CHARLOTTESVILLE - It's not the ending they imagined, but it's a satisfying one for two Virginia linebackers.
Aaron Clark and Denzel Burrell, who are friends off the field, were planning on sharing snaps at linebacker last year. That was undone in the first game, when Clark, a senior, suffered a season-ending knee injury against Southern California.
That meant Clark would redshirt for the season, Burrell, then a junior, would get the starts, and the two would return this year to play their senior seasons together.
But even after Clark's season ended, Burrell was there for him.
"He was real big in my recovery," Clark said. "There's the physical part, but there's also the mental part when you can't be out there. Every time I would see him or talk to him, he was always positive and helped motivate me to get back."
Now they're getting a chance to help lead the Virginia defense, which has been the team's strong point through an 0-3 start.
In the 3-4 defense, the two serve as the outside linebackers. Burrell gets most of playing time, while Clark splits snaps with up-and-coming sophomore Cam Johnson.
Clark is aiming for something he's done only once in his collegiate career -- record a sack. That one came against Miami in 2007.
"The more games you play in, the better you'll get naturally, just from seeing all those situations," he said. "So I'm excited to see if that will happen for me this year."
He's blended nicely with Burrell. The two share an easy chemistry and seek each other in practice to celebrate big plays.
Clark said that since Burrell played a full season last year, Burrell will anchor the linebacking corps this year. His 15 tackles and one sack put him ahead of the other two outside linebackers.
Burrell also has been able to help Johnson, a rising star who was rewarded for his strong play with a starting nod against Southern Miss.
"That position for us, the way we use it, there's a lot of versatility," coach Al Groh said.
He's been pleased with Burrell's play so far, noting after the William and Mary game that it was the "best he has played at Virginia."
As Burrell and Clark prepare for the ACC season, they're thrilled to be playing their senior seasons together, even if the circumstances surrounding that weren't ideal.
"This past 12 months has really brought us together on and off the field," Burrell said. "It's going to lead to an even better relationship than in the past."
Contact Michael Phillips at (804) 649-6546 or mphillips@timesdispatch.com
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