CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia running back Taquan Mizzell admits when the Cavaliers’ coaches call for the first team offense to take the field at practice, he sometimes forgets that means him.
The junior and former four- or five-star recruit spent his first two seasons at Virginia on the third team, getting limited opportunities behind Kevin Parks and Khalek Shepherd. In two seasons, the player nicknamed “Smoke” has carried to ball 109 times for 464 yards and three touchdowns and caught 68 passes for 435 yards and a TD.
Knowing his opportunity is at hand this season made Mizzell’s offseason more intense.