien Harraway, my academic advisor, told me, 'You're approved to take a summer class, third session if you want to," Verica said. "I said, 'Fine, let's do it. I'm not doing anything anyway.' "

Nothing other than working out daily, sometimes twice daily, and throwing to receivers when time allows. He also meets regularly with offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and watches film.

Verica declined an invitation to give a dancing exhibition Sunday at the ACC Football Kickoff, but said he takes pride in his ability.

"Guys know on the team that I'm a good dancer," Verica said. "I dance all the time in the locker room."

Defensive back Ras-I Dowling, one of Verica's fellow co-captains, joined him at Sunday's media function.

"Tell him to bust you a move," Dowling joked.

Actually, Verica is one of five UVa players in the dance class, which is offered through UVa's school of drama. The others include fellow graduates John-Kevin Dolce and Trey Womack.

Verica was not known for his scrambling ability when he started nine games under center in 2008, but he was more adept at getting rid of the ball than 2009 starter Jameel Sewell, victimized for the bulk of the 41 sacks registered by UVa opponents.

Verica, replaced by Vic Hall against Virginia Tech in the final game of the 2008 season, entered the 2009 season in a three-way battle for the starting job with Sewell and Hall.

The Cavaliers had changed offensive coordinators after the 2008 season, handing over the reins to former Bowling Green head coach Gregg Brandon.

Brandon was committed to a spread offense that seemingly suited the athletic talents of Sewell and Hall. Verica was the third UVa quarterback to enter the season opener, a 26-14 loss to William and Mary, and played in only six of UVa's 12 games.

Verica's lone start was in a 52-17 loss to Miami, one of six straight season-ending losses that resulted in the ouster of head coach Al Groh after nine seasons.

In eight days, former UVa defensive coordinator Mike London was hired as Groh's successor after a successful two-year run at Richmond.

It would be nearly two months before London hired an offensive coordinator, Lazor, previously the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks.

Lazor, whose NFL mentors include Dan Reeves, Joe Gibbs and Mike Holmgren, favors a pro-style offense.

In discussing the quarterback competition that unfolded in the summer of 2009, Groh had advised Verica to stay patient and reminded him of the opportunities that he would have this season. UVa used a spread offense periodically when Mike Groh was offensive coordinator in 2008, but Brandon's version used the quarterback more as a runner.

"I definitely feel much more comfortable in this year's offense than last year's," Verica said. "I feel it's more tailored to my strengths."

At his best, during a four-game winning streak in October 2008, Verica was almost a 70-percent passer and the ball rarely hit the ground -- during practices -- according to Al Groh. That was also the case during a three-game season-ending losing streak, but in a different sense as Verica was bitten by the interception bug.

"I've gone back and watched those games," Verica said.

"At this point, it seems like so long ago. I look back with amazement and wonder, 'Why did I make that play?' It's almost surreal.

"My mechanics and footwork are a lot different. I'm playing at a lot faster tempo."

Verica was a last resort in 2008 after Sewell was declared academically ineligible and Peter Lalich was dismissed from the team after starting the first two games.

Verica is in a similar situation this year, as UVa goes into the season without another quarterback who has taken a snap in college.

"There's no doubt about it, going into the season, I am the starting quarterback and this is my offense," said Verica, who has never started a season's opener.

"It makes a big difference [when] you're not looking over your shoulder."