CHARLOTTESVILLE – Al Groh is on the road recruiting, but I caught up with him before his last visit of the day.  (Not surprisingly, Groh hoped to finish that visit in time to watch the BCS title game between Florida and Oklahoma.)

Of note from our phone conversation:

* “It would have to be an unusual ruling” by the NCAA, Groh said, for wide receiver Cary Koch to be granted another year of eligibility.  Koch, a senior in 2008, is expected to petition for another season.  He played in only two games in 2006 after transferring to U.Va. from Tulane.

*Defensive end Jason Fuller and offensive guard Patrick Slebonick were not invited back to compete as fifth-year seniors in 2009, Groh said.  Brandon Woods will be back for a fifth year and will remain at safety.  For now, at least, kicker Yannick Reyering, a former all-ACC soccer player, plans to play football again for Virginia in 2009.

*Rico Bell plans to transfer, Groh said, though the seldom-used safety hasn’t settled on a destination.

*Chris Cook, a standout cornerback in his first three seasons, could move to safety.  “What I’ve been looking for for a number of years is what I would refer to as a cover safety,” Groh said.  Cook was one of four U.Va. football players placed on academic suspension last January, and he missed the 2008 season.

*Another one of those suspended players, inside linebacker Darnell Carter, also is back in school.  “He’s got starter’s ability,” Groh said, but Carter needs to show the coaching staff that he’s more mature and more committed than he was in 2007.  With three-year starters Jon Copper and Antonio Appleby out of eligibility, playing time is available at inside linebacker in U.Va.’s 3-4 defense.

*An announcement about U.Va.’s new strength coach for football is likely to come tomorrow.  Groh didn’t tell me his choice, but I’ve heard that the leading candidate is Aaron Hillmann, who oversees strength and conditioning for all the varsity sports at Bowling Green.  U.Va.’s new offensive coordinator, Gregg Brandon, worked with Hillmann at Bowling Green.

*Expect to see Vic Hall, who started and sparkled at quarterback against Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale, used in various ways this year.  Hall has been a starting cornerback for the Cavaliers, as well as a punt-returner, but there figures to be a role for him in Brandon’s new spread offense.  What that role might be, however, it’s too early to say.

*Groh would have loved to have had Kevin Ogletree back for another season, but the coach is high on Jared Green’s potential at wide receiver. Ogletree, of course, announced this week that he’ll forgo his senior season at U.Va. to enter the NFL draft.  Green impressed as a redshirt freshman in 2008.

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